• INSIGHT ON THE PRINCE'S SIDEKICK •

There were times Naruto wished that he wasn't an only child, especially in times when his father was too busy governing the country to pay any attention to him. He wished he at least had a mother comfort him but she wasn't anymore, not since three years ago. Ever since she died his father buried himself in his work, barely having time for him or even himself.

Naruto was so lonely in his big house despite the amounts of maids and butlers they had. None of them saw him for who he was, he was always going to be the president's son to them all. It was for this exact reason he hid away from the public. It was also the exact reason he liked to camp at Sasuke's house. It was also the reason he was so touchy and clingy towards anybody that didn't give a cent about who his father was.

His father was around for dinner tonight. It was everything Naruto ever wished for from the man but the atmosphere between them was stifling. He didn't have any clue about his adolescent son's social life and whole life in general so he asked questions. That wasn't what Naruto wanted from him though it was nice to know that his father wanted to know more about him.

He just wanted his father's time. He wanted to be able to tell him stories about his daily encounters like he did Sasuke's parents. He wanted his father to laugh with him for silly things and wanted him to dote on him but alas, he was never around for long enough. Being the son of the president sucked.

"So Naruto, how is school?" His father, Minato, asked him the most typical question parents ask their children in a bid to break the silence. Naruto groaned as he rolled his eyes up to the high ceiling of their dining room and back to the table.

"This is the first time we're seeing weeks and the first thing you ask is how school is going for me? Nice going dad." He might've been harsh but it was the truth so the man couldn't say anything about his attitude. Minato sweat dropped and gave a nervous laugh.

"I'm sorry it's just that it's been a while and I wasn't sure how to start a conversation with you. Was I supposed not to ask?" Contrary to Naruto's hotheaded nature which he inherited from his mother, Minato was calm and meek despite the physical similarities between them.

Naruto sighed, calming down. He couldn't really blame the man after all. Kushina, his mother's death was as hard on him as it was, himself. His only problem was while Naruto had accepted that his mother was gone and settled for the memories he had together with her, his father tried to forget everything by immersing himself with work at his detriment.

"Moh, school's fine n everything." The whiskered blond mumbled around his spoon to his father's delight.

"Really? That's great! Hope you made lots of friends there since it's a new environment for you." Naruto harrumphed in reply. At least the old man was aware that he changed schools. It was probably Kakashi, head of the personal security team his father hired and Naruto's sort of thorn in the flesh, that told him about it. The white haired man was always hovering around Naruto with other bodyguards though from an ignorable distance.

"That reminds me. I got something for you." Minato seemed delighted at the thought of Naruto liking whatever he had in store so it got the other curious. He signalled to Obito, head of his own security team and personal bodyguard, who stood in the shadows and the scarred man appeared. He handed what looked like a neat piece of paper to the president and disappeared from the dining like he wasn't there in the first place.

Minato slid the piece of paper  down to Naruto and the teen picked it up, face blanching. "A ticket to an opera show." He deadpanned.

Minato flushed with embarrassment at that. He'd gotten all excited and picked something he liked doing without considering the fact that Naruto didn't like opera shows any more than his late wife did. They were so alike, those two. "A-ah, I was hoping to spend the day together but I seem to have gotten ahead of myself." He admitted while scratching his cheek with a finger sheepishly.

Against all odds Naruto lit up in glee. "Did I just hear correctly, old man? You're going to spend the entire day with me?!" The vulpine boy asked, baffled.

"Of course. I specifically took the time off for this... Unless you don't want to-" Minato was cut off by his eager son.

"Of course I want to! It's been so long we did this and though your choice location could've been better I want to spend time with you." Naruto replied earnestly.

Dinner continued with both blonds chatting into the night until they parted for bedtime. For the first time in a while Naruto was happy to be home.

To his utter dismay though, come two days before their bonding day, Minato was called in for an urgent meeting and thus he couldn't be available for Naruto.

"I'm so sorry but I can't make it on Saturday." Minato apologized dismally as he handed his ticket to Naruto. "Go with a friend, perhaps that Uchiha boy you always hang around with? I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Naruto was disheartened but he covered it up with a small smile. "I'm not a kid, old man. I know this is important so don't sweat little stuff. Have a safe trip."

As soon as Minato and his entourage was over Naruto groaned and went to his room, jumping on the bed. "Stupid old man. Does he realize how weird it would look like if I went with Sasuske to an opera house?" He mumbled into his pillow.

"It can only get as weird as you make it to be."

Naruto started at Kakashi's abrupt appearance in his room and sat upright. "Kakashi! Would you stop doing that!" He yelled at the silver haired man who just smiled though it was hidden behind his mask. Naruto slumped back to the bed. "And besides Sasuske's got Sakura-chan now. He barely has any time for me with what little time he has left with Itachi." He grumbled.

"You could always go with Sai." Naruto looked at Kakashi like he had turned mad for even suggesting that. Kakashi sweat dropped. "What about that Hyuga girl you always hover around for treats?" He asked innocently and Naruto blushed.

"Don't make it sound like I'm a dog or something!" He yelled, indignant. "Hinata-chan might not even have any time to pay attention to me. She's always focused ya know? Like she's on a superficial tight schedule. The only time she seems to be free is in school when she cooks."

"In short you're afraid to ask her out." Kakashi baited. Naruto took it.

"Am not!" The blond yelled, sitting upright again.

"Oh so this is about your crush on the pink haired girl then."

Naruto's blush spread further to his ears. "It isn't! I don't have a crush on Sakura-chan. And besides she has her eyes on Teme."

"Hmm... so you like both but don't know which one to go for."

"Gah! Seriously Kakashi you're not helping!" Naruto exclaimed in frustration.

"Easy boy." The silveret cooed. "You can always go with me to the opera. We'll have a great time sleeping together to the lullabies they sing there."

"Go away pervert! That's it you win. I'm texting Hinata-chan." Naruto huffed as he picked up his phone and began to type furiously only to delete everything he had written and begin again. He changed what he wrote five times before sending the message before he chickened out. Knowing Hinata she probably wouldn't see the message until sometime around night time so he kicked Kakashi out of his room and closed his eyes for a nap.

She probably would be too busy anyway. There was no need to get his hopes up.

***

I'm not sure if Naruto adds suffixes to Sakura and Hinata's names in the previous chapters but oh well. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Vote and review please. See you in the next!

-Star.