Konoha's Academy.

It has been a day after the break was over, and Naruto with Rei now walked through the halls and corridors of the Academy, students' of which they were not so long ago. Some believe that it would seem and feel nostalgic, coming here after some time, but neither of the two were feeling that way, nor were they all that glad to be back in this place. Turns out, Hokage has long picked up the mission for the Squad 5, or at least for a part of it, and that was manning the Academy as the assistants for the Chuunin teachers, for an entire month no less. There was no explanation as to why they were going to do this mission, as Minato simply handed it to Naruto and Rei and has sent them both there. They were supposed to have been joined by the rest of their squad mates, but, unfortunately for the pair, there was a sudden slight change of plans.

"Ugh, I still can't believe that this blond asshole has sent Anko and the rest of our gang on a support mission!" Rei growled out, infuriated at such injustice. "And he couldn't send all of us there, only one Jonin and three Genins. "Lack of manpower and too much work needs to be done" my ass! Don't take it the wrong way, Naruto, but he must've pulled that bullshit just for you, I can practically sense it."

"Duly noted, and I agree." Naruto nodded to her, with Rei surprised at that one. "Remember the day we got our mission to the border, when he had asked me to stay? He had told me that he and Kushina were forgiving me for everything I have done, and were welcoming me back with open arms."

"Really? He seriously thought that after everything that had happened, you would wanna go back?" Rei asked of him, with Naruto shrugged at it. "So let me guess the rest: after that approach failed, he and his wife have decided that you would come back if you've rekindled your relations with Menma and Narumi, am I right?"

"Probably, because that's the only reason he would want me to stay for this mission, as far as I see." Naruto sighed. "And as for you, Rei… No offence, but I feel like he had picked you out of random, nothing more."

"None taken, plus I was the best student in the class, after Hiryu, and could've been a Rookie of the Year if I wanted to." Rei recalled. "But in all honesty, I wish were with the rest of the gang right now. I'm surprised that Anko had managed to get a support mission for us, without Hokage and Kakashi finding out. Also, where is the Scarecrow? I haven't seen him today, and he wasn't leaving with the team, so where did that idiot go?"

"He's probably training, since his idol had told him to do just that, leaving Anko in charge." Naruto thought out loud, with Rei agreeing with this. "And from what Anko had told me a couple weeks back, one of her friends, Kurenai, or whatever's her name, currently works in the mission distribution. Through her, Anko had probably managed to snatch the mission, certainly intended for all us, but… You can probably guess the rest."

"Yeah, Douche-Kage wants to have his estranged son back, and since Academy really is undermanned, I get to suffer through this along with you." Rei let out a frustrated sigh. "Any idea what we can really teach those brats? I mean something really meaningful, not the usual propaganda and stuff that they are showing up their mouths all the time?"

"We'll come up with something, though I'm surprised that you are willing to teach them something, Rei." Naruto said to her, as they've stopped at the right door and knocked three times. "Plan to retire and become a teacher any time soon?" Naruto chuckled, with Rei chuckling herself at that one before answering.

"Nah, not any time soon anyway. It's just… Well, my mom used to be a teacher at the Academy herself and from what Shingen had told me and Keiji, she was a damn good teacher here." Rei said with pride, followed by sadness. "I just… I wouldn't want to mess up at this. I know that all of it as is a sham, but still…"

"I get it, Rei." Naruto nodded to her, with her looking at him with a clear surprise. "You wanna make your mom proud of you, even if she's no longer here. That's something I can understand well, wanting to make your parents proud with your achievements."

"Spoken from the personal experience?" Naruto nodded to her, with the door sliding open and revealing Iruka Umino, smiling to both of them.

"Ah, Naruto, Rei, you are just in time." He said to them both, letting them in. "The class is just about to start up, and I've been informed that you will be handling several lessons. Right now, it's the Shinobi theory that they are going through, with the next lesson being the training outside. Hope you will be able to handle this assignment…" Naruto and Rei stepped inside of the classroom, with Naruto already starting to slightly regret taking this mission all together.

The class that they were assigned to teach was, accidentally, the very same one that Naruto had left behind, with both of his twin siblings in it. Now there was no doubt in both his and Rei's minds that this entire mission was a setup by Hokage, all so that he could get to be closer to his esteemed as he were to get closer, he would start to develop feelings for them, and later would start to yearn for his real family. Well, Hokage was going to be sorely disappointed, as Naruto wasn't planning on going back, and from the looks he was getting from them, Menma and Narumi weren't all that interested in getting Naruto back.

Rei looked around the class, noticing that all of the kids here were about the age of 9, with most of them being from the prominent Clans, with many Heirs in here, including ones from Namikaze, Uzumaki and Uchiha. It didn't take her even a second to guess that this was the very same class that Naruto had graduated from, and from the looks everyone was giving him, they weren't really looking forward to seeing him. She herself has gotten the looks, mostly from the female part of the class, most of who she quickly identified as fan girls looking at Rei as if she was a rival in love to them. She didn't pay much attention to their glaresor to the glare from Sasuke Uchiha, unhappy with the daughter of a notorious traitor, being his teacher.

Iruka, seeing how everyone's attention was on focused up on the pair, decided to speak up.

"Alright class! As you know, the Academy is experiencing a shortage of able teachers and Shinobi available to teaching." Iruka started. "Therefore, Lord Hokage has decided, that until this problem is solved, there will be Genin Teams on a monthly rotation that will supplement the staff. They will act as teachers, being recognized as our assistants, and they will be performing this, as this is considered to be a C-rank mission for them. As of today, Squad 5's Naruto Uzumaki and Rei Uchiha will be acting as your teachers in several subjects, including our current one. Any questions?"

"Yeah, why do we get this dumb loser and a traitor's daughter as teachers?" Kiba arrogantly asked of Iruka, with most of the class laughing at this one. "I mean, one had just run away from us, since he couldn't keep up, and this girl here is known for…"

"You get the two of us as your teachers, because your Hokage had decided so, Kiba." Naruto bluntly stated to him with a dead serious voice, making him only scoff, while others decided to subside. "And in case anyone wishes to question his decision, feel free to ask him yourself. If not, then all of you here will shut your mouths and if I hear another insult or laugh coming from you, then I'll make you regret it."

"Hey Naruto, you can't just threaten us like that! You aren't our teacher and you aren't even worthy of wearing that headband on your arm!" Sakura shouted out at him, and before Iruka could intervene, Rei unleashed a monumental amount of KI, shutting the entire class and making them shudder.

"Rei, where did you even learn to release so much KI, and you can't just do this on them!" Iruka reprimanded her, as if she was his student again. "They are just kids, and they are not ready to handle this. Not even your former classmates can possibly handle it, and you've used it like this on them? Don't you care about their health?"

"As a matter of the fact, I do, and if they can't handle a little bit of killing intent, then all of them can drop out of program immediately." Rei scoffed at him, with Iruka glaring at her. "The moment they became the students here, was the moment that they've signed up for the life of Shinobi, and part of it is handling life and death situations. You've tried to preserve our innocence, Iruka-sensei, tried to make it look like game or fun for us, but that's not how it works."

"You've said that we are their teachers now, is that right?" Naruto asked of Iruka, who nodded to him. "Well, then why don't you leave for your own class now, Iruka, and let me and Rei handle them. Don't worry, we won't hurt them, physically."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Iruka asked of Naruto and Rei, before letting out a frustrated and defeated sigh. "Fine, but I will hold you two responsible for whatever happens to them." And with that, Iruka has left the classroom, leaving Rei and Naruto in charge.

"Alright, lets' set some ground rules here, shall we?" Rei took her opportunity to speak up. "Neither Naruto and I like this anymore than you do, but orders are orders. So, for as long as we are here, we'll be teaching you, and you will listen to what we have to tell you. No complains, no arguing, no disobeying, no insulting, bragging, or any other idiotic thing you may want to do. And in addition to that…"

Rei took out of her holster a kunai, and quickly sent it flying towards Shikamaru's desk, hitting it, just one centimeter from him, and immediately awakening him. He looked pale as night at seeing the deadly projectile nearly hitting and killing him. He was not expecting to see this kind of a approach to work from one of the fresh Genins, nor did anyone else for that matter. Everyone's attention was immediately drawn first to Shikamaru, and then back to Rei, with Menma shouting out at her and Naruto.

"Are you trying to show off that you are better than us? Ha, my dad probably just let you two become Genins because you've beg him enough." Menma smirked at Rei. "Besides, Shikamaru and anyone of us here could catch that kunai with our eyes closed."

'Really, Menma, why the hell are you trying to show off in front of this female? She has no problem with kicking our butts here, and she had nearly killed me here, so why are you showing off now? Man this is too troublesome…' Shikamaru thought to himself, before noticing a smirk on Rei's lips. "Oh shit…"

"Oh, is that so?" She smirked at him. "Well, catch." At a blinding speed, Rei drew out another kunai, before sending right at Menma at a great speed.

Nobody was prepared for this one, and most certainly Menma, as he had panicked and ducked down, with the kunai passing above his head. However, it did not hit the wall as it was expected. Instead, it was caught… by Naruto, who was leaving the furthest row, with the kunai in his hand. As he passed by his siblings, he spoke up.

"You really should watch your mouth, Menma, especially with my friend here. She's not the type to create theories, but the type to prove them right or wrong. That goes for everyone here." Naruto simply stated, as he took his previous place, handing the kunai to his partner. "I'll make it short and clear: we teach, you learn, and if you learn well, then the next time maybe all of you will be able to catch that kunai without your eyes. Understood?" Naruto looked around, with none deciding to speak up or do anything, though Kiba, Sasuke, Menma, Sakura and Ino simply scoffed and decided to ignore them.

"Looks like that message was delivered." Rei simply said, before turning to Naruto. "How about we teach them a couple of things about observation? From the looks of it, they could use a few pointers."

"Good idea." Naruto agreed, before turning to face his former classmates. "Open up your notebooks and start writing…"

After the lesson.

Naruto and Rei, despite a small urge and desire to play a joke or two on the kids, decided to stick to their professional guts and have shared with students some lessons they've learned in observation and information gathering. The lessons that were taught in the Academy did provide some good insights, but they were never detailed or deep enough for good understanding of the subjects. Naruto and Rei have explained to the students what they've learned from their own experience, such as how to stay hidden during recon, how to effectively determine where person is just by sound, along with tactics and strategies best used for recon missions.

While some decided to simply ignore them, the pair was actually quite surprised to see that more than a half of the classroom was actively writing down the lecture. While what they've written down will not allow any of them to catch kunai blind, this will give them better understanding of recon and information gathering. And in the end, when the time for them to become Genin comes, they'll be thanking Rei and Naruto for what they've learned from them, even if the two will never hear it from them.

After the bell rang and with most of the class leaving for the break, Rei went to use the bathroom, leaving Naruto to wipe away the written on blackboard schematics and thesis. Once he was done, he turned around saw that both Menma and Narumi were standing in front of him, with Menma looking at him with a scowl. Letting out a sigh, Naruto decided to break the ice first.

"Is something the matter, you two?" He asked simply, putting down the eraser, before hearing Menma speak up.

"Yeah, why are you here again, Naruto?" Menma asked him directly, with Naruto letting out a sigh.

"To complete a mission given to me. I believe that part should be crystal clear to you two. Is that all?" Naruto answered to them, with Menma continuing.

"No, that's not it. Why are you teaching in our class, and why did you even take this mission? Do you think that we'll want to see your loser face again, or did you start to feel homesick and want to come home? Well, newsflash for dummies: you were evicted and ousted from both our Clans and home, so now you are just a clanless orphan, a nobody that no one wants." Menma gloated at Naruto, with Narumi sighing at her brother's attitude, while Naruto shook his head.

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Menma. Continue this trend up, and maybe later you'll be able to make some more complex thinking." Naruto bluntly said to him, with Menma growling at him. "Would it surprise the two of you that I don't want to go back in your family? I'm only teaching here because your father has decided to put me and my friend here, while also sending the rest of my Squad on a separate mission. Had it been my way, me and Rei would be on that mission, not stuck here teaching you how to be Shinobi."

"It's our family, and Dad is also your Dad." Narumi corrected Naruto, catching his curious eye. "Why did you have to leave, Naruto? Mom and Dad were very sad and still are sad that you've left. We know that you've been in some kind of a fight, but was it really necessary to abandon our family names like that? You may be not as good as Menma and I, but that is no excuse to act like you did. Just because we are better than all and you doesn't mean that you had to leave our home."

"And that's the attitude I've not missed at all: the feeling of superiority over everyone…" Naruto rolled his eyes at what his sister just said to him. "Narumi, I've left the house because I've had enough of you two, and your parents, along with all this talk about you two being better than everyone and me not being on par with all. A concept that I find completely wrong and utter garbage."

"But if this is true, then why don't you just acknowledge this?" Narumi asked of Naruto as if it was the most obvious thing. "Mom has been telling us that we are better than most people because of Kyuubi and our Uzumaki heritage, and considering that we get their personal training, being respected and admired as heroes, I'd say that there's no point in rejecting this truth. I mean, why else would Mom and Dad train us and give us the titles of Heirs?"

"Have it ever occurred to you that both Minato and Kushina are wrong in their judgment, as well as their decisions? Especially Kushina with her idiotic belief of superiority over everyone just because she is an Uzumaki." Naruto stated to both of them, with Menma and Narumi not believing in this. "You two really think that they are infallible?"

"Duh, of course they are right in everything, especially when it comes down to your whining ass." Menma smirked at Naruto, who simply shook his head. "This is why Dad is the Hokage and Mom is the Head of Uzumaki Clan, and not that tailor guy."

"Face it, Naruto: Mom and Dad are always right and in everything. I mean, they are who they are, and they are our parents, and parents always know what's best for their children, right?" Narumi argued to him, with Naruto again shaking his head at this one. "Look, we had talked with Mom and she's ready to forgive you, and she even thinks that you could train with us. You may've been stripped of your family name, but isn't this what you've always wanted, to be with us, like as our equal?"

"Pft, this failure could never even hope to match up to us, Narumi. He has lost the right to being even in our shadow the moment Mom and Dad havestripped him of our family names." Menma scoffed at Naruto, who ignored that one. "I don't even know why they are even bothering with you now, like you could be of any use. Without you, our family is finally how it's supposed to be: powerful, strong, honorable, and without any useless garbage like you." Naruto simply shook his head at this again, before speaking up.

"Oh, you two arrogant fools…" Naruto saw the insulted looks on their faces, knowing that the message was delivered by this statement. "I don't even know whether to laugh, gloat or simply pity you. You want to know something, the real reason why I've started to hate our family so much and why I went out of my way to be kicked out eventually? I have realized that Minato and Kushina don't even understand what it means to be a real parent, nor did they ever care enough about me. And while they may care and love you, in whatever way they show it, but in the end, you two are nothing more but the PR instruments for them, cogs in the machine to further advance their own influence, reputation and power."

"Just what I would expect from a failure like you to say. Face it: you are just bitter and jealous about us getting all the deserved attention, while you were justly left out." Menma arrogantly stated to him. "I don't know why, and I don't really give a damn, but for whatever reason, Mom had asked us to tell you this: if you want back, then you can come back any time you want."

"Naruto, why don't you just accept your fate as a fact and start acting like you are supposed to? If you do that, I'm sure that Mom and Dad will be proud of you, and maybe Toad Sage and Dad will even let you sign a summoning contract." Narumi hopefully smiled to him. "Just apologize to them and us, and we can all be a happy big family, like Mom and Dad had always wanted us to be. Come on, isn't that worth putting aside your stupid pride?" Naruto simply looked at her with a momentary heated glare, before calming down and starting to walk towards the exit.

"This is no longer just about pride, Narumi, and I do not plan on following the same idiocy as you do. And tell Kushina that if she wants to have words, better come herself, and not send her cronies for it." With that, headed out to get some fresh air, while he still had the chance before the bell rang.

In the meantime.

Rei cleaned her hands after using the bathroom, before closing off the water and wiping her hands clean and dry with a hanker she kept. Having been finished, she exited the room and entered the hall, surprised to see someone already waiting for her right outside of the bathroom. That someone wasn't Naruto, but none other than Sasuke Uchiha, son of Fugaku Uchiha and second heir to the Uchiha Clan. He looked at Rei with a prideful and even arrogant look, with not budging at it completely. She wasn't surprised to see a member of Uchiha Clan glaring or giving her angry looks or towards Keiji for that matter. They simply had to get used to that, even though it was unwarranted.

Clan Uchiha was always famous for its prowess, but also infamous for its near universal pride, arrogance and especially their belief of purity of blood. Uchihas preferred to marry and produce children only from the members of their own clan, much like Clan Hyuuga, believing that this will keep their precious bloodline as pure and powerful as possible. They had very little to no tolerance towards those that preferred to "mix things up" and so Rei and Keiji's father, along with their mother and themselves, weren't very much liked in the Clan.

After their mother's sacrifice and their father's death and accusations of him being a traitor, the life for both twins has become near unbearable among the Uchihas. Before, people at least had tried to pretend that they were kind towards them, but after their father's death, all pretenses and masks were off. Clan Uchiha holds no tolerances towards the traitors and half-breeds, and so members of this clan had started to systematically harass, humiliate and even driving the twins on the brink of death at one point. Clan Uchiha has made every possible attempt at making the twins' life miserable: from constant insults to seizing their parents' property and fortune through near illegal means, away from the twins. Kakashi had done nothing about it, nor did he care about it, as did his precious Hokage. Had it not been for Shingen, Rei and Keiji would've probably ended up dying on the streets without a roof above their heads and empty stomachs.

Needless to say, Rei held very little love for Uchihas and had preferred to be associated as an Uzumaki, even if she did love and respect her father. Hence why she still used the Uchiha surname, along with antagonizing the Clan just for the fun of it. Rei simply blinked, before moving past Sasuke and towards the backyard to get some fresh air. Sasuke, insulted that she did not even acknowledge him and the fact that he was standing right in front of her, didn't take this lightly and so he beeline right in front of her, before speaking up.

"It's customary for someone like you to acknowledge a member of ruling family in front of you." He reminded to Rei, who simply rolled her eyes at him. "I demand to know why you didn't show respect to me just now and before, back in the class."

"Why should I show any respect to some dumb kid from one of the Clans?" Rei asked of him instead, with Sasuke looking insulted at this statement. "Just because you are an Uchiha or son of the Clan Head doesn't make you the center of the world, and that certainly doesn't mean shit for me. Now, if that's all, I'll be on my way." Rei was about to go on, but Sasuke stopped her in her tracks, suddenly dropping into a fighting stance, making Rei sigh. "Okay, what is this shit?"

"Fight me, now!" Sasuke suddenly demanded of her, shouting at her, already moving towards her in hopes of hitting Rei.

Rei didn't even need to utilize her Sharingan to see Sasuke's moves and come up with the counters. Standing seemingly still and defenseless, Rei saw how Sasuke had leapt at her, trying to roadhouse kick her in the face. Without any trouble whatsoever, Rei caught Sasuke's leg with her right hand, before pushing it upwards and releasing it. Sasuke now was upside down, nearly falling on his head in midair, before he received a strong kick in his back, sending him flying through the hall and landing on his back. Rei put her foot down and calmly walked towards Sasuke, who was struggling to get up, before she literally picked him up by his collar and spoke up to him.

"Okay, listen up here, punk. I really don't like it when people try to pick a fight with me, be they Uchiha, Hyuuga, Yamanaka, whoever. And I hate it when some dumb idiot is trying to prove something through picking on me or my idiot little brother. And I especially hate it when decide to simply straight up attack me without any good reason, and you've done just that, dumbass." Rei glared at Sasuke, who gulped. "Normally, I would beat the living hell out of anyone who had tried this shit with me. But since you are just a dumb kid, I'll let you off the hook easy this time, but try this on me or anyone else again, and you'll regret it." With this, Rei simply tossed Sasuke on to the floor.

"Leave Sasuke alone, you old crone!" Rei nearly had her eardrums burst at the combined shriek of two banshees that were Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno, rushing to Sasuke's side and protecting him.

"Jeez, and I thought Keiji's singing was horrible, but this is so bad, that for a second there I've thought about deafening myself just to save myself from it." Rei commented, looking at the two fuming girls in front of her. "Alright, banshees, what the hell do you two want with me now?"

"We know what you are after! You want to bully Sasuke into dating you, so that you can have him all to yourself, but we won't let you!" Sakura shouted at her, with Rei raising her eyebrow at this one and looking at them like at idiots. "You are too old for him, and there's not even an ounce of appeal on you, unlike us! And you are just an orphan, and people like you don't deserve to even stand near Sasuke!"

"Really? You think that I would lower myself as to try and snatch this?" Rei pointed at the standing up Uchiha boy. "Whatever the hell could anyone see in this duckbutted kid is beyond me, but whatever is your fetish. You can be safe, since I don't have an interest in his kind, and would much rather go out with someone who could both talk and back up his words with actions. Someone like Naruto, for an example."

"Naruto?!That disowned piece of trash and a constant convict?!" Ino shrieked at this one. "He is like the worst possible guy to be around, always either brooding, or scowling, or like, being an asshole all the time. When he was in our class, he'd just sit there in his seat and do nothing, yet there was always that menacing feel of him, like he hates everyone here. That, and not to mention that his own parents have disinherited him, which means he's just a worthless piece of garbage. Nothing like our Sasuke here."

"Talk about selective hearing and vision…" Rei shook her head, before speaking up to the girls. "Well, maybe he does hate everything and everyone here. I would, if I was forced to study here with you, and that's not taking into account how his own parents have fucked him up by first disinheriting him just for shits and giggles, and then forcing him to attend Academy with those arrogant brats. From what I've seen in these couple of months, he's shown himself to be a better guy than half the populace of this entire place. He is probably one of the few people I'd trust with my life, and… Huh, why the fuck am I telling you all of this?" Rei suddenly asked herself, before shaking head from any thoughts and speaking up before either of the girls could respond.

"Ugh, whatever. Go ahead and keep your precious Uchiha company or whatever, but if either of you three aren't on time for the next less, you'll be writing 5-page essay on what you've learned today, and I don't care whether you listened or not. Understand?" Rei looked menacingly at the trio, scaring them a little, before heading away from them to get some fresh air.

Two weeks later. Dumpling Shop

It has been two weeks since Naruto and Rei had received and proceeded with their mission as Academy assistant teachers, as they were now officially known. While it was clear to them this was nothing short of a ruse for Minato to get Naruto back into a family, the pair took this assignment as seriously as possible, since Shingen has nearly beaten such attitude in them during their trainings. And they did take it serious, serious enough as to actually think of it as their real permanent job, especially Rei, who suggested that she and Naruto would go over the teaching plan for their class. This, along with chewing on some dumplings, was what the pair was up to, as Rei spoke up after drinking up her tea.

"Alright, with Theory out of the way, next up is History on our list and that should be for the next two weeks." She said, as she and Naruto looked over the Academy plan, which they had gotten from Iruka. "From the looks of it, they were going to mostly gloss over the Second Shinobi World War and head straight towards the third one, before covering the recent peacetime… I think we should cover the Second War more, since it's the one where Konoha has had the worst losses and most defeats."

"Probably the reason why Academy doesn't want to go too deeply into it, but you are right, it's a very interesting and an enlightening topic." Naruto agreed with Rei, who looked at him with curiosity. "Aside from the emergence of Sannins, this war saw the full use of Shinobi from Hidden Villages, as well as exemplary tactics and strategies deployed by Hanzo the Salamander in defense of Hidden Rain. That's not to mention the devastating Uzumaki's spring and autumn campaigns against Kiri and Kumo, one of the main deciding factors of the latter two dropping out of war early on. A factor that is completely overlooked and forgotten as well…"

"Didn't know you were so into history." Rei noted out, looking at him with a surprise, with Naruto shrugging at this one. "You know, it occurs to me that aside from your skills and general history, I hardly know a thing about you. I mean, we've been partners for two and a half months now, and we don't even know what makes us tick. You probably know even less about me."

"Not that little, probably just as much as you don't know about me." Naruto argued. "But if you are curious, then go right ahead and ask whatever you want."

"Huh, and you wouldn't the least bit curious about me, would you?" Rei asked of him, with Naruto, after a little thinking, nodded to her. "Well, then how about a deal: I ask a question and you answer, then you ask me and I answer, and rinse and repeat. Sounds good?"

"Good enough for me. Go right ahead."

"Alright, let's start with what you really do in your free time?" Rei asked of him, with Naruto looking a little surprised at this one. "Always was curious as to how do you unwind yourself after the week. So, do you have a hobby or something?"

"Well, I usually either read something about history, tactics, or the manuals and scrolls on techniques and Jutsu, or I simply go on training and that's about it." Naruto simply stated to Rei, who was actually surprised at that one. "Not much in terms of hobbies, if you include occasional brawling with local idiots and being convicted, but it would seem that those two are starting to become a thing of the past."

"So, studying, training and nothing else?" Rei asked of Naruto, with him nodding. "Huh, I would've imagined that you would have a hobby or two, maybe like reading detectives or romances. Though with what shitty life you had, I guess I was a tad bit too hopeful for my tastes."

"Well, whether this helps or not, I was foolishly trying to impress Minato and Kushina back when I started, and after… It just started to help me keep my mind of things and not go berserk all the time." Naruto sighed at the memories, looking at his scarred knuckles. "Plus, it was a… relatively harmless way to relief stress. Well, same question."

"Oh, okay." Rei nodded to him, thinking about it. "Don't know if Keiji ever mentioned it or not, but I'm something of a self-taught culinary chef. Love to do a little experimenting with meat and spices from time to time, and I also like to take lessons from Aika on deserts. Although to be honest, Keiji is terrible judge, since he can stomach and eat practically everything without even tasting it, save for peaches."

"Peaches? Why is that?" Naruto was genuinely curious, with Rei nearly breaking into laughter at this one, before pulling out a photo and showing it to Naruto, who nearly fell of his seat at the sight, breaking into a laughter. "I-Is th-that…." Naruto couldn't finish as he laughed at what he just saw.

"Yup, that's him after I gave him a peach cake I cooked up. Turns out he is allergic to those things and he walked like that for a full week before Aika took care of him." Rei laughed along with Naruto at the memory coming back to her. "Oh, I wish you could've seen how he was trying to talk. It was probably the only time I rather liked listening to him blabbering about something, at least for a little while."

"I-I'd bet you were." Naruto calmed down before speaking up normally. "Anyway, no offence, but I'd never imagine you to be the cooking type. I was under the impression that you were, I don't know, listening to some rock music or something like that."

"Keiji is into music, or whatever that garbage he listens is called. I myself prefer something with a bit of fluidity and passion, like tango." Rei revealed with Naruto nodding to her. "And you, no preferences in music and dances, or it's always been only studying and training?"

"Well, I wouldn't say it has always been studying and training." Naruto rubbed his chin, recalling his past. "Actually, I was into dances a little a couple of years back, studied it a bit of waltz and some other dances, whilst working on my footwork in combat. And as for music… Maybe something orchestral, I'm not all that sure myself."

"Waltz, huh? Well, I've taken a couple of lessons of it myself. Maybe we could go for a dance someday?" Rei chuckled, with Naruto smiling to her. "Must be strange for you, to see a usually hard as hell me talking about all this nice and soft stuff, eh?"

"Not really. To be honest with you, I would've been more surprised and worried if you didn't have a soft spot." Naruto bluntly stated to her, with Rei raising an eyebrow at this one.

"Oh? And you would've been worried about me why? What's so wrong with not having a soft spot, huh?"

"If you had asked me a couple of months back, I'd say that nothing is wrong, but now…" Naruto let out a sigh, as he looked at Rei. "You know that I didn't have any friends back when I was still in the Academy, right?"

"Yeah, you've mentioned it a couple of times." Rei nodded to him.

"Well, what I probably have forgotten to mention is that back then, I didn't even have anyone, safe for Aika, to confine to or even talk to about something… redundant, meaningless or just plain stupid." Naruto said to Rei, who continued to listen to him. "I thought back then that it was okay for me to go on days without saying a word to anyone and just focus up on my stuff. But it wasn't until I've met Hiryu and Aika and their parents when I've realized that what I was doing wasn't what I really wanted and needed. I could put up a tough front and make it seem like I was fine without anyone, but in reality I was lonely, extremely lonely and that loneliness was starting to choke me down."

"You were starting to lose yourself?" Rei asked of Naruto, who nodded to her.

"More like I've already lost who I really was, or that part that made me into a breathing and living being. Back then, before our Squad, I think I didn't even "live", more like "existed". But after I got to know you all, after I've left the Hokage's family… I've again started to live, and it's all thanks to you and the rest of the gang, not to mention Aika and Shingen." Naruto smiled to Rei, who smiled back to him at the compliment. "So, bottom line is, having a soft spot is something that makes you more humane, and it's also something that gives you strength to go on. Without it, I'd say that it wasn't even worth being alive if you didn't have any feelings for anything."

"That's some topic for philosophers to think about… Also, I guess you had wanted to say this little monologue for a little while, hadn't you?" Rei smirked a little at Naruto, who simply shrugged it. "Well, at least now I know that beneath all the blunt and hard truth, there is something soft inside of you."

"Yeah, I guess you can say that." Naruto decided to change the subject back to the topic he was wondering about. "Although, I am still trying to get my head around the entire fact of you cooking. Never would've pictured you of all people to be a housekeeper and a housewife." Rei gave him a small glare before answering to him

"Just because I like cooking and keeping my house clean and all the stuff in orderly fashion doesn't mean that I'm like all the wives of Clan Heads, sitting home and doing only chores while their husbands out doing something meaningful and useful. And besides that, it wasn't my choice to start cooking and cleaning per say, more like a necessity." Rei sighed in a bit of sad tone. "After Dad had… passed away, Keiji and I were left with Kakashi, and that bastard couldn't cook for himself even if his life had depended on it, much less for anyone else. So, after getting sick of instant noodles every day for two weeks straight and a constant mess around me, I've picked up the culinary book and donned the apron and soon enough I found out I actually could cook, along with being pretty good in keeping the house clean. Before I knew it, I've began cooking and experimenting with meals just as a way to relax and unwind, as opposed to simply beating the crap out of the dummies. And as for keeping the house clean, I never could stand having a mess ever since Kakashi took us in."

"I'm still having some difficulties imagining it, but I think I wouldn't mind trying out some of your cooking." Naruto bluntly said to her, with Rei nearly chocking on her dumpling. "Hey, easy there. It's like no one had ever asked you that."

"Because no one ever has, until now." Rei coughed a little, clearing her throat, before drinking some tea. "You sure you want to? I mean, I'm even sure if I'm that good of a cook, certainly nothing like Aika. I may cook things that look good, but I'm not sure about the taste, since I was desperate enough with Keiji and…" Rei was going into something of a ramble, embarrassed a little at the request, with Naruto speaking up.

"I'm sure it'll taste good, and it'll probably taste better than anything I've cooked for myself." Naruto said to Rei, who blushed up at the compliment and having her heart beat up a little bit faster. "Okay, before we got off the track, what's your next question?"

"Next question?" Rei blinked, before recalling what they were doing. "Oh, that… Hm, how about… What types of girls do you like?" Rei suddenly asked of stunned Naruto, with him blinking at this one several times, while Rei had gotten a Cheshire-like smile.

"Oh, looks like I might've found myself a gold mine here, heh." She chuckled, with Naruto pulling himself back together.

"I just wasn't expecting that kind of question from you of all people." Naruto defended himself. "After all, if I recall correctly, you aren't exactly interested in all that "girly" stuff."

"Well, you weren't expecting that I would be into cooking either. And I'm not into all of that glamour girly stuff." Rei argued. "I'm just genuinely curious about a pretty normal subject. Well, if this makes you uncomfortable, then what types of people you like in general?" Rei changed the question, with Naruto, after some thinking, answering on it.

"That's a bit easier, thank you. Well, I'd say the people like you and the rest of our gang." Naruto answered truthfully and bluntly.

"Gotta be a little more specific here, `cause there must be some traits that you like more than others, right?"

"Yeah, you are right. I guess I like people that don't put up any facades and are direct about who they are." Naruto elaborated to Rei, who nodded to him. "I've been observing other people all my life and I think I've gotten pretty good at reading them, and from what I saw, most of them put up all kinds of facades. All just to hide away that they are greedy, lustful, prideful and all that stuff, as well as to appear like they are the best people in the world. With you and the rest of the Squad, there are no facades, no masks and no lies. You are just who you are and I really enjoy it, being with you and seeing the real you. Just like with you, Rei. I always find it very refreshing and even nice that you don't mince words, and have no problem telling what is on your mind. That and your ruby eyes are probably some of your best qualities." Rei's face heated up at this compliment.

"M-My r-ruby eyes?!" She stammered after she had heard the compliment. "M-My eyes aren't all that great, just a normal set with Sharingan attached and that's all to them."

"I'd disagree, but whatever you say. Sorry if I've made you uncomfortable." Naruto spoke up, with Rei shaking her head at this one.

"No, it's fine. I-It's actually was the first time when someone had complimented me in such a… romantic way." Rei said as her face was starting to hit another shade of red, with Naruto raising his brow at this one. "You know, you should be more careful with these compliments, or you could be misinterpreted and people would start thinking that you are d-dating both me and Akemi at the same time."

"Dating Akemi and you at the same time?" Naruto blinked at this one, thinking it all over. "I never really had any ulterior motive to compliment the two of you, only pointed out what was obvious and good about you two. But, if you think that's for the best, I'll be more careful with what I'm saying."

"Yes, please. Though it's nice, I wouldn't want Akemi to get the wrong idea about your relations. She is a bit of a romantic type and can often interpret things from a not so logical perspective." Rei said, calming down and letting herself cool off after such a heat treatment.

"Well I personally don't see anything wrong with Naruto continuing complimenting like that every now and then." The pair immediately turned their heads towards Aika, who just came into the shop and sat at their table. "Speaking from personal experience, a woman does love being reminded just how beautiful she is in the eyes of her husband or boyfriend. Shin rarely misses a chance to let out a compliment or two towards me in a day, especially when we are alone."

"I-I'll keep that in mind." Naruto nodded, before taking the initiative. "If you don't mind me asking, Aika, what are you doing in here, in the Shinobi district? You usually don't come anywhere near this place, if memory serves me right."

"I was just checking up on one of my old patients that live in this part of Konoha. I may not be a very popular person among most of Shinobi, but there are those that much rather trust me than Tsunade with medical checkups." Aika explained to the pair. "I was on my way home when I've heard the two of you talking about Naruto dating you, Rei, and my dear sweetie Akemi at the same time. Naturally, I got more than a little curious, so…"

"I-I can assure you that we aren't dating and there's nothing of such sort going on between the three of us. I was just telling Naruto to watch what he's saying out loud and…" Rei hurried up with the explanations, before Aika stopped her.

"Relax, Rei. I know you three well enough as to understand there is nothing of such sort going on between you." Aika smiled to them, before standing up. "Well, I see that you two are a bit busy at the moment with your academic duties, so I'll leave you two to it." Both Naruto and Rei realized that they've completely forgotten about their scheduling while they were talking here.

"Yeah, we should probably get this sorted out as soon as possible. Thanks for reminding about it." Naruto nodded to Aika, with him and Rei picking up the papers.

"No problem, hope you'll be able to teach those kids there something useful for a change." Aika smiled to them as she was on her way to the exit before recalling something. "Ah, and about you three being in a relationship. I can understand that it's not something people here may look at lightly upon, but to me and Shingen, that's not something to be raising any alarms over, just so you two know." That immediately got the instant reaction from Naruto and Rei, as they stopped sorting out their papers and turned to face Aika.

"Um, pardon? What do you mean exactly by that?" Rei asked of her, with Naruto having the same idea.

"Exactly what it sounded like: I've got no objections if you three were in relations together." Aika simply stated, seeing the clear shock on the faces of her adopted son and de-facto adopted daughter. "Perhaps I should clarify a little. You may not know it, but among Uzumaki limited polygamy, with two or three women being married to one man, wasn't something all that uncommon, considering that Uzumaki had a very large disproportion in terms of male to female population. From what Shingen had told me, there were at least two women on one man in Uzu. According to him and Mito, the reason why it was like that stems from Uzumaki's large losses in male population due to multiple wars with neighboring clans and invaders two hundred years ago. After dust had settled, Uzumaki males were simply too few and women were simply too many, so in order to effectively rebuild their nation, a limited polygamy was introduced, with the limit set at three wives on one husband as the max. Soon enough, this necessity has become a cultural and normal thing for Uzumaki."

"But you aren't an Uzumaki, so how can you be so cool with this?" Rei asked of Aika.

"Rei, I was raised by an Uzumaki and while I'm not exactly one in blood, in culture and behavior, I'm far closer to Uzumaki than Konoha's population." Aika reminded to Rei. "Although it wasn't something I could wrap my head around and objected to Shingen ever doing such a thing, to which he agreed. But after he and I've lived in Uzu for some time, I've come in terms with this concept, and even didn't oppose to him bringing Akane in to our family as a sister wife."

"My aunt? She and Shingen were close?" Naruto was surprised to hear this one, with Aika nodding to her.

"Oh, very close, nearly inseparable at times. She was actually both my main rival for Shingen and my closest and best friend." Aika smiled at the memory of Akane. "She did step down when she understood that Shingen and I loved each other, but I knew that Shin had feelings for her even after we were married. I've thought to myself and figured, that if I were to share Shingen with someone, I would only trust him to Akane. Had things went well, Akemi and Hiryu would've had a second mother and one or two more siblings to play with, but then an invasion of Uzu happened and Akane, much like most of the Uzumaki there, fell in battle, protecting their home. Shingen still can't forget or forgive himself for not being able to save her when he had the chance, or preventing the imprisonment of Founders and fall of Uzumaki."

"You sound like he had fought in that battle." Naruto pointed out, with Aika nodding to it.

"He did, as almost every Uzumaki, including your mother, Rei, Reiko, have come to their ancestral home to defend it. For Shingen, it was his sacred duty as one of Seven Archangels to defend Uzu with everything he had, as it been to Akane." Aika somberly said.

"Seven Archangels? Are they like Konoha's Twelve Guardian Shinobi that guard Daimyo?" Rei asked of Aika.

"In duties, maybe, but in substance… The Seven Archangels were always the fiercest, mightiest and deadliest warriors of Uzumaki, feared and respected by their enemies and friends. They pledged their lives and souls to protection of Uzumaki, First Prince and Founders, and they upheld this duty for five centuries straight, ever since they were chosen and blessed to battle by Founders. I don't know the whole story about them, but from what Mito had told me, each Archangel carries within them a piece of divinity, and that they have first appeared in time of greatest of needs for Uzumaki, having saved their people from certain death." Aika told the pair, who looked nothing short of amazed. "The Archangels have been the part of Uzumaki life for the entirety of its existence and being chosen as one of them is considered to be the highest possible honor for an Uzumaki. Akane and Shingen have both been chosen as Archangels shortly before the invasion of Uzu… And after it was over, there were far fewer Uzumaki left, and only two Archangels."

"Since Shingen is here at Konoha, then where is the second Archangel? Please don't tell me that it's Kushina." Naruto asked of Aika, who chuckled at this one.

"Don't worry. As far as I and Shin know, she was never even considered as an Archangel. No, it's unknown where the remaining Archangel is, but what I can tell you is that when Shin does find him, there will only be one Archangel remaining." Aika grimly stated to them, with Naruto and Rei exchanging looks. "Shin told you that the Founders were trapped in their temple thanks to a traitor. And he is pretty certain that it was the work of an Archangel, and all but one of them were found on the battlefield, and later when Akane was sent to deal with the demon… For Shin, finding this traitor is not just the matter of pride, honor and duty, but also the matter of justice and vengeance, as well as vendetta. And I'm in support of it. Now, I think I've said a bit too much already, so I'll be taking my leave. Naruto, I'm expecting you home before nightfall." Aika said to him before leaving the shop, with Rei and Naruto turning to each other, until she spoke up.

"Let's… Let's just focus on the schedule, okay?" Rei suggested, with Naruto eagerly nodding to her and agreeing.

"Yeah, sure. Now, I think we were on… Second Shinobi World War, the one glossed over?" Naruto regained his composure, as he took up the paper and looked at it.

"Yes, that one. At least four lessons and…" And they've returned to their work, with Naruto already putting aside all that he has learned, while Rei lingered a little bit on what she has heard today.

'He said that he would like to try my cooking… And that I have pretty eyes… And Uzumaki and polygamy mix… Ugh, what are you thinking about here, Rei?! Pull yourself together!' Rei angrily shouted at herself in mind. 'We've got a mission to take care first, so worry about your personal life later!'

Hope you don't mind that I've decided to focus up more on Naruto and Rei, decided to give them a bit of spotlight. Now, onto some details.

First up, why Naruto and Rei are so dedicated to their work. The simple and most accurate answer would be the professionalism and also an honest desire to show that they can and will teach those kids something they really need to know.

Next up on the list, The Seven Archangels. Yeah, they are a thing, and if you are wondering about them and what kind of a power they were and are, then think of them as Seven Deadly Sins from their respective anime. Archangels have certainly earned their reputation, and next chapters will reveal more about them and before you ask, I won't spoil how they are chosen and made, not just yet.

As for the romantic stuff, the seeds have been planted with Rei, but aside from that, I'm not revealing any more. Now as for Lion of the West, I'm still working on it, but I'm not sure if it'll be coming in this year or not. I will try to get a chapter before this year is through, but I can't promise you anything.

Comment, review, follow, favor, question and suggest, and happy holidays everyone and Happy New Year to all of you!

See Ya!