Chapter Four: a day at the park;
Today was a day off. Naruto was having more of those recently. His mom had told him training was important, but she also said that living was important too. Naruto didn't get it, he was alive wasn't he? But she said that now that he learned a lot of the tricks to chakra control, he didn't need to train as hard, the rest of it would just take time and rushing it wouldn't help much. Plus, Naruto wasn't going to complain about extra time to goof off.
She spent more time focusing on Fuinjutsu theory recently but even that was put on hold. His mom told him he needed to go have fun. "Use up all your energy, then come back home with an empty mind so I can fill it up again" she had said. Naruto was bouncing on his feet, rushing to put his jacket on.
There was snow on the ground everywhere. Naruto was wearing orange pants and an orange jacket. For some reason Kushina couldn't understand, Naruto really liked orange. He was covered head to toe in it, though not completely, his boots were blue. Kushina had shown him images of what she thought he'd look like in other colors and outfits but Naruto thought it was lame. For some reason he got the idea in his head that Orange just looked right on him.
One thing she wouldn't complain about is the red whirlpool designs on his jacket. They paid homage to the Uzumaki heritage and they didn't look bad anyways. Of course Naruto didn't care about the Uzumaki too much. He read about some of them after his mom had told him about them, but when he found out they were basically just Fuinjutsu masters and all of their notable members were either subservient to some other clan or had some special Kekkei Genkai that made them individually special, he lost interest.
Anyways, trudging through the snow, Naruto at least had the good sense not to run on such an icy road like Kushina was worried he would. She had made him save up money for a few weeks for today, because there was a special event going on.
There was a winter festival going on today and Naruto was headed to a park. There were already a few couples with their children walking, so Naruto could just follow the general flow of people and not get lost. Usually Naruto had the habit of using people as landmarks to navigate his way in Konoha, but with the weather being what it was he would have a hard time figuring it out if everyone wasn't walking in the same direction.
Konoha would be closed for the next two weeks so everyone could relax and more people could be with their families for the holidays. Even the Ninjas seemed relaxed. With Ninjas guarding the borders more than looking out for spies or out on missions, the village was somehow quieter and more lively at the same time.
Naruto realized it was because of all the smiling faces of parents and their kids who had all of their parents attention. Everyone was laughing, everyone was together with family. There weren't people running around everywhere all the time or ninja summons delivering messages.
"Naruto!" There at the edge of the park, was the kind lady that took care of children at the orphanage, lady Iwako. She was surrounded by the orphans, even some of the ones who had moved out as apprentices at smithies, eateries, and other trades.
"How are you doing Naruto? Keeping warm?" Iwako asked as she ruffled his hair.
"Yeah, I'm great! There was this nice jacket on sale, I guess nobody else wanted it. But its got this really cool pattern you see, from the land of whirlpools, they say they used to have a village like ours but I don't know if it was as great as the leaf, you know-" - "Yes Naruto, we get it but we'd really like to see the festival before next year so save it for later"
"Hey man, that's not cool, I was just saying hi!"
"You wouldn't know anything about being cool Naruto! Besides, you talk forever man. Can't you just take a breath and talk with people normally? It's like you're trying to cram your whole life story down our throats every time we meet you!" - "Yuma... Fine, but what do you guys want to do first? they're letting kids do the thing with the goldfish for free! I think it was king-yosu-kui, yeah, that's it, I'm sure!"
*Bonk*"No, it's not! Us older kids are taking the little ones along to food stalls and to visit the shrine. You can tag along, if you've got money"
"Nah, no thanks. You guys go have fun, I have a couple things to do, you see. Besides, Yuma-san has his hands full flirting with old ladies!" - "I'm not flirting with Rena-oneesan!"
"Who said anything about Rena? Oh! Oh, I get it, you really were going to go flirt with the flower girl, weren't you?" - "NARUTOOOO"
"Ok, see ya! Gotta get some yakisoba before they run out now byyyy!" Naruto ran off before Yuma could hit him again. The downside of wearing regular old clothes to a festival, mitigated by the utility of being able to run around without tripping. The snow had been cleared out around the festival grounds, curtesy of some ninja in charge of the event.
Naruto hadn't been watching where he was going when he ran face first into someone and tumbled down on top of him. It was an older boy, at least a full foot taller than him, maybe more. If Naruto had to guess, he'd be around Yuma's age. Next to them stood a boy that looked Naruto's age.
"Get off my brother!" The little boy yelled as he pushed and pulled Naruto back and forth kicking at him.
"H-hey, wait a minute! I'm sorry ok! I didn't see him!" Naruto stood up and the boy fell back, tripping over his own feet before Naruto caught him by the hand and helped him stabilize himself.
"I'm really sorry mister! But you're okay though right?" - "Yeah, I'm fine, just a little distracted or I wouldn't have bumped into you either." But that was a lie, he had seen the little boy running and figured he'd catch him before he ended up hurting himself or some other kid. What he wasn't expecting was for the boy to be so strong.
"Come on, lets go, he didn't mean it." - "Okay brother..." As they walked away the little brother turned back to make faces at Naruto, who was still scratching the back of his head and grinning in embarrassment.
"Why, you!" Naruto's face turned red in anger and he waved his fist back at him. The next thing he knew, he was being dragged by the ear, by lady Iwako. "Itaii! Itaii!" - "Don't go running around young man! What if you hit a poor old grandma, or bowled over that little boy?"
"I know you're strong! But not everyone has as much air in their head as you Naruto. You could hurt someone! Another kid your age would have gotten trampled underfoot!"
"You think I'm strong?" - "Strong headed maybe! Seriously Naruto! If I see you running around blind like that one more time I'm going to shave your head and call you Baldy for three weeks"
"Ok! Ok! I'll be careful, just let go of my Ear! Itaii!" With one last twist she released Naruto. Iwako shook her head and glared at him to make sure he knew she meant business. She made her way back to the pathway, rushing to stop one of her toddlers from tripping into the goldfish pool. She had too many things on her mind to pay any more attention to Naruto. He started making his way between the stalls, looking for one in particular hoping it was there.
Naruto stuck to the shadows. Despite the path being covered in red lanterns, they provided more shade than light during the day. People were preoccupied with themselves anyway so Naruto went pretty much unnoticed. There was a few fires in braziers set up to warm the place, though they didn't offer anything to Naruto. Other families stood by them on occasion to warm up, which meant Naruto would be noticed if he just walked up and stuck his hands out.
"No fair nii-san! How come, you are so good at this? Mom won't let me train Shurikenjutsu, all I get is a toy set! Did you start with a toy set?"
"Well Sasuke, yes I did. I was older than you when I got my first real set of Kunai." - "Then how is it fair? I feel like I'm not getting better at all, I'm not any good."
It was the younger and older brother duo from earlier. Only now, Naruto heard the little one's name. 'Sasuke huh. looks like he's just a little kid, while I'm learning how to fight, he's playing with toys.'
"About that.... You are getting better you know? You're really good for your age. You shouldn't try to be me anyways, just be Sasuke" - "But nii-san! you hit it in the center every time without even looking, I barely hit the inner circle."
"Mister, another game please. Sasuke, I'll show you how good you are. Naruto? That is your name right? Come play a game with my little brother, its just throwing kunai."
"Uh, sure, but how did you know my name Mister?" - "Nii-san heard that pretty lady yell at you when she was pulling your ear! Jeez, you are kinda dumb aren't you?"
"I'll show you who's dumb! Just you watch, I'll throw these kunai and you'll be begging me to teach you how to be awesome like me!" - "Even if you are awesome, and you definitely aren't, it doesn't mean you're not dumb, idiot!"
Naruto was steaming mad by now. His face was so red that Itachi, Sasuke's older brother, was worried he would choke and suffocate on it. Instead of letting the petty squabble continue, Itachi grabbed Naruto's hand and slid the three kunai into it pointing at the target. "Why don't you just show him by hitting that target over there. I'm sure Sasuke will see just how good you both are."
"Watch and learn Sasuke! You stand like this, hold it, and wham!" Clunk! The kunai fell to the ground. It had actually hit the target, but Naruto was holding the kunai backwards, and the kunai had landed butt first. 'Damn it! I have to get it right this time!'
"That didn't count, I threw it backwards on accident, watch this" - *Snicker* - "Aht!"
With Naruto making funny noises and weird faces while posing awkwardly, Kushina could only shake her head in embarrassment. She HAD taught him Shurikenjutsu, It wasn't a hard skill to pick up. BUT... Naruto insisted in making funny noises and posing no matter how many times she told him he didn't have to pose any specific way to throw kunai, he just had to face the target.
This time Naruto actually hit the bullseye, but his next and last throw he decided to do something stupid. Something he'd been trying to get down in his dreams but refused to listen to his mother's advice. Naruto... Looked the other way and covered his eyes before throwing the kunai and... Actually hitting the target surprisingly. The wrong target, but it was on the outer ring.
"Wow, nii-san, some people get really lucky even if they are stupid don't they?" - "Hey, I hit the bullseye! That's the best anyone can do. The first one I wasn't paying attention, but even the third one I hit the target blind! What can you do?"
Sasuke answered Naruto with a frown and threw all three kunai in quick succession, getting an off-center bullseye himself and two inner rings, the last one while staring at Naruto. Sasuke then opened his mouth with smug look on his face.
"Looks like idiots are still idiots. Who taught you how to throw? You just stood there making faces and lobbed them like you were trying to be cool or something. That's sad you know, you're sad."
"Sasuke-" - "It's true though nii-san! He just got lucky with his second throw! What the heck was he even doing? Is that how you'd ever throw a kunai?"
"No.. but he was pretty good, luck or not, he actually did throw that second kunai right, silly faces and weird noises aside" - "See Naruto! Stop all that silly posing and maybe you'll actually learn."
"Hey, he said I threw it right! I know how to throw it, I just thought I'd show you something I was working on, that's all. I just haven't gotten it down yet!" - "Whatever, you're just a sore loser. Nii-san, let's get some cotton candy and then we can go find something for mom."
'Waste of my time! I should have just thrown the stupid things instead of trying to show off! I'm at least as good as Sasuke!' Somehow, Naruto felt like his mother was laughing at him and saying 'I told you so' somewhere in his head right now.
A snowball hit young Sasuke in the back of the head, but looking back, Naruto had already disappeared.
"He's so rude nii-san" - "If mom saw how you were acting back there, I think she might just forgive him. He was trying to be nice, even if he was showing off skills he didn't have."
"By the way, why did you feel like you had to beat him so bad? You got so competitive you actually stared him down while you threw that last one. Mom wouldn't recognize you if she saw you interacting so openly like that, even though you 're usually too shy to talk to anyone."
"I don't know nii-san, he just made me soo angry! Plus, if I couldn't even beat him, how could I possibly catch up to you?" - "Whatever you say Sasuke. Come on, let's go get that cotton candy."
"Okay. You know, if he was actually good, does that mean I really am good for my age?" - "Yup, and your big brother will show you some tricks some times so you can get even better at it."
Naruto poked his head from behind the stall and put his snowball down. He hadn't actually hated the boy or anything. He wanted to be friends, so for now he'd forgive him and hopefully they'd get along better in the future.
It was almost time for Naruto to go to the section of the park that parents left their kids to play. Naruto at least wanted to play tag and other games for a few hours today. Naruto was now in a rush to find a mask stall.
'Mom said to see if there's someone else manning the stall today, but if that guy is there today I should just grab a mask and leave the Ryo on the counter while he's busy.'
Luckily a girl ran the mask stand today. Naruto didn't know who she is, but anybody would be better than that man. Naruto went up to the counter and asked for an owl mask. As the young lady reached for a mask he interrupted her and asked for one of the bigger masks.
"You know those are for adults right? This small one would fit you better." - "Ah, yeah, you're probably right! But it's a gift, the mask isn't for me, I'm giving it to someone! Besides, I've already got a mask"
"Oh? Is it for your mom little boy? I think she'd prefer flowers." - "No, uh. Just let me buy it you know? It's not for my mom, and I'm not sure she'd want flowers anyway."
"So for a kind older sister perhaps! Are you trying to get yourself a girlfriend?" - "No!"
"Hmm, I'll sell it to you IF... you give THIS nice older sister a kiss on the cheek!"
Embarrassed, Naruto leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, snatched the mask away, and left 5,000 Ryo on the counter, not really willing to wait for his change, especially for just a few Ryo he found on the ground.
"My, my. Your mom must be one tough cookie if you're not sure she'd like you to bring her flowers." She said to herself as she watched him walk away with his mask. Holding her cheek and leaning on the counter she thought 'He didn't even pay the full price, Guess that's my fault for not telling him though... Hope it doesn't come out of my pay.'
Naruto stuffed the mask away in his jacket, where he had his other mask. it wasn't time to worry about it just yet, It was time to go have fun like his mom had said, but first, that yakisoba! He made a B-line straight for Ichiraku's stall. He didn't even need to look for it, His stomach could always lead him to Ichiraku's ramen. Or, at least it felt like it was his stomach leading him, Naruto wasn't one hundred percent sure.
Luckily Ichiraku Teuchi spotted him and waved him over to the side. It looked like a couple of ninja that didn't like Naruto were in line and if he had to queue behind them it might lead to a confrontation.
"Thank you sir, I brought some money today just so I could try your yakisoba" - "It's on me today, just sit behind the stall while you eat so you can have some peace and quiet"
"Will do!" Naruto beamed as the man smiled back at him and found a spot to sit under a tree. It was really nice, the view and the food. Naruto was surrounded by the colorful lights, decorations, and the warm atmosphere and nobody, absolutely nobody, was glaring at him. Today was the first day Naruto felt more welcome than unwanted in Konoha. One day... 'One day, everyone will welcome me! I'll have lots and lots of friends, and nobody will look at me like that again! Believe it!'
Finished with his noodles, Naruto made his way to the nearest trash bin before heading off to go play. It didn't take him long to reach the play area. Kids were already playing tag and hide and seek. Naruto first went up to some kids he already knew.
"Sakura! Minami! Can I play tag with you?" - "Hmm, Sure, but you're it and we get a 5 second head start! Go!"
"Minami! Naruto's really good at tag, we should have played hide and seek!" - "I have a plan! We run together and then when he's about to catch up, you run left and I'll run right and we'll meet back up behind him and do it all over again!"
"Alright but if he tags me because of you, I'm getting you first!"
They played a few rounds of tag before mixing it up and turning it into freeze tag. A few kids had joined them and it didn't take long before everyone decided Naruto would always be it. He just ran too much and too fast to let him run around unfreezing people.
"Come on guys, at least make a rule that the frozen have to stand off to the side or sit down until they're tagged back in!" -"""Fine"""
"One more round though, then we play hide and seek!"
"Sure!" - "I think this'll be it for me guys, my mom will be back soon to take me to see my aunt!"
"Ok, you can play until she gets here though can't you?" - "Yeah Naruto, I just won't play hide and seek."
Naruto ran and ran for hours playing tag. It was fun hanging out with kids his age. He was fine with playing hide and seek too. Really, he was fine with playing anything, he just really liked to play with the other kids.
Naruto thought back on what his mom had told him. 'Yeah, I think she meant this. Having fun, running around laughing instead of worrying about disappointing her and trying so hard to learn my head starts to hurt.'
'There's that feeling again. Mom's telling me she loves me, I can feel it. I love you too mom.' Bright eyes and a smile on his face, Naruto had just found the third kid. There was only Sakura left now, but he would find her soon. Hidden behind the lamppost probably.
Next was kickball. Naruto was really bad at it. When it was turn to kick the ball, he had accidentally stepped on it and slipped, hitting his head. He was able to laugh about it with everyone else though and on his next turn he had actually managed to kick it.
Finally it was getting late and parents had started picking all their kids up. Naruto just walked away as the other kids started leaving. "You're not going to wait for anyone today Naruto?"
"I'm meeting friends to go watch the fireworks together. I don't have anyone coming to pick me up" - "Oh, ok then."
'Sakura is nice.' And she had been nice to him. Naruto wished he hadn't lied to them. His only friends didn't know he didn't have parents. He always said his parents were busy and would get him late or would just tell him to go home himself. Probably only Iwako knew he didn't have parents. Naruto just didn't want them to treat him weird. The kids at the orphanage never really hung out with other kids and Naruto figured they might start avoiding him if he let them know.
"Naruto! Over here!" Speaking of lady Iwako, she was waving at him and trailing behind her was a horde of kids including one Yuma who just nodded his head at Naruto.
"Naruto nii-san, we're going to see the fireworks. Will you come with please?" - "Yeah, please!"
Little Chise looked up at Naruto with her tiny hands clasped and two other little girls joined in dragging him into the group. These were girls Naruto had read stories to and taught how to read. Their upturned eyes were super effective and Naruto could only smile as he held their hands and walked with the group to a small clearing.
The fireworks were beautiful, and surprisingly loud. Naruto had been told about the lights show but he had the idea in his head it would just be lights. No sound. Of course when he thought about it, the sound made it way cooler. He didn't think it would be the same without it.
When the fireworks ended, Naruto waved the kids goodbye and gave lady Iwako a hug. It was dark now, and time to head home. Naruto had to prepare a gift soon. First he took the fox mask out and put it on, letting his mother take over. Tonight, she would hunt. She wanted to teach him about the animals that were awake in the snow, and the ones that would hibernate, but on top of that, she was on the hunt for an owl. Her fur had already turned white for the season and she disappeared into the woods within Konoha's borders.
Kushina showed him where rabbits would burrow, where birds nested, how to find mushrooms under the snow and how to spot eagles and hawks and other foxes. Kushina showed him how some of the fish swam upriver this time of year, no longer stopping to eat or rest, and how some had disappeared from the stream entirely.
"You know Naruto, I'm proud of you for having fun today, but tomorrow you're making that mask." - "I know mom..."
"Ok. I'm having you give it to Hyuga Hiashi when you're done. You've read about the Hyuga family right?"
"Yeah, but, why am I making the mask? I get needing to learn the proper way but isn't theory enough? You told me the proper way to make it was easier anyways."
"It is easier, but that's not why you're making it. Suffice it to say some bad guys may be looking to start a fight with Konoha, and the Hyuga could use an eye in the sky to catch them." - "Oh, ok. Do you think I could sell these?"
"You're too young, better not or people will take advantage of you."
Kushina didn't like having to lie. She really had no Idea why Hiashi needs the mask. It was just a guess. She didn't want to reveal Naruto's Fuinjutsu studies this early. She would have Naruto claim he came up with it. It wasn't too far fetched, as the quote unquote "proper" version relied on a seal that would define the transformation based on the animal who's soul was trapped in the mask. It wasn't some secret technique worthy piece, it didn't have all the runes defining the animal at all.
It was only really useful to a few ninja, since the transformation wouldn't fool a sensor or Dojutsu wielding Ninja, but specific animals Would help such ninja extend the range and accuracy of their abilities. A smell based sensor would benefit from transformation into an animal that relies on smell. The same for the other two sensor skills. They would benefit from an animal that relies on their related senses.