In the past, Yura had never taken any notice of Naruto. She vaguely remembered the kyuubi attack and eventually learned what everyone her age and up knew. She liked kids and was a compassionate person… or else she would not care about Sasuke now, and she did care. But she’d never taken the time to really think about Naruto’s situation. She hadn’t even thought to notice that he didn’t have a guardian and was growing up alone. But he was, wasn’t he? And he was treated very ill, that much was plain. 

So no one had taught him to speak properly to strangers and elders, had they? She shouldn’t have been angry at him. Besides, he was just a child. What did she care what he said about her? It was the part of her that had been trained by her parents to be respectful that had gotten angry. Nevertheless, she would have only spoken to the boy sharply, not hurt him. She allowed Sasuke to pull her away from the situation though, ending the awkward situation for the moment. His hand was small and soft. Too soft for a ninja’s. But it was still somehow pleasant… like, sweet. It made her feel protective of him. Was that silly?

When Sasuke stopped and opened up to her, her heart lurched. She waited to respond until he was finished. She couldn’t answer his questions. But she put her free hand on his shoulder.

“If that’s how you feel, maybe you should run back and invite him to lunch with us? I bet he doesn’t have anyone to take care of him, does he? Or to train him not to speak like he does. I shouldn’t have gotten angry. So it’ll be an apology for me to cook for him.” She smiled slightly. “And it’ll be less dreary and quiet, I bet, as long as he’s around. What do you say?”

She held her arm out toward his grocery bag, offering to take it from him so he could go back to Naruto.