Chapter 2
After learning the little information available, the Nara trio decided to be on a simple lookout instead of starting an active hunt for the child. Not only did that option allowed more breathing room for the kid, it will also have less chances of raising suspicion. If the kid ends up being who the grown-ups suspect them to be, it is definitely the safer option to stay low with the whole thing.
A week passed,
Then another,
And finally, a month after the first encounter, as Shikamaru and his dad were heading to the academy a red blur passed just a couple of meters ahead, crossing the road straight into an alleyway. Such red could not have been from an animal, so the logical conclusion was that it was the kid, which means the two Naras had to act quick.
Shikamaru went first, as he is much less intimidating — especially compared to his father — and turned the corner. There, preparing to climb the wall, was that critter of a human. Still just as dirty and wild as a month ago. The figure froze upon sensing a new presence, clearly wanting to run judging by how tense their little body got, yet the smell of food caught their attention. Shikamaru pulled out his lunch for the day and placed it down, backing up to give the other person some room. The redhead was hesitant, but saying no to free food would’ve been a sin, so as quickly as they could, they grabbed the food and ran.
Shikaku was watching from afar, and unfortunately his suspicions were confirmed. The feral child was in fact the late Hokage’s, their old friends’ son and the jinchuriki of Konoha. He had the signature Uzumaki-clan bright red — even while dulled with all the dirt — hair, and the whiskers of the nine-tailed fox. It was disheartening to see just how someone who should’ve been treated as a hero ended up. The Hokage promised that Naruto was properly dealt with and that the clan leaders of Konoha should not worry, but the sight before the Nara-clan leader screamed a completely different story. That day, when he came home, Shikaku talked with Yoshino, and they agreed that that is no way for a child, especially of their deceased dear friends, to live. They will get Naruto to trust them, and they will give him the family and love he was supposed to be surrounded with.
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A couple of days later, Shikamaru and Naruto met again, this time on the way to the park from school with Chouji. The two boys were discussing a new place to visit when a suspiciously familiar lunchbox slid in front of them. Looking over at where the object came from, Shikamaru noticed the redhead sitting by the bushes, ready to run once more, but not moving just yet.
“Thank you”, the Nara said towards the child as he picked up the box, and took out a protein bar to gently slide over to the observer.
And once again they grab the food and run.
“Who was that?” Spoke up Chouji, who had never seen the other kid before.
“A child”
“I can see that.”
“Ts. Just some kid I met a couple of times. My dad seems to recognize ’em”
“Are you going to help them?”
“It’s too much work”
“Hm”
But Skikamaru’s eyes were set, and Chouji could see that as clear as day.
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Over the course of the next month Shikamaru, his parents, or Chouji would be able to get the red-haired kid to grab some food or snacks. Sometimes before school, sometimes after, rarely during the middle of the day, and most often at night.
And on one of those nights when Shikamaru could not fall asleep, and he went for a little walk he noticed a tiny figure crouching a small distance from the gates to the Nara-clan compound.
It was that child.
Shikamaru went to allow them to get in. And surprisingly, they followed him all the way home to the kitchen. It was clear that they’ve never truly been in an actual house, the wonder written all over their face.
“…, do you, want something to eat?”
…
…..
…….
The kid only tilted their head, staring at the middle of the Nara’s body.
At that moment Yoshino decided to check out the turned on lights in the middle of the night, clearly irritated at the idea of her son not sleeping.
“Shikamaru? Why are you—, oh, well hi there”
The kid, Naruto, got startled, but stayed, continuing to observe.
“I couldn’t fall asleep, and noticed them outside”
“…,h, mm, h, hi,?…?”
Now it was time for the Naras to get startled, as the kid spoke, quietly and unsurely, but spoke.
“Hi,.. yes” Shikamaru decided to answer,
And that seemed to get the kid happy, as they smiled with all their teeth, showing off their sharp canines, and to even properly get up, albeit shaky, on two legs.
“Hi” they said again, this time with confidence and happiness.
“Hi” Yoshino joined
“What’s your name?”. She of course knew that it is Naruto, the question was more about if he knew that himself.
But unfortunately, the kid only got confused by the question.
No one had ever asked him any questions, so the idea was foreign to him.
Getting to that conclusion herself, Yoshino decided on a different approach. She kneeled down and patted the place in front of her. Thankfully the kid got the memo to come close, but for that he went back to being close to the ground.
She put out her hand, waiting for other to relax a bit, and spoke,
“Your name is Naruto”
She pointed at him
“Naruto”
“N, mmm, Na, …to?”
“Na,”
“Na.”
“ru,”
“u.”
“r-u,”
“rhrrr, u.”
“to.”
“to.”
“Na-ru”
“Na……rrrrrr. u”
“to.”
“To. Na, rrr, u, … To”
Naruto pointed at himself, figuring out the pronunciation of his own name.
“Narr, u,to”
The wonder in his eyes never leaving, the whole ordeal too new for his mind. No yelling, no hitting, no throwing things or running away. Just some people talking to him, actually to him.
“Narruto”
It felt weird, but so absolutely comforting.
And the Naras never made any movements to get him out, and so he stayed, equipped with his own name for the first time since the orphanage.
Shikaku, who’s been staying in the shadows the whole time, smiled, knowing that the first step was finally taken, and that Naruto will now have the family he always should’ve had.