Chaapter 29: Life Goes On (Patreon)

The air around Training Ground Three felt strangely normal, considering the last month had been anything but.

The grass was green, the sky was blue, the trees rustled lazily in the wind. Everything looked like it always had, as if nothing had changed.

Except everything had.

Naruto stood with his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels, staring at Kakashi, who was standing there like they hadn’t just gone through a whole invasion, multiple near-death experiences, and the appointment of a new Hokage.

Sakura stood to his left, arms crossed, face drawn tight. She looked a little lost, like she was trying to figure out how to go back to normal after everything.

Sasuke stood to his right, silent as ever, though there was something darker in his eyes than before. His fingers twitched every few seconds, like he was thinking about something else. Something far away.

Naruto exhaled through his nose.

And then there was Kakashi.

Their teacher stood in front of them, hands in his pockets, slouching in that lazy way that suggested nothing in the world bothered him.

"Alright," Kakashi said, eye crinkling in what was probably a smile. "It’s been a rough few weeks, but Team Seven is officially back in action."

Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly.

Sasuke didn’t react.

Sakura let out a breath, rubbing her temples.

Kakashi ignored all of it. "Now, we’re going to start by taking on some C-rank missions to—"

"Why am I still a genin?"

The words cut through the air.

Kakashi blinked.

Sakura’s head snapped toward Naruto.

Sasuke tilted his head slightly.

Naruto stared at Kakashi, expression blank, voice flat. "I defeated Gaara. I saved the village. Dattebane."

Kakashi tilted his head. "That you did."

Naruto’s brow furrowed. "So why am I still a genin?"

Kakashi shrugged. "I don’t know. Did you do something to piss off Lady Tsunade?"

Naruto blinked. "No."

"Then I can’t do anything about it."

Naruto frowned. "Oh."

Silence.

Sakura sighed, rubbing her forehead again. "Naruto, you do realize promotions aren’t just about strength, right?"

Naruto’s frown deepened. "I fought a jinchūriki. Beat him. Saved everyone. What else do they want?"

Sakura hesitated.

Sasuke scoffed. "Probably proof you have a brain."

Naruto shot him a look. "I have a brain."

Sasuke gave him a long, slow look. "Debatable."

Naruto scowled. "You’re still a genin too."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because I didn’t take the exams."

Naruto crossed his arms. "So? You think you’d have passed?"

Sasuke’s jaw tightened slightly, and Naruto could tell he was thinking about it.

Kakashi clapped his hands together. "Alright, alright, enough of that. Whether you’re genin, chūnin, or Hokage, you still have to take missions, so let’s focus on that."

Naruto huffed, kicking at the dirt. "This is dumb."

Kakashi’s visible eye curved in amusement. "A lot of things are."

Naruto grumbled under his breath, but let it drop.

For now.

—ToT—

Karin was tired.

She’d spent all day running errands—buying groceries, picking up medical supplies, dodging annoying Konoha villagers who still gave her weird looks even though she’d been living here for a while now. It was exhausting.

All she wanted to do was go home, throw herself on the couch, and yell at Naruto for whatever dumb thing he’d done today.

She turned the corner and stopped in her tracks.

Oh.

Not this again.

Naruto was sitting cross-legged on the ground in front of their apartment building, completely surrounded.

By animals.

Again.

A dog was draped across his lap, paws twitching as Naruto idly scratched its ears. A cat sat curled up on his shoulder like it belonged there. Three more cats were pressed against his legs, tails flicking in slow satisfaction. A fox—a fox, for some reason—was curled up near his feet. A family of birds perched on his head, pecking at his hair like it was a nest. And there was a rabbit tucked under his arm, looking like it had just accepted its new life as Naruto’s pet.

Karin stared.

Naruto yawned, stretching his arms. The birds on his head fluttered their wings in mild protest but didn’t leave.

Karin pinched the bridge of her nose. "Naruto."

He turned his head, blinking at her lazily. "Oh, hey, Karin. You’re back."

Karin took a deep breath, stepping closer. "Naruto. What the hell."

Naruto looked down at himself, then at the animals around him. He frowned slightly, like he didn’t understand the problem. "What?"

Karin waved a hand at the scene in front of her. "Why?"

Naruto tilted his head. "Why what?"

"Why are you covered in animals?"

Naruto shrugged. "Dunno. They just showed up."

Karin stared at him. Then she stared at the animals.

The animals stared back.

The cat on Naruto’s shoulder flicked its tail.

The fox yawned.

The rabbit wiggled its nose.

Karin ran a hand down her face. "They just showed up?"

"Yeah," Naruto said. "I was sitting here, and then boom, animals."

Karin inhaled deeply through her nose, trying very hard to stay calm. "Naruto."

Naruto blinked at her. "Yeah?"

Karin pointed a stiff finger at the fox. "Where did you even find that?"

Naruto looked down at the fox. "It found me."

"Why is it here?!"

Naruto shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe it likes me."

"That’s not normal!"

Naruto looked genuinely confused. "It isn’t?"

Karin threw her hands in the air. "No! Normal people don’t randomly attract wild animals wherever they go!"

Naruto tilted his head again. The birds shifted slightly. "I mean… you don’t have animals around you?"

"No!"

"Huh." Naruto looked thoughtful. "Weird."

Karin felt her eye twitch. "You’re the weird one!"

Naruto frowned slightly, scratching the dog’s ear again. "That’s kinda rude."

Karin groaned. "Naruto."

"What?"

"Get rid of them!"

Naruto blinked at her. "Why?"

"Because we can’t have this many animals in the apartment!"

Naruto pouted. "Why not?"

"Because it’s an apartment, not a damn petting zoo!"

Naruto hummed, still scratching the dog’s ear. "Sounds like a personal problem."

Karin threw her hands up in frustration. "I—!"

The cat on Naruto’s shoulder meowed.

Karin stopped, staring at it.

The cat stared back, eyes half-lidded, completely unbothered.

Karin groaned again, rubbing her temples. "You are impossible."

Naruto nodded. "I know."

Karin took a deep, steadying breath. "Okay. Fine. At least tell me you’re not planning on keeping all of them."

Naruto hummed, tilting his head in thought. The birds on his head shifted again.

Karin narrowed her eyes. "Naruto."

"I might keep one," Naruto said.

Karin scowled. "One."

Naruto nodded solemnly. "One."

The fox yawned again.

Karin didn’t believe him for a second.

—ToT—

Naruto wasn’t expecting a visitor.

He was sprawled on the couch, one leg hanging over the side, mindlessly watching a moth flutter near the ceiling. Karin was in the kitchen, muttering about how they were almost out of food again because Naruto kept feeding stray animals. It was a normal, peaceful evening.

Then came the knock.

Naruto turned his head, blinking slowly. He wasn’t expecting anyone.

Karin peeked out from the kitchen. "If it’s another animal, I swear to god—"

Naruto sighed, rolling off the couch. He opened the door.

Sasuke stood there.

Naruto stared. Sasuke stared back, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"...Yo," Naruto said.

Sasuke gave him a slight nod. "Hn."

Naruto blinked. "You need something?"

Sasuke stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, barely glancing at Karin as he walked past her toward the couch. Karin frowned but said nothing.

Naruto shut the door and followed.

Sasuke sat down, leaning back like he belonged there. "I heard you fought Itachi."

Naruto tilted his head. "...Yeah."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "Tell me about it."

Naruto plopped onto the opposite couch, stretching his arms. "What’s there to tell?"

Sasuke’s jaw tightened. "Everything."

Naruto stared at him for a moment, then sighed, rubbing his neck. "Well… he and that fish guy showed up in Tazuna Gai. Said they were there to take me."

Sasuke’s fingers curled slightly. "And?"

Naruto shrugged. "I fought them."

"How did it go?"

Naruto tilted his head in thought. "Fish guy bled a lot. Itachi had to use a chakra armor."

Sasuke stiffened. "You forced him to use Susanoo?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. He tried to put me in a genjutsu, so I showed him some things."

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. "...What things?"

Naruto blinked. "Different ways to die."

The room went silent.

Karin, who had been quietly listening from the kitchen, glanced toward them with a frown.

Sasuke’s fingers twitched. "What do you mean?"

Naruto tilted his head slightly, eyes calm and eerily unreadable. "When Itachi put me in Tsukuyomi, I gave him a little… experience."

Sasuke’s throat bobbed. "...Experience?"

Naruto blinked. "Three thousand deaths."

Sasuke’s breath hitched.

Karin stared at Naruto, her spoon hovering over a pot. "...Three thousand?"

Naruto nodded. "I think it overwhelmed him. His Sharingan started bleeding."

Sasuke’s jaw clenched.

Naruto hummed. "He didn’t say much after that."

Sasuke’s fingers dug into his knee. "...And you let him leave?"

Naruto stared at him.

Sasuke’s teeth gritted. "Why?"

Naruto tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"You could’ve killed him."

Naruto blinked. "Yeah."

"Then why didn’t you?"

Naruto sighed, stretching his arms. "Dunno. Didn’t feel like it."

Sasuke’s fingers twitched violently. "Didn’t feel like it?"

Naruto nodded.

Sasuke shot to his feet, glaring down at him. "You had a chance to kill him and you let him walk away?"

Naruto blinked up at him. "Yeah."

Sasuke’s hands curled into fists. "Why?"

Naruto tilted his head. "Would you rather I killed him?"

"Yes!" Sasuke hissed, eyes burning. "He killed our clan! He killed our parents! He destroyed everything!"

Naruto’s gaze was eerily calm. "...And?"

Sasuke’s breath hitched. "And?!"

Naruto shrugged. "You really think killing him will fix anything?"

Sasuke’s nostrils flared. "It’s not about fixing things! It’s about justice!"

Naruto hummed. "Justice, huh…"

Sasuke’s hands trembled. "You don’t understand."

Naruto stared at him. "Maybe not."

Sasuke’s fists clenched tighter. "I need to kill him."

Naruto tilted his head. "...Why?"

"Because he took everything from me!"

Naruto blinked slowly. "...And killing him will give it back?"

Sasuke’s breath stuttered. "That’s not—!"

Naruto sighed, rubbing his neck. "You’re loud."

Sasuke trembled, glaring at him. "You—!"

Naruto held up a hand. "You’re getting worked up for nothing."

Sasuke’s teeth ground together. "Nothing?!"

Naruto nodded.

Sasuke let out a sharp breath, hands shaking. "I hate you."

Naruto blinked. "Okay."

Sasuke let out a shaky exhale, fingers twitching.

Naruto stretched, looking up at him. "Are you done yelling now?"

Sasuke’s jaw clenched. "You don’t understand."

Naruto shrugged. "Maybe not."

Sasuke’s fingers trembled.

Naruto blinked at him. "You should sit down."

Sasuke scoffed, turning toward the door. "I’m leaving."

Naruto hummed. "Okay."

Sasuke stormed out.

The room was quiet.

Karin exhaled through her nose, setting her spoon down. "...You really don’t know how to talk to people, do you?"

Naruto tilted his head. "Did I say something wrong?"

Karin gave him a flat look. "What do you think?"

Naruto hummed. "...Dunno."

Karin sighed, rubbing her temples. "You’re impossible."

Naruto blinked. "I know.”

—ToT—

Naruto had just been about to enjoy a lazy afternoon nap when there was a knock at his door. He groaned, rolling off the couch, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he shuffled to the entrance. When he pulled it open, Sakura stood there, arms cradling something wrapped in a cloth.

Naruto blinked. "Yo."

Sakura frowned. "Naruto, I need your help."

Naruto stared at her, then at the bundle in her arms. He could hear faint, wheezing breaths.

He tilted his head. "You brought me a cat?"

Sakura adjusted her grip. "It’s sick."

Naruto blinked again. "Then why’d you bring it here?"

Sakura huffed. "Because you’re good with animals."

Naruto frowned. "But I’m no healer."

Sakura bit her lip, looking down at the trembling little thing in her arms. "I didn’t know where else to go…"

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head. He peered closer at the cat. It was a tiny thing, barely older than a kitten. Its fur was matted, its breathing shallow.

"Vet," Naruto said simply.

Sakura nodded quickly. "Right."

Without another word, Naruto stepped past her, already walking.

"Wait, you’re coming?" Sakura asked, surprised.

"You brought it to me," Naruto replied. "So I gotta see it through."

Sakura hesitated, then nodded, falling into step beside him.

The walk to the vet was quiet. Sakura cradled the kitten carefully, eyes flicking to Naruto every so often. He had his hands shoved in his pockets, eyes forward, his usual lazy stroll in place. He didn’t seem particularly bothered by any of this.

"You like animals a lot, huh?" she asked eventually.

Naruto shrugged. "They like me."

Sakura glanced down at the kitten. "...This one doesn’t seem like it had anyone to like it."

Naruto hummed. "Now it has you."

Sakura blinked, then looked away, a small smile forming.

They reached the vet, and the moment the staff saw the state of the kitten, they immediately took it from Sakura’s arms and rushed it into a back room.

Sakura and Naruto sat in the waiting area.

Sakura fidgeted slightly, glancing at Naruto. He looked comfortable, slouched back in his chair, eyes half-lidded.

"You’re weirdly calm about this," she muttered.

Naruto tilted his head slightly. "Why panic?"

Sakura sighed. "I dunno. It just feels... sad."

Naruto hummed. "Yeah. But the cat’s still alive."

Sakura blinked.

Naruto’s fingers drummed against his knee. "If you find something broken, you fix it. If it’s sick, you heal it. If it’s hungry, you feed it. That’s all you can do."

Sakura stared at him. "...You really are good with animals."

Naruto glanced at her. "You’re keeping it, right?"

Sakura hesitated. "...I don’t know."

Naruto hummed. "You should."

Sakura frowned. "Why?"

Naruto shrugged. "You care."

Sakura looked down at her hands. "...Yeah. I guess I do."

Naruto stretched his arms over his head. "Then it’s settled."

Sakura blinked. "...That’s it?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah."

Sakura sighed. "You make things sound so simple."

Naruto tilted his head. "They are simple."

Sakura smiled slightly. "...Maybe."

After a while, the vet came out and told them the kitten was stable. It would need care, but it would live.

Sakura let out a relieved breath, a soft smile on her face.

Naruto stood, hands in his pockets. "See? Fixed."

Sakura rolled her eyes but grinned.

When they left, Naruto glanced at her. "Gonna name it?"

Sakura blinked, looking down at the little thing now curled up in her arms.

"...I’ll think about it," she murmured.

Naruto hummed. "Make it a good one."

Sakura looked at him and smiled. "I will.”

—ToT—

Tsunade sat behind her desk, fingers steepled as she regarded the three shinobi standing before her. Well, two were standing properly. Sakura stood with a straight back, hands clasped in front of her, paying attention. Sasuke, arms crossed, looked disinterested but was listening. And then there was Naruto, hunched slightly, eyes half-lidded, hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie, his three-quarters pants swaying slightly as he rocked on his heels.

Tsunade resisted the urge to rub her temples.

“Alright,” she began, “I’ve got a mission for you three.”

Naruto tilted his head slightly, watching her.

“It’s a B-rank,” Tsunade continued. “You’ll be acting as bodyguards for the prince of the Land of the Moon and his son, Hikaru. They’re returning home, and you’re making sure they get there safely.”

Naruto blinked slowly. “A prince?”

Tsunade nodded.

Sakura frowned slightly. “The Land of the Moon… it’s a wealthy island nation, isn’t it?”

Tsunade gave a slight smirk. “Glad to see you’ve been paying attention.”

Sasuke exhaled quietly. “So, what’s the catch?”

Tsunade sighed, leaning back. “They’re... eccentric.”

Naruto blinked again. “What does that mean?”

Tsunade gave him a flat look. “It means they’re annoying, Naruto.”

Naruto made a quiet “oh” sound.

Sakura looked mildly concerned. “Are they difficult clients?”

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. “They’re rich. That should tell you everything.”

Naruto hummed. “I don’t get it.”

Sasuke sighed. “It means they’re going to be spoiled brats.”

“Ah.” Naruto rocked slightly on his heels. “Sounds... bothersome.”

Sakura frowned. “If it’s just guarding them, why is this a B-rank?”

Tsunade’s expression turned serious. “Because there have been reports of people targeting them. We don’t know who, but someone out there wants to cause trouble for them.”

Sasuke’s fingers twitched slightly. “Assassination attempts?”

Tsunade nodded.

Sakura looked more serious now. “Do we know why?”

Tsunade shook her head. “Not yet. Your job isn’t to investigate—just to protect them until they’re home safely.”

Naruto tilted his head again. “And if someone does attack?”

Tsunade smirked slightly. “Then you do what you do best.”

Naruto blinked, then gave a small nod.

Sasuke sighed. “Are we traveling alone?”

Tsunade shook her head. “You’ll have Kakashi with you, of course.”

Naruto hummed. “Figures.”

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him. “That a problem?”

Naruto tilted his head slightly. “No.”

Sakura sighed quietly, already mentally preparing herself for a long trip.

Tsunade glanced over them one more time. “Any other questions?”

Sakura and Sasuke were silent.

Naruto thought for a moment, then asked, “Do they have pets?”

Tsunade blinked. “…What?”

“The prince and his son,” Naruto said. “Do they have pets?”

Sakura shot him a confused look. Sasuke just exhaled.

Tsunade sighed. “I… don’t know.”

Naruto hummed. “Alright.”

Tsunade shook her head. “You leave tomorrow morning. Pack accordingly.”

With that, she waved them off.

Naruto turned, hands still stuffed in his hoodie pockets as he walked toward the door. Sasuke followed silently.

Sakura lingered a moment. “Uh… do you have any advice for dealing with them?”

Tsunade smirked. “Be patient. And don’t strangle them, no matter how much you want to.”

Sakura sighed. “That bad?”

Tsunade’s smirk widened. “You’ll see.”

Sakura grimaced, then turned to follow her teammates.

As the door shut behind them, Tsunade exhaled, leaning back in her chair.

“…They’re gonna hate this,” she muttered to herself.

—ToT—

Naruto pushed open the door to his apartment, kicking off his sandals without much thought. The air inside smelled like home—faint traces of miso, something warm and familiar. The light in the kitchen was on, and sure enough, there was Karin, stirring something in a pot with a look of complete focus, red hair tied back in a messy ponytail.

She barely spared him a glance as she spoke. “You’re late.”

Naruto hummed, shuffling further inside. “Wasn’t in a hurry.”

Karin scoffed. “You never are.”

He made a noncommittal sound and plopped down onto the couch, stretching his legs out. His eyes flicked over to her. “You cooking?”

“No,” she deadpanned, stirring the pot. “I’m just standing here for my health.”

Naruto blinked, then gave a slow nod. “Fair.”

Karin huffed, rolling her eyes before glancing at him. “Why are you back so early? You usually laze around outside after a mission briefing.”

Naruto stretched his arms behind his head. “Gotta pack.”

Karin frowned. “For?”

“New mission. Guarding some rich guy and his kid.”

Karin made a face. “Ew.”

“Yeah.”

She stirred the pot again. “When do you leave?”

Naruto glanced at the clock. “In an hour.”

Karin blinked. “And you’re just packing now?”

Naruto blinked back at her. “…Yeah?”

Karin groaned, rubbing her temples. “You’re impossible.”

Naruto tilted his head slightly. “Eh. Probably.”

Karin turned back to her cooking with a sigh. “What’s the mission about?”

“Rich guy. His son. Someone might be after them. We babysit.”

Karin snorted. “Babysitting. You? That’s rich.”

Naruto hummed, nonchalant. “I don’t think kids are that bad.”

Karin gave him a look. “You are a kid.”

Naruto blinked. “…Oh. Right.”

Karin let out a breath, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”

Naruto let the silence linger for a moment before lazily getting up. He shuffled toward the kitchen, standing beside her, watching her stir the pot.

Karin sighed. “Don’t just hover.”

“Not hovering.”

“You are hovering.”

Naruto hummed, watching as she sprinkled something into the pot. He reached out, fingers ruffling through her red hair absentmindedly.

Karin stiffened. “What—hey!”

Naruto blinked, still petting her hair. “Soft.”

Karin went beet red. “I am not a dog, you idiot!”

Naruto hummed. “Didn’t say you were.”

“You’re petting me!”

Naruto shrugged. “Feels nice.”

Karin sputtered. “I—I—”

Naruto tilted his head, still running his fingers through her hair. “You don’t like it?”

Karin opened her mouth, then promptly shut it. Her face was practically glowing red at this point.

Naruto gave a lazy smile. “Thought so.”

Karin groaned, smacking his hand away. “Go pack, you idiot!”

Naruto huffed, giving her hair one last ruffle before stepping back. “Alright, alright.”

Karin crossed her arms, grumbling under her breath. “Not a damn guard dog at your doorstep…”

Naruto blinked, then tilted his head slightly. “You’re family.”

Karin stiffened.

Naruto stretched lazily, already heading for his room. “Gotta get my stuff.”

Karin stood frozen for a moment, then turned back to her pot, stirring aggressively. “…Idiot.”

Naruto just hummed in amusement as he disappeared down the hall.