'Well, this is awkward.' Hiruko thought as he sat in a light grey room; in front of him was a table with built-in grills where several pieces of meat were cooking. And around him, sitting on cushions, was his new family, and an air of silence permeated the air.
Across from him sat Lady Mito in an orange kimono with the Uzumaki clan symbols on the back, with her red hair tied up in buns. On her forehead was a diamond mark; she was staring at Hiruko intently, smiling.
Next to her was Tsunade, who wore a grey mesh shirt and, over it, a teal-colored kimono with short sleeves and red lining. Around her waist, she wore a blue sash. She had her blond hair in a high ponytail, and around her neck was a crystal necklace.
Tsunade was eating the barbeque silently, occasionally taking sneaky peeks at Hiruko.
'She wants to ask me something but is either too scared or too prideful to ask.' Hiruko thought of using his observation Haki to analyze Tsunade.
"So Hiruko, tell us more about yourself. What do you like, dislike, and want to be?" A voice beside him asked, and turning his head, Hiruko saw a young-looking man with light brown hair and hazel eyes. He wore simple black pants and a grey shirt with the Senju Clan symbol. This was Mito's son, Arata Senju. Hiruko could tell that the man was uncomfortable by his presence or more caught off guard and didn't know how to interact with Hiruko.
'If I'm right, he and his wife just got back from a mission, meaning he probably just learned about my adoption today. Hiruko, though, taking a glance at the woman next to Arata, Yuri Uzumaki, She had a gentle face and demeanor, her hair the same red as Mito's, but instead of buns, it cascaded down her back.
Focusing back on Arata Hiruko, he was about to answer, but a knock on the door diverted everyone's attention.
Opening the door, a round-sized man with brown spiky hair came in with a black cart of various foods and did a polite bow before speaking.
"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but may I interest you guys in our new spicy rice balls free of charge?"
The man said respectfully,
Mito looking over said, "Of course, young man, but don't place one on that young man's plate; he'll take something sweet if you have it."
The man looking over to the person Mito was pointing at nodded slightly before walking around the table and placing a spicy rice ball in front of every person. However, when he got to Hiruko, he put down a tiny plate with several pink macaroons.
"This is a new pastry we're trying. We ask that before you guys leave, you leave a little review of these," he said, giving another polite bow before pushing the cart out of the door.
Hiruko, looking down at his macaroon, soon looked up at Mito, who was trying her rice ball in confusion.
'How did she know I hate spicy foods and love sweet ones?' Hiruko pondered internally. His dislike of spicy foods has been a thing from even his past life. And so had his like for sweet foods, but he has never even mentioned it to anyone.
Arata, seeing his confusion, leaned over and whispered to Hiruko, "You know, when I and Yuri got home from our mission yesterday, I saw Mom fully immersed in reading a file, and when I asked our family maid what she was reading. She told me that she had been reading that file for hours in an attempt to get to know a boy she adopted"
At these words Hiruko's eyes visibly widened in shock; Arata, seeing this, smiled.
'I don't know whether to be weirded out that there's a file on me down to the detail that I hate spice and love sweets. Or honored that she spent hours reading it to see what I like'
Though Hiruko pondered how to feel about this in his head, in his heart a tiny warmth permeated.
"What did you tell him, Arata?" Mito said, her face slightly blushing.
Under his breath, Aarata cursed himself; he had forgotten his mother was a sensor with all the village in her senses, maybe even further. Hearing him wouldn't be difficult at all.
—
Arata, his face bruised from Mito's relentless hits, turned back to Hiruko, who was using chopsticks to eat the barbeque.
"Hey Hiruko, you never answered my question about your likes, dislikes, and dreams." Arata said, his voice coming out a little strained.
"Oh well, my likes are sweets, a good sleep, and learning cool things. My dislikes are spices, annoying people, and the color yellow. And my dream is to have a family and protect that family." Hiruko said, slightly smiling.
Aside from Mito, everyone had the same thought in their head.
'How tough his life must have been for him to just wish for a family.'
Hiruko, seeing Arata, Yuri, and Tsunade's strange looks, felt awkward again.
Not wanting this to continue, Mito changed the subject.
"So Hiruko, you said you like learning new things. Is there anything you want to learn specifically?"
"Well, this is kind of embarrassing, but I don't know how to do the three basic jutsu yet." Hiruk said in embarrassment,
At this the room went silent with shock before Tsunade's yelling broke it.
"You're joking, right? I lost to someone who can't perform the three basic jutsu." Tsunade yelled, pulling her hair in frustration.
Mito, on the other hand, was more confused. "Why is that, Hiruko? It's obvious you have enough chakra; you're only slightly below Tsunade in that aspect."
At this statement everyone was even more surprised except for Tsunade, who was lying face down on the table as if questioning reality.
"You're telling me I lost to someone who can't use the most basic jutsu nor use his chakra that is near the same level as mine, and I'm a Senju."
"Hey Tsunade, if it makes you feel better, your physique is probably leagues above mine." Hiruko said, trying to cheer her up.
And it worked. Tsunade slightly perked up.
"For real, Hiruko?"
"Yea—" Hiruko tried saying, but before he could, Mito cut in with a sly smirk.
"Actually his physique isn't too inferior to yours; he just lacks your high vitality."
At these words Tsunade's voice visibly darkened. "I'm going to kill you." She said, lunging at Hiruko, mouth wide open as if trying to bite him.
Hiruko, sensing the danger, instinctively used the Press-Press fruit. Tsunade, caught off guard from the pressure, immediately went face-first into the table.
"Sorry, sorry, you scared me, so I accidentally activated my Kekkei Genkai," Hiruko said, his voice genuine, immediately withdrawing the pressure.
With no resistance Tsunade lifted her head; her face was beat red, and the faint imprint of the table marked her face.
'Oh shit.' Hiruko said as Tsunade started crying.
—
It now being the afternoon, Mito and the rest of the girls decided that shopping was the next course of action.
Entering Konoha's shopping district, Mito and Yuri immediately ran off with Tsunade to do "a little browsing," or so they said.
This left Hiruko to wander around with Arata.
"Follow me, Hiruko." Arata said, walking over to a bench without waiting for Hiruko's answer.
'His face looks serious. I wonder what's up. Hiruko said, following Arata to the oak bench.