Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Once home, Akira spent a good half hour calming his panicking brother. The blond bounced all over their apartment exuding nervous energy, insisting they needed to train. It took a while for the redhead to convince him that one night wouldn’t make a difference and it was more important to be well rested. In the end, it was the promise of ramen that did it.
After a quick dinner consisting of instant ramen for them both, they searched their supply box and started to put together their packs. Shuriken, kunai, some rope ―that actually went to Naruto, as he was best at setting up traps thanks to all the practice he got with his pranks―, a slingshot ―also Naruto’s―, a couple flash bombs ―those were for the redhead’s use, having won them on a bet with Shikamaru― and some smoke bombs.
Akira made a mental note to buy more rope and smoke bombs as soon as possible.
As Naruto checked on the small calendar in the kitchen to see which plants were due to be watered, the redhead walked over to their full bookshelf and browsed over the familiar titles. He paused when he noticed a couple of his books out of place, his memory aiding him in remembering their exact placement, but shrugged it off as his brother having moved them at some point.
After a moment of hesitation, he plucked out a familiar well-thumbed copy of ‘The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi’ and put it in his pack along with the rest of his things.
Satisfied, he checked again that everything was in its proper place ―except for Naruto’s plants, long used to their seemingly random placement that apparently had to do with sunlight and happiness according to him― before going into the bathroom to brush his teeth and change into his pyjama.
Once he was ready, he went top their bedroom. After setting the alarm for 4 o’clock in the morning, he climbed into their shared ―and only― bed, his already asleep blond octopus of a brother immediately latching onto him.
After a mournful look at his own beloved sleeping cap ―grey with triangular puppy ears― sitting on the nightstand just out of his reach, the child closed his eyes.
He didn’t even have time to wonder why their jōnin-sensei’s name had sounded so familiar before he drifted off to sleep.