Team Otsutsuki

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/41384934.

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Category: F/M
Fandom: Naruto
Relationship: Hyuuga Hinata/Uzumaki Naruto
Characters: Uzumaki Naruto, Namikaze Minato, Ōtsutsuki Indra, Ōtsutsuki Ashura,
Otsutsuki Toneri, Hatake Kakashi, Hyuuga Hinata, Senju Hashirama
Additional Tags: NaruHina - Freeform, Otsutsuki, Indra is Sasuke, Sasuke replaced by
Indra, Good Toneri, Shinigami Minato, Big Brother Kakashi, Ghosts,
Hashirama is a dancing tree, Naruto can see dead people, Bleach
Elements, Mokuton!Naruto, Seal savvy Naruto
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2022-08-30 Updated: 2023-02-02 Words: 53,986 Chapters:
25/?
 Team Otsutsuki
by Makuro767

Summary

Reincarnation is a strange phenomenon. Ashura raised his future self until Naruto was kicked
out of the orphanage at the tender age of three. Through a twist of event with the Uzumaki
mask of the Shinigami, Yondaime Hokage Minato break free of the Shinigami's stomach and
now became Naruto's personal ghostly guardian. Because Ashura sacrificed himself for
Naruto, Naruto gained the ability to use Mokuton.

Reincarnation can be very confusing. When Itachi slaughtered the Uchiha and used the
Tsukuyomi on Sasuke, instead of breaking his brother's innocence with hatred Indra came to
the surface instead. Saner than he had ever been since being manipulated by Zetsu, he sought
out the only other person who refused to let him go even through death and rebirth. This
cycle he refused to be a pawn in Kaguya's game and cling hard on Naruto's hand, afraid to be
dragged back into the darkness of hatred and power.

Hamura is afraid for Toneri's sanity so instead sent him off to where he can feel Hagoromo's
chakra still pulse strong on Earth.

Brothers through an ancient bond gathered in one team...how will the world move from this
moments forward?
 Chapter 1

Uzumaki Naruto has always known he’s weird from the moment he can see. There’s a tall
man in black and white watching over him, scolding his neglectful and cold caretaker
whenever the neglect left Naruto hungry for sustenance or cold for warmth.

They never look at the man or listen to him. It took a long time staring on Naruto’s part to
realise that they can’t hear the man or even touch the man. Whenever Naruto’s tummy hurt,
the man will reach over and brush his hand on Naruto’s tummy. He felt better then but the
man grew sadder.

Naruto ‘learned’ how to walk when he was two years old and only because he’s desperate to
get clean. They ‘liked’ to forget to change his diapers. They avoided him more now that he
no longer needed help with the toilet. The matron also locked him in his room and often
‘forgets’ to send food. Since he can’t say anything, he can’t tell on them to that nice Jiji with
the hat who sometimes visited that he’s always hungry and cold. Even if they locked him a
‘nice’ room, it was all just for show. They took away his toy and blanket when Jiji left for
work.

When the man finally realised that Naruto can see and hear him that was when Naruto
learned how to communicate. The first time he asked for a blanket he was three and the
matron looked at him in horror before throwing him into the bitter cold of autumn with only
the clothes on his back.

“Since you can talk, you can defend yourself!”

That really makes no sense but Naruto’s scared out of his wits. He shivered and cried quietly
as he walked and walked. At first the people around didn’t look at him twice but someone
shouted fox and the next thing he knew, he was running in pure terror for his own life. They
called him mean names and threw things at him.

His friend, Ashura, lead him away from the town and into the forest.

Rain started falling and Naruto stumble through the dark. Ashura glowed like a lamp as he
glided soundlessly through the forest, leading Naruto somewhere that only he knows. After
what seemed like forever, after the shouting voice full of disgust and fear hidden under hatred
fade away, Naruto found himself at a dilapidated temple.

Ashura looked inside, “I can feel familiar chakra coming from inside. It’s only a residue
though but it should welcome you,”

Naruto didn’t speak, too traumatized by his first experience to say anything. Ashura sighed at
the foolishness of it all. The boy had been so shy it took him months perfecting what he was
going to ask the matron only to have all that effort thrown to his face because she couldn’t
look beyond her hatred. It was disheartening for anyone let alone a child of Naruto’s age.
What has become of this world? All around him he only sees his Grandmother’s legacy
growing ever stronger; a legacy of power, hatred and greed.

They hid in the rundown building for the rain to pass. Meanwhile, his eyes adjusted and
Naruto saw masks hanging from the wall. Ashura looked around with great interest. These
things didn’t exist when he’s from. He knew he transmigrated several times but he was never
conscious each time, except for this time. Perhaps because Naruto has Otsutsuki chakra
revived inside him.

When Ashura came around, finally fully awake for this time’s transmigrate, he immediately
noticed three things about his new host. For one he carries the blood of two of his
descendants, once separated by disagreement now united. For another, he’s the latest vessel
for his non-human sibling unwillingly chosen because of his inherited chakra. And finally,
Ashura can feel his own chakra growing like a sapling within the boy. These three combined
was the only reason that not only the will of his chakra attached itself to the boy but also
awakened his spirit.

These three factors slowly evolved the boy’s chakra into that of an Otsutsuki.

The boy will soon become his incarnation reborn.

Already, Naruto’s slowly recalling forgotten memories of an ancient childhood. With each
recollection, Ashura will slowly disappear from the world and become Naruto. But he’s not
afraid, perhaps with this he can pass down a different will and not just rescuing his brother
Indra from their Grandmother’s legacy.

It took his awhile to notice Naruto picking one mask that he felt off about, too immersed in
his thoughts. Ashura shouted, “Naruto!”

The mask glowed from forcefully pulling chakra from the boy and Ashura dove after him. No
matter the quality of the mask, no ordinary creation barring one by his father Otsutsuki
Hagoromo can handle the dense chakra of an Otsutsuki, even one that call upon the
Shinigami.

Ashura find himself suddenly wandering the vast expanse of a desert. He fretted, worrying
about Naruto as he sought out for a way back to the child. That lonely child who had just
been thrown out of the only shelter he knew, that lonely child who didn’t understand why
he’s so hated and feared. As Ashura wandered and wandered, he felt a familiar energy.

Tears blooming from his eyes, he sought out that powerful energy that was trapped within his
younger incarnation. It wasn’t hard to find the slumbering other half of the Kyuubi and
Ashura couldn’t stop the call of longing and relief, “Kurama!!”

The fox’s ears twitched, looked to the side when Ashura saw a man who looked like a
grownup Naruto yet not. The two then looked at him as he shot forward and buried himself
by the giant’s side, “Kurama!”

Kurama blinked in confusion, “Ashura? How? Why are you here?”

Ashura stilled, “I need to go back! Naruto-!”

A hand clamped on his shoulder and Ashura turned to see the older blond looking at him with
frantic eyes full of hope and fear, “Did you just say Naruto?”

Kurama rolled his eyes, “Stop shaking my Nii-san, Yondaime,”

Upon hearing the name, fury flashed within Ashura’s dark eyes and he grabbed the other
man’s shirt, “YOU!!” He shook the man in turn, “Do you have any idea what you have
condemned us to?!”

The fear grew stronger as well as disappointment and regret, “I have no choice. It was
damned or be damned. A life of pain with a chance of happiness or no life at all, that was the
choice I was left with!” The Yondaime then grabbed the wrist holding onto his front, “And
who are you to my son?! Why are you here, within the belly of the Shinigami?!” He then
frowned, “And what do you mean by ‘us’?”

Kurama decided to pull them apart, “Yes, Aniki, what do you mean by ‘us’?”

Ashura sighed, “Naruto’s to be my new transmigrate,”

Kurama frowned, “And the cycle of hatred continues. Nothing good ever come out of this
world ever since the two of you fight for something as foolish as a title,”

Ashura looked to side, shame peppering his cheeks red, “You know I tried to turn him from
that path, Kurama,”

Kurama growled, “You’re too soft! He’s not your brother the moment he became a vessel
for that woman’s legacy!”

Before thing gets any more heated, the Yondaime stepped forward, “Kurama-san, I need
explanation. Actual explanation, not an argument. This is my son we are talking about. As
much as I have failed him in so many ways, I do still worry for him,”

Ashura can hear the Fourth’s painful longing. He looked at the blond, studying him and
reached out with his chakra only to be flooded by love and pain in equal measure. He blinked
back tears, “You love him,”

The blond growled, “I may be a bastard of a father for what I did to him, but never question
my love for him,”

Ashura sighed, “Forgive me…it’s just that…all his life that I’ve been aware, there’s only
hatred and neglect,” The blond looked like he just punched the man with Susanoo with full
strength, “Had it not been for the Kurama within, he won’t have survived,”

The blond fell to his knees in horror at the revelation, muttering apologies and blubbering
self-hate in equal amount as he cried for the child he had to abandon. He then began to
question the faith he once had in his village before grabbing some sands and threw it,
screaming wordlessly to the sky.
They let him let it out.

Once calmed he whispered, “Why? How did they know? I know I asked Hiruzen to have him
seen as a Hero but a Jinchuuriki status should only be known to a select few,” He hissed,
“Something’s amiss and I’m not there!”

Ashura shook his head, “I need to get back. The orphanage recently threw him out just for
asking for a blanket-,” He stuttered as an unknown energy blanketed the whole area. Kurama
looked at the blond, “So…Namikaze Minato, you have decided?”

Minato glared at the starless sky with a single sickle moon, “I thought I was doing him right.
I thought I must honour my contract with the Shinigami but…he’s not the only one now, is
he?”

Ashura turned to see a ghastly figure with the face of the mask that Naruto touched appeared.
The knife clenched between fangs slid out and Ashura watched as Minato pulled a katana that
he had worn at his hip to face the apparition. At Ashura’s questioning look, Kurama
explained, “There was a world before Father…and before Her…”

A world divided in four layers; the Living, the Spirit, the Limbo and Hell. A world that reset
itself because of a war between all three. A world that destroyed all that once was and reborn
from the ashes of its predecessor into something new. Something that Otsutsuki Kaguya
became familiar with and fell in love with. A world that once again evolved with a foreign
energy known as chakra, an energy that shouldn’t have existed in this world.

A world guided by Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura into a new age. An age that
Ashura and Indra was born into…

The two Shinigami clashed, because in the nothingness and ruins of a civilization forgotten,
the two ‘prisoners’ had investigated their surrounding after coming to an understanding. In
his boredom, curiosity and innate desire to see his son again, Minato had experimented and
studied the lost art of the Spirit world. He trained and trained and didn’t demand a duel with
the Shinigami only because of his sense of honour to their contract.

But Naruto need his father. Even dead, Minato loves his son…

Ashura observed the battle atop of Kurama’s furry head, a position the fox once had with his
brother. It was devastating, more devastating than ones battled between him and Indra. But
soon, Minato came out the victor as he sliced the Shinigami’s belly open.

He looked at the other two, “Time to go home. My son needs me…”

 Chapter 2
Chapter Summary

“I protected the village in life. Now…I am protecting him in death. Prepare yourself,”

Ashura looked up to see two Kurama looking at each other. Beside him, Minato attached
himself to the chakra he left behind inside Naruto. The man saw Ashura looking at him and
the former Heir of Ninshu saw the tears dripping down his pale face, “Naruto’s dying,”

Ashura stumbled to his feet, “What? Why?”

“Because of us,”

Ashura looked at the two Kurama, “Why is that?”

Minato sobbed, “The seal…and Naruto’s chakra is too immature. Kurama’s Yin half being
trapped inside him is slowly corroding his chakra,” He gritted his jaw in despair; “I don’t
know what to do! I just want to be there for him and yet all I ever give him is misery!”

Ashura stared at his feet, the water lapping at the sole of his shoes and sighed. He looked at
his brother, even separated they’re one, “Kurama…I will disappear,”

The fox flinched, “What?! I just saw you again and you’re already leaving?!”

Ashura smiled, “You’re within me, brother. I didn’t leave, merely evolve into something
new,”

Understanding lightened his fox brother’s face and yet his eyes shed tears, “This is really
goodbye then?”

Ashura grinned, “It seemed so…besides, it was always meant to happen,” He turned to
Minato who looked at him in confusion, “I understand…I had once been a leader. There’s
only so much we can do to protect our precious people. Sacrifice is a must in our position, be
it our family or us. I can’t hate you for only doing what’s right,”

Ashura slowly glowed like the sun and began to fade, “Namikaze Minato, I am proud you’re
my father. Even if the decision hurt you, even when you’re aware how the road to hell is
paved with good intentions, you still did what is right and honourable,” He looked at
Kurama, “Brother, please do not carry our Grandmother’s hate. I am here now, different yet
not. Help me, as we once help each other,”

As his glow intensified and his body started breaking, he advised Minato, “Take off the seal,”
The man looked torn and Ashura reassured him, “He will be fine. I am here and I am he. We
are one…”

“Trust in me…trust in him…”

Minato listened as the voice drifted away into an echo and Kurama rumbled, “I am slowly
returning into one. The seal won’t hold,”

Biting his lip, Minato steeled himself and tore the seal he made, unlocking the great gates.

The once dreary place glowed at the same time the gates opened. Minato blinked and
watched as his son once traditional blue chakra interspersed with Bijuu red transformed into
nebula white and then gold. It was gentle but strong, full of life. More than his wife’s vitality
could ever hold a candle to and that was saying something because Minato has never met
vitality like Kushina’s, not even when another Uzumaki was around before the fall of
Uzushio.

Kurama, now one, rumbled in amazement, “Otsutsuki’s chakra,” He looked at Minato, “You
should go out and see what’s up with our little kit,”

Minato did just that and saw Naruto being held by Dog, Kakashi, as the latter leapt for the
nearest hospital. He followed like a ghost, undetected by the living. But he couldn’t follow
any further as ghosts of the dead began to follow his son. They can feel Kurama within him.
Furious, he leapt ahead and stepped before them.

He glared, “What do you think you’re doing?”

The largest ghost glared back, “Move! I must avenge my family! That thing did this to us!
How can it lives while we are…this!” He gestured to himself in distaste.

Minato scowled, “The dead should not bother the living. Move on to the Pure Land,”

Another scoffed, “Easy for you to say, Demon Lover. I bet you just want to get at him for
yourself! Well tough luck buddy!”

“Yeah, get in line!”

“I can feel that hateful fox!”

“He must die for killing us!

“Murderer!”

“Monster!”

“Abomination!”

“We should finish what the Yondaime started!”

Minato looked in numb horror as they lost control and surged like a wave towards him.
Sighing in utter disappointment, he pulled out Zenitsu and began to move, cutting before they
realized what just happened. As more and more ghost disappeared to the Pure Land, the
others began to regain their sanity and backed away from him in fear, “What are you?”

Minato glared, “Namikaze Minato, former Yondaime of Konohagakure, Shinigami,” At their

pale face and before they could ask why he’s protecting the one who killed him, he told them,
“And the one you’re going to kill in cold blood is my own child, sacrificed for the good of
the village,”

Silence reigned the autumn night.

One voice meekly stammered, “We-we didn’t k-know, sir,”

Minato scoffed, “Of course you didn’t! You’re not supposed to know! Why…why did I have
to give everything that I am to the village when they tormented my only treasure?!” He
pointed Zenitsu at their direction while the gathering ghosts staggered back, “I protected the
village in life. Now…I am protecting him in death. Prepare yourself,”

He ignored their plea for forgiveness as he cut them down like reeds…

Zenitsu whispered in his hand, “That’s cold…but I guess they deserved it…”

Minato said nothing as he followed his son’s unique chakra to the hospital. He cut down
more malevolent spirits that congregated near his son, trying to touch him, hurt him. Not on
his watch and he swore he will always watch.

Once he cleared the air, his eyes set on Sarutobi Hiruzen. The man looked terrible, older than
when he was last in office. Only three years have passed but he looked decade older. The
village must be a proper mess. There’s so much Minato wanted to ask him but he knew that
his voice won’t reach the man stooping over Naruto with eyes full of regret.

One thought whispered in his mind; where is Jiraiya?

From what he gathered, Kakashi was sent to investigate when there’s no report about Naruto
for two whole weeks. The orphanage was shut down and the staff changed after they heard
what happened. Hiruzen refused to listen to the former matron’s plea of innocence. How can
he trust her around children when she threw one out for asking, speaking for the first time,
for a warmer blanket?

When she had rambled about demons and such, he sent her to Morino Ibiki. To his horror, she
has been trying to kill Naruto but kept on failing. His food was always laced with poison and
so was his clothing and blankets. She changed it whenever he visited, under the guise of
cleaning the room for his visit. They never noticed anything because Naruto was always kept
in the building. The one time she was asked, she told them he’s not much for social and never
said a word to anyone.

They should have investigated further. Should have planted a mole to make sure she does her
job properly.
Hiruzen chuckled bitterly, “Should have done this. Should have done that. I’ll go mad
thinking around and around like so,” He blinked back tears, “Oh Naruto…what would your
parents do should they see how I failed them? Something’s amiss since your death Minato. I
can feel my hold on the village slipping and I don’t know how to take back control. So many
powers at play and I can’t do anything because if I’m thrown out, then I can’t protect your
legacy,”

He snorted, “Some protection I gave…” He looked at the ceiling, “If only you didn’t die…if
only the Kyuubi didn’t weaken us so…if only, if only…Jiraiya can’t even leave his post.
Foreign powers have been sniffing around since the Kyuubi didn’t manifest itself. Those who
knows knew you didn’t kill it,”

Minato sighed, that explained Jiraiya’s absence.

Hiruzen rubbed his face, “I’m exhausted. Confessing to nothing,” He sighed, “At least there’s
no one here to listen to me being senile…” He sent another flare of chakra, ever on guard.
The tired elder have been doing so to make sure that he’s truly alone. He grumbled, “Can’t
trust him with anyone…”

Hiruzen stayed until Kakashi returned. Dog stared at the legacy of his once teacher and father
figure. Hiruzen patted his shoulder, “I know your fear, Kakashi. But he needs you. Without
you, he will certainly die,”

Dog shivered as he pulled his mask aside, his cheeks and mask wet with tears, “They won’t
let me get any closer,”

Hiruzen grumbled, “Sometimes I feel like demolishing the Civilian Council. But they have
the other three backing them up. I can’t trust his wellbeing to anyone from the civilian side of
things. It’s unfortunate that orphanages fell under the civilian jurisdiction. Sometimes I curse
Minato’s civilian origin. They have been riding his wind for far too long,”

Minato’s fist tightened that he could feel his skin breaking. How dare they? Using his name
and fame to get what they want, praising him like a saint only to turn around and abuse his
child as a demon?

Kakashi stayed, reading his book, one that horrified Minato as it seemed Jiraiya got to him,
but his eyes didn’t move. He didn’t read a word or turn a page, just staring. Minato’s three
most trusted guards took shifts, so that Kakashi can rest. His Guard Platoon acted awkwardly
around his son, as it seemed that they have been kept away from the boy for the past three
years after guarding him with Kakashi that first week before the boy was sent to the
orphanage.

Namiashi Raido, Shiranui Genma, and Iwashi Tatami had been separated after his death.
Each had gone on their separate ways but all three were there just outside the barrier when
Minato had to seal Kurama into Naruto. As it were, they couldn’t see Naruto as anything
more than a cute kid. But they kept their distance to keep him safe from possible spy that get
past Jiraiya’s strict screening at their borders.
It hurts to see how those that cared for his son the most have no choice but to avoid him to
keep him safe.

It took a whole month for Naruto to finally wake up and Minato can see that he’s looking
directly at him…

Naruto have been dreaming for a long, long time. He dreamt that he was Ashura, that he has
siblings with nine magnificent creatures. He dreamt sorrow, regret and betrayal as Indra, his
beloved brother, turned his back on them and their father’s will. He dreamt of family and
love. He dreamt of death…

He dreamt of life in another form, watching himself being mistreated and being so helpless to
do anything about it. He dreamt helping his blond self sought shelter from all the hate and
fear and ignorance. He dreamt horror as Naruto did something stupid…

And he dreamt meeting his fox brother and…his father…his father who sealed his brother
within him. His father that was the cause of all his misery…and he pitied the man, torn
between leadership and fatherhood and regretting both…

He dreamt that he watched the man fought Death itself to claw his way out…back to him…
back to Naruto…

And Naruto wakes up to see his father crying in relief and fear as their eyes met…

He let the medic do whatever medic does, waiting to be alone with the man who filled him
with love and regret. He understands as Ashura told his father that he understood. That it was
not easy for him to set his son on a journey full of hardship, alone at that. He recalled his
other father doing the same, set him on a journey to spread their teaching as a final test.

But then he was taught first, given guidance and tutors. Naruto has none, didn’t even reach
the age to need any. Didn’t even see the world beside the impression of colours; red and
yellow filled him with so much love he loved the colour orange. But they won’t let him have
the colour once they saw how attached he was to the colour.

So he waited as he watched his father watch him, tears falling and falling and he just want to
tell him…

“I love you,”
 Chapter 3
Chapter Summary

The Shodaime was right to weep for the state of the village he had built in faith and trust
of his enemy turned partner turned enemy.

Minato knew about Uzumaki, knew that with the abundance of chakra in their system that
they need to learn at a very young age about chakra. So he helped Naruto. He didn’t know
much about Otsutsuki’s chakra and Kurama was no help the few times he went to the fox for
guidance. In Kurama’s defence, a being made of chakra has no reason to learn what came to
him as breathing. He can tell Minato and Naruto how but that was it.

So he winged it and taught Naruto a mix of chakra control and Reiatsu.

Naruto’s now a proud owner of an apartment. All the furniture that came with the apartment
was new and he was happy that someone knew how much he adored orange. Luckily, it’s not
neon or Kurama would threaten to blind the blond boy. Dark blue like his father’s favourite
shirt coloured their home as accents to soften all the orange like the curtains. Some dark red
and deep green was mixed in like his carpet and his pillows.

Naruto love his apartment.

So Minato taught him how to protect his home. He taught his son, who didn’t know how to
read or write, Fuuinjutsu and calligraphy out of necessity. He had Naruto practice the patterns
over and over, scrutinising each lines and squiggles for anything that could lead to their house
exploding.

Something neither wanted…

Naruto succeeded and placed the patterns over the door and the window and the wall…

He fell in love with the art and asked Minato to teach him more. The father was more than
willing to teach his son his mother’s legacy. But that also meant calligraphy training. Lots
and lots of ink and brush…

Hiruzen visited the home and found Naruto painting in black and white on sheets of papers,
even toilet papers, which littered the house. It didn’t take him long to notice the seals on the
windows and the doors. Horrified, he pulled the protesting boy and asked, “Naruto, do you
know what you’re doing?”

Naruto, being an innocent cinnamon bun despite memories of an ancient being playing in his
dreams, chirped, “Seals, dattebayo!”
Hiruzen quickly studied every little lines and squiggles that Naruto had painted on his doors
and his windows, fearful for any mistakes made. When he realised that they’re perfectly
painted, he looked at Naruto, “Who taught you this?”

Clearly the boy was not supposed to tell as he guiltily looked to the side. Hiruzen sighed and
was about to say something about trusting strangers when Naruto said, “Daddy taught me,
‘ttebayo,”

Hiruzen couldn’t be more horrified, “Daddy? Has someone been approaching you? Why
didn’t I know of this?”

Naruto looked to side again and grinned, “Daddy’s name Namikaze Minato! He’s Yondaime,
dattebayo!”

Hiruzen sat down, “How…who?”

Naruto looked to the side again and Hiruzen decided to flare his chakra in a way that could
dispel illusions. Nothing happened and he wondered why Naruto laughed at him. The blond
mercifully answered, “Daddy’s Shinigami, dattebayo! Chakra just tickles him!”

Hiruzen remembered the report saying that they found Naruto in the forgotten Uzumaki
temple with the Shinigami mask shattered beside him. Wary, he asked, “Are you sure that’s
your father, Naruto? Can you describe him?”

Naruto nodded, “Dattebayo! Daddy’s hair’s not blond anymore; he said village made it turn
white. He has blue eyes like me but he said my eyes shaped like Mama’s more, ‘ttebayo! He
said I talk like her too and she hated that she talked like that but Daddy like it! He said it’s
cute!” He beamed, “He said he learned something shocking in Shinigami’s belly but he can’t
tell so shush. But it helped him cut the Shinigami’s belly from the inside and now Kurama’s
one, dattebayo!” Naruto placed a finger on his mouth about whatever happened in the
Shinigami being a secret and shushed before chirping out the rest.

Hiruzen couldn’t help the goose bumps on his arms and neck, “Kurama?”

Naruto grinned, “Kyuubi! Daddy makes friend with Kurama Yin and now he’s one with
Kurama Yang when Daddy came out! That’s why I got hurt so bad but Ashura-nii makes it all
better, dattebayo!” He looked to the side, eyes wide as he deflated, “Oh? I shouldn’t have said
that? But why, Ashura-nii makes me all better? Okay, I’ll tell Jiji not to share,”

He looked seriously into Hiruzen’s eyes, “Daddy said to tell you not to share,”

Hiruzen blinked, “Alright…”

A pinkie was held out, “Promise?”

Hiruzen smiled at the innocence, grabbing the boy’s pinkie with his own, “Promise,”

Naruto grinned, “Ashura-nii was my old self. He took care of me…well, he can’t touch me
but he taught me a lot about walking and talking, ‘ttebayo. He scolds the bad people at the
old place for me when they’re being mean to me even if they can’t hear him. They’re nice
only when you visit and you didn’t know because I don’t know how to talk so it’s not your
fault. You’re busy. I’m happy you came as much as you did, dattebayo,” He patted the old
Sandaime’s shoulder.

Hiruzen blinked back tears as he accepted the boy’s forgiveness, “That’s kind of you,
Naruto,”

Naruto shrugged, “I only know my name because you told me, ‘ttebayo,” He smiled shyly, “It
tells me you care,”

Hiruzen heart break but before he could say anything, Naruto continue, “Ashura-nii told me
that he’s the grandson of the Mother of Chakra. She was nice once but then she’s not because
she didn’t like that everyone has chakra. His father and his uncle had to seal her in the
moon,” He pointed at the sky where the moon has started to show itself, “That’s a big prison.
He said that she became a monster with ten tails, dattebayo! So when she became the moon,
the ten tails was sealed inside Ashura-nii’s dad. But his dad can’t live forever so he makes the
Bijuu. They are Ashura-nii’s sibling and that mean Kurama’s my brother too because now
I’m Ashura-nii,”

Hiruzen took a moment to process everything before it clicked, “You’re saying that you’re
this Ashura’s reincarnation?”

“Uh-huh!”

Hiruzen sat back, reviewing everything Naruto told him. He had heard the legend before; it
was the founding myth of Senju, Uzumaki and Uchiha. They didn’t have the names but had
enough passed down to tell that they’re descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. But neither of
the three thinks that they’re related to the other, only that someone must have tried to steal
their origin. It was one of the many reasons why the Senju and Uchiha fought so much.
Uzumaki and Senju however have enough history between them that suggested similar point
of origin before splitting.

Also, Minato had managed to find a way out of the belly of the Shinigami and was now one
himself. How does that work? Naruto won’t say anything and Hiruzen won’t press. Whatever
knowledge hidden in death should remain so. Hiruzen’s not a fool like his fallen student
Orochimaru. He didn’t seek immortality. Not with how much he have lost and loved. He only
wants to rest and death seemed like the ultimate vacation at this point in his life.

Naruto looked at him, “Jiji is your head hurt?”

Hiruzen chuckled and pulled the boy onto his lap, ignoring the pang of regret as he felt that
he’s too light for his age, “Naruto, you can’t just tell anyone what you knew. You’re lucky it’s
me and that I’m willing to make a promise and keep it,” He sternly stressed, “Not everyone
keeps the promises made, Naruto. That’s where the danger lies,”

Naruto paled, “Okay…”

Hiruzen sighed, “So…Minato’s teaching you about seals?”

Naruto hopped on his lap excitedly, “Uh-huh! It’s fun and it’s Mama’s!”

Hiruzen smiled, “Yes, it’s Kushina’s. An Uzumaki thing,”

Naruto grinned, “Daddy said Uzumaki’s strong. We need to learn chakra as soon as possible
or our brain goes…” He gestured wildly like he’s going crazy. Hiruzen’s eyes widened and
Naruto added, “It gets worse when I get older so right now its fine. That’s why I’m learning,”
He picked up a torn piece of paper and put on his forehead, “I can do this now, dattebayo,”

Hiruzen blinked at the sight, “I see. I didn’t know that. I had thought that you have to learn at
the Academy with the other kids,”

Naruto pouted, “But if I waited that long then…!” He did that gesture around his head again,
“Daddy said I have too much chakra, dattebayo! I’ll go crazy if I don’t learn now, ‘ttebayo!”
He started to cry, panicking, “I don’t wanna go crazy, ‘ttebayo!”

Hiruzen calmed the boy, “Alright Naruto, I’m not stopping you. I just didn’t know about this
about Uzumaki,” That would be a disaster in the making. He remembered that Uzumaki clan
being calm only when dealing with seals but otherwise restless like a storm, always moving
and picking fights and pranking…

Naruto sniffled, “Oh,”

Hiruzen grinned, “Anything else I should know that can help you, Naruto?”

Naruto stared and for a moment Hiruzen found himself staring into ancient eyes before the
moment disappeared with a blink. Naruto grinned, “I want pots and seeds, lots and lots of
pots and seeds. I need to grow trees, a lot of trees,”

Hiruzen blinked, “Trees, Naruto?”

Naruto nodded, “Ashura-nii grows trees to help chakra control. He grow trees from seeds and
then from the ground. Like…” He gestured wildly, “I think someone like you do it too,”

Hiruzen didn’t know what to think but he has to ask, “What makes you think you can grow
them like the Shodaime?”

Naruto tilted his head, “Sho-dai-me? He grows trees too? Is he Senju?”

Hiruzen nodded, “Yes, Senju Hashirama the Shodaime Hokage of Konohagakure. He

founded the village,”

Yet again ancient eyes stared back with a familiar twinkle, “Ah…he and Madara did! They
make the village and Madara named it!” The eyes turned sad, “Why did Madara have to go
and make Kurama a slave? That’s not nice…”

Hiruzen blinked. There were things that even he didn’t know, like Madara naming the village,
“I see…how you knew this, Naruto?”

Naruto shrugged, “Ashura-nii was there. He’s not awake but he was Hashirama too,”
Hiruzen breathed in and out to calm his nerves. It sounded like Naruto was the reincarnation
of two people; both this Ashura and his old mentor Senju Hashirama.

Naruto added another bomb, “He promised that he would make Madara Nidaime but Madara
said he lied. Madara left and died,” He stared at Hiruzen, “He told Tobirama to take care of
the Uchiha but Tobirama didn’t keep his promise,”

Hiruzen flinched at the tears that fell as Naruto sobbed, “Please take care of the Uchiha,
Saru,” The boy started sobbing and sobbing, quietly crying as his shoulders shook. After a
while, he stopped and calmed into slumber. He realised that it wasn’t Naruto that had begged
him to take care of the only founding clan left in Konoha; it was the plea of the Shodaime
through Naruto.

After Hiruzen tucked the boy in bed, he left with a conflicted emotion. His mentor,
somewhere within the child hated by the village he once built, had begged him to take care of
the Uchiha. He remembered the story of how the man willingly sacrificed himself to break
the endless and mindless fight between his clan and the clan of his enemy.

The Shodaime was right to weep for the state of the village he had built in faith and trust of
his enemy turned partner turned enemy.

The clan is only as loyal as the village is to them…

 Chapter 4
Chapter Summary

Who knew being the Shinigami can be therapeutic to someone who honestly thinks of
themselves as the harbinger of death?

There was a lot of fight in the Hokage’s office about Naruto but Naruto didn’t know this.
Instead, he was fully immersed with growing his plants. To him they made for the perfect
medium for chakra control practice; too much and it will overgrow, too little and nothing
happened. Unlike others, Naruto has to work from the hardest to easiest because it’s
backward for him like that. He didn’t need to grow his reserve, only control it. The reserve
will grow as he grows so that’s that.

Dog, the only person that the Sandaime have left in charge of Naruto’s security was
perplexed when Hiruzen told him to keep quiet about whatever they saw Naruto did. When
he did see, he understood the need for secrecy and why the Hokage only trust him with
Naruto.

Naruto has Mokuton.

How did that even happen?

The boy’s also extremely seal savvy, if the seals on his doors, windows, walls, floors and
even ceilings was any indication. The only reason Dog can even enter the apartment was
because Naruto somehow knew his chakra signature and keyed him in. Though it begged the
question; who taught him? Does Naruto even know what he has been drawing?

He also talked to himself a lot; or rather he talked to his plants a lot as he water them.
Amazingly, they reacted to his mood. When he’s frustrated or mad, prickly cactus started
growing. When he’s in a good mood, the leaves visibly move as though dancing to an
invisible tune. When he’s happy, the flowering plants bloom and the fruits and vegetables
mature faster. When he’s feeling vindictive or in a pranking mood, sundews and other
carnivorous plants popped up.

Kakashi was slowly healed just by watching the boy’s colourful moods and his plants.

The boy was never short of food…but he still needed other source of protein. That’s where
his shadow stepped in. Dog buy his meat, fish, eggs and milk for him. Dog also added to his
ever growing ramen collection in the pantry in memory of his parents. If they found basket of
vegetable produce waiting for them, they quietly accepted the boy’s thank.
One day he noticed the small shrine Naruto had made, spending hours on the memorial
tablets for days. He walked in as the boy slept in his bed, curious. When he saw the names,
his heart palpitated; Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.

The other name was an unknown to Kakashi; Otsutsuki Hagoromo, written in ancient
alphabets that were only known because he wrote the translation for it along with a strange
symbol much like a clan; a strange multi-layered circle like a ripple and nine magatama
neatly arranged in threes.

Why would Naruto have a shrine dedicated to parents he shouldn’t know about and an
unknown name? How did he know? Who told him?

As the man panicked quietly in front of the tablets, a small voice asked, “What are you doing,
Kashi-nii?”

He should have gotten a whiplash with how fast he turned to see a bleary eyed Naruto,
“How-?”

The blond yawned, “Daddy told me…oh, and Sakumo-jii is worried about you,”

Kakashi blinked when he saw the boy looking over his shoulder right behind him. The
ANBU captain turned and had it not been for his training, he would have fallen from the
imbalance. But there was no one behind him. He looked at Naruto as the boy blinked, “He’s
really sorry he did what he did. He can’t move on because he’s really sorry,” The boy yawned
again, “He’s been following you around forever, you know. He wanted me to tell you to not
be like him. He cling to his mistake so much he lost sight of what was right in front of him,”

The boy then plopped back on his bed, “And Daddy said to tell you that he didn’t blame
you…he’s Shinigami now and he didn’t want to send you to the Pure Land anytime soon,”

Kakashi waited for more world shattering fact to be revealed to him but instead Naruto
snored away, breaking the mystic sense lingering in the air. He shivered, as his mind quickly
pieced the puzzles together.

Naruto talk to himself a lot…or to his plants a lot. But it wasn’t always the plants. He
sometimes listened to a kind of directive, especially in things that need a guiding hand like
cooking and chores. The food he made was often simple affair but at times he tilted his head
to listen and behaved like one would when following instruction. He also somehow managed
to learn how to read and write without a teacher…or did he?

Naruto has a teacher…

Kakashi have been keeping a close eye on him but he was in denial because the pain still felt
too raw to scrutinise. But now that he threw all thoughts of trauma out of his head, he saw the
sign. Things that he knew Minato-sensei always did like the way Naruto fold his clothes or
held his calligraphy brush or his recipes whenever the boy left him something to eat at the
window sill.

Imitation but Kakashi can still taste Minato-sensei…

“Daddy’s Shinigami now…”

Forget Mokuton or seal savvy, his little could-be-would-be brother can see ghosts!

Kakashi’s not a supernatural person, no matter how many excuses he gives that derived of the
supernatural. But when Naruto started talking about his late disgraced father Hatake Sakumo,
a name that’s all but wiped out from both history and memory; he knew he has to listen.
Naruto knew too much for someone who just read about a figure in an obscure history. Not to
mention Kakashi has never shared about the man’s death to anyone of recent time.

That meant Naruto shouldn’t know, just like how he shouldn’t know about his parent. Now
that he thinks about it, was that why Naruto gravitated towards him with absolute trust? He
can see in the boy’s eyes that he trusted Kakashi like he trusted the Sandaime, something that
even if he smiled at others was never present in blue gaze.

The next day, Kakashi took off his mask and break protocol to talk to Naruto. He had
recognised that some of the seals were for silence. He worked on a simple breakfast, making
his famous fish. Naruto wandered into his small kitchen to see him just finishing the touches
to their breakfast. Kakashi smiled at the boy, “Here, have some breakfast,”

Naruto stared at the food, “No eggplant? I have some,” He shot off towards one of his plants
and Kakashi watched as the boy willed the plants to fruit and mature within minutes.
Plucking all that has ripened, Naruto offered his favourite person after the Hokage, “Here,”

As they sat, Naruto looked to the side and smiled, “He missed your mole, ‘ttebayo,” He
poked his spot on the chin, just under his lips on the left side. Kakashi knew that Naruto was
poking at the exact place where Kakashi mole marked him since birth. Relenting, Kakashi
took down his famous mask and revealed his face to the three years old who knew too much.

They ate breakfast, Naruto giving innocent comments about his father. It seemed that
Sakumo was reminiscing, asking about Gai and talking about memories that he managed to
make with Kakashi. Then suddenly Naruto changed his ‘narration’ and started talking about
Minato-sensei and the memories that they shared. By the end of breakfast, Kakashi numbly
did his dishes along with Naruto before sitting around the single table that Naruto has,
surrounded by his plants.

Kakashi chest seized once, twice, and finally he breaks down. Naruto stared before forcing
himself under Kakashi’s arms and climbing the man’s lap. He hugged his lonely could-have-
been brother. It was at that moment that Kakashi felt something, not like chakra yet similar,
entering his coils. He tried to regulate it but he couldn’t. If anything, his chakra adsorbed it.

When he stopped his internal struggle, he saw them; Sakumo and Minato.

He feared that he was hallucinating and he started to shake but Naruto held fast. Sakumo
looked at his broken son and sighed, “Kashi-chan…don’t be like me. Don’t hold onto blame
that you pushed all reasons aside,”

Minato-sensei nodded, “Kashi-kun, you don’t bring death to those who come close. I would
think as the Shinigami I would be closer to that, now would I?” He then gestured at Naruto
who clung to him like koala to trees, “If there’s anything else you would like to speak to us,
especially Sakumo, then this is your chance,”

Kakashi turned to his father, “I…have always wanted to ask you something…” At his father’s
focused look, he asked his burning question, “Why…did my Dad, Konoha’s legendary White
Fang, break its laws by choosing to abandon the mission to save his friends?”

Sakumo’s look fell but before he can answer, Kakashi confessed, “I was so frustrated,”

Sakumo knew he hurt Kakashi with many of his actions. He knew that in the way that they’re
so alike, Kakashi couldn’t easily let go. But Kakashi smiled through his tears, “But…no
matter what happened you gave it your all. I…” He sobbed, “Today I’m proud of my Dad…
who broke the law to save his friends…”

Sakumo’s dark eyes widened as his son finally accepted him, the father he rejected in death.
A look of peace came over him as he reached out to touch his grown up son’s face, a face he
missed every day. A face he had tried to spare the pain of being the son of a ‘traitor’ but
failed. His tears flooded and fell down his eyes, “Thank you…Kakashi. I…want you to
live…not just survive. Don’t be like me. Don’t run from life…”

Kakashi could barely feel the ghost of Sakumo’s hand as he cupped his son’s face. A tearful
reunion and a tearful farewell…

When Kakashi blinked, Sakumo was gone.

He looked to Minato-sensei who looked relieved, “He moved on. He was so worried that his
actions had ruined you he couldn’t move on,” He looked at his student, “I know that look,
Kakashi,”

Kakashi sighed, rubbing his face and just knew that his eyes will be swollen by evening, “I…
couldn’t be there for Naruto the way you did for me,”

Minato sighed, “I know…I know now just how complicated this village has become. I never
regret doing what I must for both Naruto and Konoha. My one regret is that I have to die to
reach the conclusion that I did,” He glared out the window, “Naruto…only ever felt the hate
of the village and their fear of him. I don’t know what I would do if everyone see him as the
fox,”

Kakashi snorted, “Reap the soul of every unworthy mortals in this Sage forsaken place?”

At Minato’s disturbed look, Kakashi sighed, “I’m too young to adopt Naruto, too emotionally
unstable to take in Naruto…all the excuses and tapes held me back. I can only watch him
whenever I’m not on a mission. A part of me wanted to add my name next to the rest of Team
7 on the KIA Monument but I can’t, I won’t because even if my fear of causing the death of
everyone dear to me was what truly stopped me I can’t die because what was left of you and
Kushina will die with me,”

Kakashi looked at the now sleeping bundle of sun in his arms, “Naruto…from how little I
could see him, he gave me a reason to live. Because of this, I’m afraid,” He started to shake
from his PTSD, “I’m afraid that he’ll die just from me talking to him,”

Minato reached out and used Reishi to calm Kakashi’s emotional turmoil. He ensured the
boy, “Kakashi. I’m the Shinigami here, not you. And I sense nothing of the sort coming from
you, so you don’t have to be afraid of coming close to Naruto,”

Kakashi looked so fearful as he asked like a lost child, “Are you sure?”

Minato nodded. He took that time to truly study the only survivor of his trampled team. Life
had been unkind and Minato suspected that Kakashi had been killing his emotions all these
while to survive the lost he experienced. So to pull the boy, now man, away from depressing
thoughts of killing people just by association like a curse, Minato started talking about
Naruto and his shenanigans.

He watched as it worked like a charm, as colour returned to Kakashi’s ghost-like appearance

what with his white hair and white face being paler than a corpse. Kakashi start opening up,
talking about Naruto from his perspective. Minato knew it wasn’t much but it’s a start.

Who knew being the Shinigami can be therapeutic to someone who honestly thinks of
themselves as the harbinger of death?

Since then, Kakashi spent more time around Naruto even outside his shift. He even slept in
the boy’s apartment and all but live there while off duty. Hiruzen said nothing as he can see
his ANBU Captain coming to life. Kakashi still served in the Black Ops but at the very least
he’s no longer suicidal or asked for lengthy missions. Only for high paying ones so he can
rain it all on Naruto whose apartments has started to look like a miniature jungle.

If anyone came around, he could just say that he had Kakashi on an endless nanny duty for
Naruto and he’s the Hokage so he can do what he want with his Shinobi so they can just shut
up and suck it…well maybe not in those words exactly but the message was of similar
nature…
 Chapter 5
Chapter Summary

“Uchiha need hugs, that’s all, dattebayo! I’m not stealing him, promise!”

Naruto was almost four when he finally felt comfortable enough to leave his apartment. He
spent the first few months outside the orphanage completely secluded in his new, beloved
home and no one can blame him. He has his own trauma from his first contact with the
outside world to overcome. Kakashi has never been more pissed off.

The first month, somehow news about Naruto’s where about leaked to the public but
Kakashi’s and the three former members of the Yondaime’s Guard Platoon surrounding
Naruto’s building was enough deterrent. The second month an idiot tried throwing Molotov
Cocktails at Naruto’s apartment in an attempt to burn it down with the boy’s inside. But
before they could throw the burning bottle, they were apprehended by the ANBU. While
trying to escape, the cocktail exploded in his hand and he died on the way to the hospital.

Fortunately for both cases, Naruto has Minato distract him as well as his plants. One plant
acted really weird. In fact, it’s ridiculously active and social with Naruto. Minato took a while
to sense that it’s more than just a tree. There’s a soul inside the tree that has recently become
aware.

As a joke, Naruto called the sapling Hashirama-ki, or Hashirama-tree.

Minato didn’t know how to break to his son that the Shodaime has indeed been reborn as a
tree due to Naruto’s otherworldly chakra and the fact that the seed came from one of the
original Mokuton grown tree of the Shodaime. Not to mention Naruto being Ashura and thus
carry the memories of Hashirama as Ashura’s transmigrate, Hashirama’s spirit dwelling
within his trees scattered throughout the forest managed to get attracted to Naruto’s sunshine
chakra just like a tree would reach for the sun. Him being the most conscious in a sapling
born of one of his own trees raised by Naruto really shouldn’t be such a surprise.

Hiruzen on the other hand was shocked when a tree greeted him by opening the door. Even
more when the tree grew ‘arms’ and hugged him. Hashirama-ki moving about the house
almost made the old Hokage walk back out in fear of hallucination and senility affecting his
mind. Strangely, his sanity was proven intact when the tree dragged the man back into the
apartment.

Due to how active Hashirama-ki was, Naruto had placed numerous pots around his house
after they discovered that Hashirama-ki can move anywhere. Minato suspected that the tree
being haunted by someone that can grow a forest of sycamore out of nothing but soils and
chakra allowed this to happen. But better that than the table that first time they noticed his
talent. The tree ‘looked’ just as shocked that it could do that.

Minato rubbed the crease between his brows. His son has such a confusing life but at least
he’s happy for another company.

Kakashi has no comment on the matter, he’s just happy with his Mr Ukki.

But back to the present time, Naruto walked beside Kakashi with Hashirama-ki attached to
his head via chakra in the form of cute little sapling making it looked like Naruto’s growing a
plant on his head. It took the boy a lot of courage just to step out of his home even with all
the encouragement given by his little family.

Now with security on his side, Naruto looked around with wide eyes. He stared at everything
his eyes could see, even from his rather short perspective. Kakashi glared at anyone who even
looked at Naruto wrong, dressed to the teeth in his ANBU armour and face hidden by his
ANBU mask. In his left hand he held Naruto’s trembling fist gently but firmly. He shifted his
body as he tried his best to shield the boy from the worse of looks.

Naruto froze when he saw familiar features and grinned, dragging a surprised Kakashi
straight for the Uchiha who was off duty. Surprisingly it was Fugaku, Head of the Uchiha
Clan. Kakashi wondered why Naruto looked so happy approaching the intimidating Wicked
Eye Fugaku, who in turn looked just as flustered as his trained stone face showed.

Looking at the toothy smile of the blond, who he knew was someone he had ordered his
officers to guard but not approach, he wondered why the blond did the approaching instead
when to his shock the boy threw his arms around his leg. He also tempted to use ‘kai’
because that sapling on the boy’s head looked like it’s dancing.

Trees don’t dance, at least not without wind.

Fugaku looked at the boy’s minder, “May I know why for this sudden show of…affection?”

Dog shrugged, behaving just as confused.

“Tou-san?”

The boy flinched at the sound of Sasuke’s voice and Fugaku looked at his second born just as
the boy exit the shop with Mikoto whose eyes watered upon seeing Naruto. Sasuke on the
other hand froze when he saw Naruto clinging to his father. Obsidian meet sky blue and
Naruto suddenly jumped away from Fugaku as though burned with a sudden fearful gasp,
“Uchiha need hugs, that’s all, dattebayo! I’m not stealing him, promise!”

Fugaku brain wondered why the boy thought Uchiha, not just him apparently, need hugs.

Sasuke approached the blond but Naruto grew paler as his eyes watered and his voice
wavered in fearful desperation, “I’m not taking anything, promise dattebayo…”

At that moment all he saw was the red, red eyes of Indra staring at him with burning hatred.
Eyes that once so full of adoration and love and security became eyes that haunted his every
nightmare. Eyes that filled him with regret, betrayal and helplessness as he failed to save his
brother.

There was a mental scar so deep that the wound stayed bleeding even in death. Ashura still
remember Indra’s accusations of theft. It hurt so much that his brother saw him as little more
than a usurper who stole what belonged to him by right of birth. This translated to Naruto as
him being accused of betraying his brother first.

He saw the Uchiha boy and all he saw was Indra, screaming at him and accusing him of
stealing.

Naruto started sobbing, shaking and crying as an ancient trauma caught him in its thrall
before shooting away from Sasuke like he just saw a ghost. Dog immediately gave chase. It
was miles away when Naruto stopped in a wooded area. Kakashi bit back grumbles and
concentrate getting past the barrier of branches trying to hide Naruto within the forest.

When he finally reached the boy, ancient eyes muddled by pain and betrayal turned to him
and Kakashi flinched, “Naruto?”

The boy sniffled, “I saw Indra Ani-ue…”

Through the months they were together, Naruto shared with him a great many things. One of
which was the story behind the third name of the third memorial tablet. Kakashi almost
groaned at the migraine that particular story squeezed all the nerves in his brain with, trying
to make sense in his now utterly upside down world. Minato-sensei had helped explaining
details that Naruto being a toddler can’t really explain.

Kakashi joined him on the forest floor, “So you mean…Fugaku’s second son is your Nii-
san?”

A forlorn nod and Kakashi sighed; gathering the tiny blond onto his lap. He’s not a
Yamanaka and he’s certainly not one for long psychological talk. But even he knew the pain
of betrayal, except he was the betrayer and not the betrayed. He betrayed Obito’s will when
he pushed his hands through Rin’s chest. But the horror and the scar remained.

He asked, “You’re afraid that he’ll hurt you again?”

Naruto sobbed, “And, and I don’t want to see those eyes anymore, dattebayo!”

“What eyes?”

Naruto whispered, “The eyes he looked at me with when he killed me,”

Kakashi supposed he can’t fault the boy. No one wants to look in the eyes of their murderer if
they can help it, especially when they’re still so obviously in love with them. Because Ashura
do indeed loved his brother Indra. He loved him so much that he kept hesitating to land the
finishing blow. Ashura’s wish was to ‘rescue’ Indra from the will of their shared
Grandmother, the one trapped in the moon. It was a promise for more than a lifetime, a kind
of promise stretches beyond time and affected the lives of generations that come after.
Luckily Naruto only moped at his apartment since the accidental meeting for a week. But a
week was enough to show his unhealthy state of mind, regardless of Minato’s numerous
attempts to cheer him. But perhaps it was because of this relentless attempt on Minato’s part
that Naruto bounced back so quickly. The once wilting plants in his home began to grow hale
and healthy along with his mental state.

Kakashi supposed as an adult, Ashura have better grasp on his emotion but Naruto’s not even
half a decade old. It was expected for him to react so strongly, despite ancient memories
playing in his mind. They’ll be more worried if Naruto had acted maturely about the whole
matter.

Naruto finally stepped out of his self-imposed hermitage and walked around Konoha,
wearing Hashirama-ki on his head as usual and keeping close to the forested areas for
maximum security. Although there were more ghosts in those area, Daddy will keep him
safe!

Since Naruto has such strong Reiatsu inside him, he attract ghosts like honey attract flies.
The couple of time they came to him to ask for his help to solve trouble, he relied on Kakashi
to deal with them. He’s just a brat, after all. Even if he speak up, no one will listen let alone
take him seriously so he leave all the ‘ghostly favours’ to Kakashi.

Daddy joked about Dog building up good karma with the spirits so he really shouldn’t be so
late whenever he came across bad omens…

But just to be safe, he came out at night. He didn’t know why, Daddy already said that it’s a
bad idea but Naruto just have to go out tonight! But it wasn’t so bad because Naruto enjoyed
the night sight, there’re glowing bugs too! Then a ghost came forward and Daddy step in
front of Naruto.

It was the ghost of a Hyuuga, who looked frantic, “Please! Help! Our little lady, our little
lady! They say you can help!”

Minato frowned, “You’re new,”

The ghost nodded, “I…I think I died…Hinata-sama! The Kumo-nin, he took Hinata-sama!”

Naruto peered around Minato, “Where?”

Minato looked at his son, “Naruto, you’re too young,”

Naruto turned to him, “But she’s one of Konoha, right? We protect Konoha, dattebayo!”

Minato knew he lost the argument when the forest around him came alive. He sighed, turning
to the newly deceased, “Who are you?”

The ghost answered, “Kou, Hyuuga Kou. I was…I was outside her room, patrolling. I tried…
I tried to stop him…”

Minato nodded, “Lead the way,”

Minato picked up Naruto, since he can actually physically interact with his son due to how
dense his Reiatsu was. Naruto let his father carry him into the night, Kou leading ahead as the
forest aided their path. It didn’t take long to hear someone running through the forest.

Naruto pointed, “There!”

Hashirama-ki flared and the Kumo-nin screamed when branches and vines snapped at his
ankles. The way ahead closed as the trees came alive and caged him in. He tried to find a way
out but the trees thwarted every effort. Cutting with the wind doesn’t work, neither does
water. He would have tried fire but then he’ll be cooked along with the girl he held under his
arm.

Another flare and the vines tugged at his limbs. A whip and his arms dropped the Hyuuga
girl, her scream ended as abruptly as it started from the trees reaching out and breaking her
fall with a giant rose that closed their multi-layered petals around her. She would have
panicked but then she heard him, “Hello,”

The girl looked at him, “H-h-hell-o?”

He waved at her, “I’m Naruto, dattebayo! Uzumaki Naruto! You?”

She started to relax as the petals kept the inside quiet and calm from the chaos that was
happening outside, not knowing the cage of briars that refused the Kumo-nin entry of the rose
sanctuary, “H-hyuu-ga Hi-hi-hina-ta,”

Naruto beamed and Hinata felt like she would be blinded by the child-shaped sun before her.
Naruto started to babble about everything and nothing, guided by ancient memories and
Hinata started to further relax from her adrenaline induced terror. She barely squeaked out
anything but Naruto didn’t pressure her either, so she was relieved.

Outside, Hiashi finally found an almost dead Kou just outside Hinata’s room. He left Hizashi
to inform the Hokage as he gave chase along with some of the Hyuuga house members. The
group then heard a commotion ahead and found a perplexing sight. Their guest seemed to be
boxing with trees that have come alive.

A Hyuuga pointed to the lower forest ground, “Over there…something is there…”

Something was indeed there; a giant rose surrounded by a cage made of briars. Using
Byakugan, he found her. Hiashi leapt down and warily approached the rose. The Kumo-nin
leapt at him but the forest finally had enough and wrapped him up with their living vines like
a human cocoon. The Hyuuga surrounded him, white eyes glaring.

Hiashi had thought that he will have to lose him limb to cut through to get to Hinata, but the
briars unfurled and the rose bloomed to reveal his daughter, sleeping in the middle like a fairy
in her children books. He had never felt more relieved.
 Chapter 6
Chapter Summary

“How…? How could you not hate me? I…I betrayed you…your love and faith for me…
Itachi…Itachi…he did what I did to you…is this what Chichi-ue call karma…?”

Naruto wanted to see Hinata, hoping that they can stay friend but he never did since that day
two years ago. He also remembered Hamura-jii-sama after meeting the Hyuuga and had
carved a memorial tablet for him too. Hiruzen had raised brow when he first saw it, “Who is
this?”

Naruto introduced the ancient brother of his ancient father, “Hamura-jii-sama. He went to the
moon. He’s also father of the Hyuuga and the Kaguya…”

Hiruzen didn’t know that, “I see…”

Naruto also informed him, “Hamura-jii-sama went crazy once because Obaa-sama mess with
his head, ‘ttebayo. I guess that the Kaguya got that from him,” Apparently Minato has been
teaching the boy about clans from around the continent as well as reading through historical
text. He treated the text like an epic tales and Naruto soaked up the information with great
interest.

Naruto’s chakra control has improved in leaps and bounds as he kept going smaller and
smaller. Hiruzen and Kakashi had both watched with great interest when Naruto had spouted
a flowering shrub from a seed and then reversed it in quick succession. The two living elders
enjoyed the vegetables he grew, feeling healthier even with the chakra infused greens. In fact,
Hiruzen swore he looked a year or two younger since he started eating Naruto’s vegetable
produce.

Minato had the boy practice his tree-walking on the walls of their home and then water
walking in the bathtub. Naruto’s Fuuinjutsu also grew more and more complex that it can’t
even be recognised as a seal. It’s so complex that some seals move in peculiar kaleidoscope-
esque patterns!

Today, Naruto will be entering the Academy for formal lessons. He fidgeted in his orange
hoodie, nervous. Naruto only ever ventured out of his home at night until a few weeks ago
when he practiced going out in the morning. He’s still nervous about running into Indra’s
incarnate that it took him years to regain the confidence to come see Konoha under the light
of day.

Basically he was avoiding his most painful past and no one can blame him.
Hiruzen couldn’t go anywhere near his home where he once lived with his late Biwako for
years too, feeling that the house was haunted by her. It was only when he finally seek out
Minato and asked about her that he found closure as she had moved on to the Pure Land. This
avoidance was the reason why people swore he lived at the Hokage Tower as he only
returned home when he really couldn’t focus on his work anymore, just to black out on his
bed after cleaning himself and fixing some food.

Kakashi moved out of his family’s home as soon as he’s able and before Naruto’s
supernatural revelation, spent hours just staring at the KIA Monument. Reading the names of
his family comrades over and over, immersing himself on what-if or could-have-been. Now,
he recently fixed his home, almost emptying his coffer to renovate the land and home.

Just earlier this year, Naruto moved out of his apartment to live with him. With the bigger
land, he started growing plants and other greeneries in earnest. What started as chakra
practice has become a hobby, the Hatake’s home once barren and neglected ground now
surrounded by a miniature forest and teeming with life.

Kakashi never knew he could feel so relaxed in his old home where so much memories; once
painful memories but now filled with fondness and nostalgia, surrounded him in every
corner. He gave Naruto the room with the door leading to the backyard as it’s the one with
the most sunlight due to how his plants overflowed from his room to the garden.

Now, Kakashi bid Naruto goodbye as the boy make his way into the world.

Unseen by anyone but Naruto, Minato shed a tear of happiness and pride. He didn’t expect
Naruto to ace everything, just not fail and give his best. But he also worry as the Uchiha’s
also here which meant the one trigger to Naruto’s trauma would also be here. He never
thought that Mikoto’s little baby would cause his own son so much pain.

And Kushina have been gushing over how they will be the best of friends, brothers in all but
blood…

They were blood brothers once and look where that ended…

They became brothers in chakra and looked how that changed the map…

Now, they’re brothers in spirit and Minato couldn’t help but fret about the future. Sighing, he
entered Naruto to watch from within. It was something he’s capable of, entering his son’s
soul scape. At least here he can talk with Kurama.

Kurama made for an excellent, if somewhat snarky, company.

He watched, beside the Fox, how parents pulled aside their kids and warned them not to get
close to Naruto, skirting around the Sandaime’s Law and told them that Naruto’s dangerous
but nothing more. He sighed, doubts clouding his mind. He knew that the decision made was
the only one available. But at times, he wished that he never have to make such a decision.

Kurama grumbled, “You’re brooding again,”

Minato’s laughter was bitter, “Can you blame me? What parents, good parents, would put
their child in such a position? What good parents would deliberately put such a burden on
such thin shoulders, burdens of being misunderstood and hated?”

Kurama huffed, “I thought you know that beating yourself up over what had happened
won’t do any good?”

Minato shrugged, “I can’t help these thoughts when I see what my decision cost Naruto,”

But there’s nothing he can do, the damage was done and there’s no going back. No insta-fix-it
jutsu he can invoke. As the hours crawled on, he watched with bitter eyes and diminishing
faith as the instructors looked at Naruto with thinly veiled disdain and ignored the boy’s
attempt to be part of the class and belittled his every effort to be a good student, going as far
as to unjustly throw him out for ‘disrupting’ the class.

Days passed by and Minato can see even as he helped Naruto with his homework that the
Academy slowly strangled his son of his desire to learn and apply himself. They ignored his
perfect calligraphy, sneering at any handed in project. The reports was so painfully obviously
doctored that Naruto was seen as a hopeless student. They treated him as a nuisance in class
at best and neglected with cold shoulder, pretending he’s not even there at worse.

Kids being kids took this as cue on how to treat Naruto…

Even though his precious son always smiled, always willing to lend a hand, always eager to
please that it’s painful to watch. They called him too dumb to even realised that he’s
unwanted, unneeded, hated. Naruto smiled through it all, his mask of naïve innocence and
optimism firmly in place. It was only in the privacy of their home, hidden by the greeneries
that Naruto let his mask shatter and tears of frustration flow.

Minato could only watch in silent cold fury. Hiruzen can’t interfere, Hokage he may be but he
has no other relation with Naruto that gave him legitimate access to interfere in his study.
Even if he does, people are not hives with a singular brain. A change of order does not mean
every single person with comply. Naruto has so little support and power that the Hokage
alone won’t be enough to protect him through acknowledgement. His son has truly been
thrown off the mountain, to fight his way back to the top by no one’s strength but his own.

For the three most involved men in Naruto’s life, it was frustrating.

One cold winter evening, Naruto sat on the lone swing as he watched people go by. Minato
stood vigil beside him, unable to communicate because Naruto does not need more rumours
about his stability circulate. Hashirama-ki barely dance nowadays, he could feel the
disappointment rolling off the forest spirit even as he tried his best to cheer his charge.

Suddenly, Naruto’s ears caught odd sounds coming from the forest behind him. Curious, he
stood up and head to the source.

“…too stuffy to apologize…!”

“Always looking down on us…!

Naruto didn’t listen to their words; all he could see was that someone was being unjustly
bullied. Not that bullying can be justified. But the girl, a Hyuuga from the moonlight eyes,
wasn’t even fighting back. They had pushed her to the ground and forced her head to bow.

Naruto scowled, “Hey!”

Hinata looked at the newcomer and the first thing she saw was the rigid sapling on his head.
She knew him, just like everyone else knew him. The bully said something about him being
“that kid” and sneered at him. He threw the first punch and pummelled her bully to the
ground, declaring his ambition to be Hokage.

They laughed at him, but somehow Hinata truly believed that he can become one. He sat
back up even when they outnumbered him and threw him to the ground, kicking and
punching and even clawing. And yet despite his obvious lost, he wasn’t disheartened.

“Dammit!”

She timidly called out, “A-a-ano…”

He looked at her, blue eyes guarded despite the smile on his face. She fidgeted, “Th-tha-!”

“Hinata-sama!”

She jumped at the sound of her caretaker. She looked at the direction of the voice and Naruto
leapt to his feet, “You’re alive!”

Kou, having no recollection of his death-like state, stared at the blond child before him.
Though social logic dictated that he must pull Hinata-sama away from such a “bad
influence”, he simply couldn’t. Hinata stared at the boy, who called himself Uzumaki Naruto
with so much pride while standing before her bullies, looked at her guardian Kou with relief
in his eyes but that relief was tempered with wariness.

Hinata continued, “Th-thank y-you,”

Kou studied her and noticed the roughened appearance of the usually immaculate girl, the dirt
stuck to her cheek and her black training gi. He then studied the ground and noticed the
marks of scuffle. But most importantly he saw the Jinchuuriki’s state; marks of battle and loss
covered him in dirt and bruises.

Something in him whispered, ‘He did it again,’

Hinata picked his torn and shredded red scarf, “Th-this…”

Naruto looked at the thing and fidgeted before grinning, “It’s alright!” He then waved,
“Bye!”

Hinata stared after his back, disappearing between the winter trees and she suddenly felt the
cold weather. Somehow, standing before him was like standing before the warm of hearth.
She clutched his crimson scarf tightly to her chest; the yarn knitted to make the scarf was old
and frayed. She ignored Kou who looked at her in confusion. In her mind, she decided to knit
him a new scarf…even if she didn’t know how to knit…

The seasons went by and Naruto forget the winter encounter. He did notice her but since she
never approached him, he never approached her. He noticed that she looked familiar but
couldn’t recall from where. But she was never mean or cruel to him so he let his curiosity go.

On a warm summer night of his seventh year, Naruto woke up to pain. He could sense so
much pain and death. He looked on as ghosts by the dozen rushed to the direction of said
pain and death. Kakashi wasn’t home and Minato refused to leave his side. He had stated his
only concern in death was Naruto and none of the living who betrayed his faith.

No doubt he still loved the village, even if he no longer has as much faith in its people. Due
to this difference, Minato refused to do as he would have done as Hokage. He had found that
with his lost faith in the people of Konoha, all desire to fulfil his duty as Hokage disappeared.
After all, it was his duty to Konoha that betrayed his son.

All ghosts carry regrets that chained them to the Living World and his regret chained him to
Naruto.

The next morning, an ANBU operative informed them that Kakashi won’t be returning and
that Academy classes have been cancelled for the week. Something big had happened.

Big enough to bring Indra to his doorstep still in his hospital robe and pants, obsidian eyes
wide and haunted even as he reached out. Fear from ancient paranoia seized Naruto as Indra
croaked, “Ashura Otouto…”

Not sensing any murderous malice, only distress, Naruto listened as Sasuke asked, “How…?
How could you not hate me? I…I betrayed you…your love and faith for me…Itachi…
Itachi…he did what I did to you…is this what Chichi-ue call karma…?”

The boy, the only living Uchiha within Konoha, crumpled to the ground, confused and
choking with grief as he asked how Ashura didn’t hate him, didn’t hunt him down for
vengeance, only with the sworn oath to save him.

Ancient memories, ancient regrets and ancient guilt took over Sasuke’s mind until he’s
almost broken by it. Naruto reached deep for the Ashura within him and reached out in
compassion, “I knew something happened to you. I never could hate you, Ani-ue,”

Indra clung to him with an iron grip as his whole body shook with unseen terror, “S-s-save
m-me…Otouto…save me…” He choked, “I-I d-don’t wa-want to…to b-be-betray…Chichi-
ue’s Ninshu…no more…no more…”
 Chapter 7
Chapter Summary

As Itachi told him to hate him, all Sasuke could think was…how did Ashura not hate
Indra?

Uchiha Sasuke has always noticed Uzumaki Naruto, but not in the way other noticed the
blond. After that sudden meeting in an almost forgotten memory at the market, his mind kept
going back to the event. It was the only reason he remembered even when so many memories
of that age disappeared with time.

He sometimes had nightmares, one filled with greed, power, betrayal and mind numbing
regret. He kept dreaming of losing more and more of himself to power and the need to prove
himself. It was horrifying, the drive for power as he betrayed all that he once held on.

Ninshu…

He betrayed the creed of Ninshu…

Sasuke feared the moon; he hated it and hid from ever looking at it if he could. There’s horror
hiding in the shadow of the moon. He’s sure of this. He’s suspicious of shadows and scowled
whenever people use the body flicker technique, but he hate it more if they sink through the
ground.

His family thought he was being cute…

But all his hidden fears disappeared whenever he saw Naruto running around causing trouble.
His lips will attempt to quirk up in amusement and fondness, even if he didn’t know why he’s
fond of the boy. Suspicious of his own reaction, he avoided any interaction with the boy.
Although, he noticed the sapling on the blonde’s head.

His father has been suspicious of the strange sapling and many Uchiha who came afoul of the
boy’s prank swore that it’s a Genjutsu. After all, trees don’t grow out of people’s head when
they’re alive and they most certainly don’t behave according to the boy’s mood.

When Naruto’s happy, the tree will dance. When Naruto’s sad, the tree will droop. But there
were times when it grew stiff and unmoving. Times that Sasuke noticed the open disdain and
mistreatment that Naruto suffered from their Academy’s instructors. Those moments filled
him with cold anger that almost swallowed all his reasoning. It was only his confusion
towards his feelings that kept him from doing anything.

Then…Itachi broke his mind…he remembered a lot of things. Things he had chosen to forget
because they were so painful to remember, a pain on par with the betrayal Itachi had inflicted
on him. Because in those memories, he wasn’t betrayed. He only believed in his arrogance
that he was betrayed. No, the betrayer was him.

As Itachi told him to hate him, all Sasuke could think was…how did Ashura not hate Indra?

How could he still love Indra after all that he had done to take him down?

Then as his fevered dreams dragged him kicking and screaming and begging through ancient
memories, he recalled the emotions that showed up on Ashura’s small face. He put it there.
He choked with tears as he recalled all the memories of their innocent childhood, only ever
caring about their father’s expectation with their growth in Ninshu.

He was called the Prodigy but truly he was a fool…because Indra only saw the surface of
Ninshu. Ashura…Ashura embodied it and Indra had long acknowledged it. Why else would
he hate it when Ashura cried whenever those fools called him the failure? Why else would he
strive for perfection? It wasn’t power he sought, no. When the boar attacked Ashura, all Indra
could think was that he mustn’t let the boar touch his treasure…

Power…how could he forget that it was nothing more than tool for the true purpose of
Ninshu?

He hated the moon; he hated the shadow of the moon for clouding his mind.

So when he woke up, all he could think was Ashura. He brought war to this world, destroyed
both Chichi-ue’s and Ashura’s legacy for power. He didn’t carry the Will of Ninshu within
him. No, he had carried Her will.

He’s afraid, afraid of that greedy claws digging into him once more…

Because if he falls, he will fail just as he once did…

Ashura…Ashura had reached out to him, over and over even as others finally saw the
monster he had become. Even when Ashura should kill him, even when Ashura should
execute him. His precious Otouto never did, he kept trying to save him.

“S-s-save m-me…Otouto…save me…I-I d-don’t wa-want to…to b-be-betray…Chichi-ue’s

Ninshu…no more…no more…”

Ashura…his precious Ashura…even though he should just throw this worthless Ani-ue out of
his home…only gathered him and told him that he’s still loved. So Indra clung to his brother
of another life, afraid that if he let go of his sunlight the darkness of the moon will drag him
back into that abyss of hate and jealousy.

When Kakashi finally returned from his sudden mission to clean up and rest before returning
to duty, he heard that the Uchiha Massacre survivor had escaped his hospital room upon
awakening. He mentally groaned, too drained by the horrendous event that had happened to
just rush back to work. So he didn’t expect for Naruto to be nursing an unconscious Uchiha
Sasuke in their shared home.

Remembering a tearful conversation so many years ago, he has to ask, “Why is he here?”
Naruto sighed, looking every bit as ancient as the soul he carries, “Indra…he’s…he’s afraid
that he will relapse to the madness of power that took over him once before…I know…I
know something happened…but we never had a chance to really talk about it…”

Kakashi nodded, “Alright…but why are you on the floor?”

Naruto blushed, “Ani-ue won’t let go, dattebayo,”

Kakashi sighed, “I’ll bring the blanket…”

Naruto thanked him, “Also, can you make those tomato recipes? Ani-ue loves tomatoes,”

Kakashi simply nodded, wondering what Minato-sensei thought about all this. In death, the
man’s overprotective of Naruto. Probably because there’s little else he can do. Sighing,
Kakashi did what he had promised Naruto; blanket and tomato food.

When Indra opened his eyes, he saw a tall blond man looking down on him with tundra cold
eyes. A golden brow twitched, “So you can see me?”

Indra nodded, “Yes,”

The man grinned but it was far from friendly, “I don’t care if you are Otsutsuki Hagoromo’s
eldest or Naruto’s lost brother. Even in a new life, the trauma you left him echoed in the
present,” Indra flinched and the man’s grin only grew more feral, “I am Namikaze Minato,
the father of your brother’s new incarnation. I am also the new Shinigami,”

Indra froze. He knew of the Shinigami, not even his father for all his godlike abilities could
outrun the Shinigami’s claim. Minato noticed the fear in the boy’s eyes and relaxed, “I will be
watching you, Otsutsuki Indra. If you ever return to the path that ruined my son’s past
incarnation, I will claim your soul and tear it apart so you will never make a return,”

Indra gulped fearfully, nodding his head, “I…I don’t know…if you will ever believe me
but…I swear…I swear to treasure my Otouto…”

Minato watched him for a little while more just as Kakashi appeared with tray of steaming
food. He noticed Sasuke staring to empty space while Naruto was sprawling under the thin
blanket beside him. He noticed the somewhat fearful and guarded look Sasuke sent him and
bluntly break the tension, “So…Indra? Want some food? Naruto shared some of that recipe
he remembered you liked and told me to make some for you. I’m not sure if it’ll taste like he
made it so…” He offered the plate, “Here…”

Indra stared at him. Kakashi stared back. The boy slowly reached out to plate of tomato
onigiri and took a bite. He chewed for a while before swallowing. Tears welled and fell down
his cheeks. He choked, “Ashura…”

A groan on the side took his attention and Indra sniffled as he scooted closer. He had done his
brother wrong so many times…he recalled a great battle, the latest of many and yet the
clearest…he stared at the sapling attached to the blonde’s hair. He sobbed, “Hashi…rama…”
When Kakashi finally reported in, Hiruzen was shocked to hear it even under layers upon
layers of privacy seals that Naruto had devised for his use. He sighed, “So…Indra’s awake
huh?”

Kakashi nodded, “And it seemed he carries some recollection as Madara,”

The Sandaime frowned, “How to go about this? The Council won’t let Uchiha Sasuke stay
with you,”

Kakashi shrugged, “Personally, Indra won’t care. He’s too focused on Naruto,”

Hiruzen frowned with worry, recalling some of the stories that the sometimes lucid Ashura
within Naruto would tell, “Focused how?”

Kakashi shifted his weight, “He’s…full of regrets. Naruto said that he’s afraid of the madness
for power that once consumed him. I also noticed that he’s particularly jumpy with shadows
but not the childish fear type. No, he looked ready to attack anything that comes out of the
shadow,”

Hiruzen contemplated, “Paranoia,”

Kakashi nodded, “It’s not Sasuke but Indra that’s paranoid. He hovered over Naruto like
they’ll be attacked. Haven’t left the boy’s side at all, like he thought he would lose him and
with Naruto his sanity,”

Hiruzen grumbled, “Things just kept getting more and more complicated,” He sighed, “So…
nothing?”

Kakashi nodded, “Do nothing. Indra won’t stand being manipulated after experiencing one
that last a whole lifetime and beyond,”

Hiruzen nodded before smirking, “Oh…the blasted Council won’t know what hit them,”

Kakashi hesitated only for a second, “Can I stay?”

Hiruzen shrugged, “Do as you wish,”

True enough the Council demanded that Naruto be separated from the suddenly clingy
Uchiha heir. But when Sasuke was brought forth to discuss his situation, they all shuddered
from the pure hate the child levelled on them. With practiced dignity of a Clan Head, he told
them to “leave my Otouto and I alone, you power hungry buzzards” and left with a sneer of
utter disgust, disregarding both their seniority and authority over him.

Hiruzen sometimes wished there’s a way to preserve memories so he could watch it over and
over again. Maybe he could commission Naruto for such a seal? It was gold!

With how much Sasuke had showed his distaste of the Council and his favour of Naruto, their
greedy hands were chopped off before it could latch onto him. Hiruzen shudder with the
horror that would have visited Naruto had they known his true legacy. The Uchiha’s an
ancient and respected founding clan but Naruto’s the heir of the late Yondaime.
One could see the kind of political sway one could have should they managed to get Naruto
under their control. Even with her self-exile from Konoha and all but a disgrace as a
Kunoichi with endless indulgence in alcohol and gambling, being the granddaughter of the
Shodaime and grandniece of the Nidaime still give Senju Tsunade a powerful sway within
Fire Country.

Hiruzen’s glad that he kept Naruto’s heritage hidden from the Village, even if some people
suspected things.

Like Danzo…and Danzo…

Dammit, just how many big brain games that man kept dragging him into to try and trick him
to give Naruto up to be trained as a mindless weapon without a will of his own? Now he tried
to sway Hiruzen into doing the same with Sasuke.

Unfortunately for the oddly absent Danzo, even if Hiruzen die the cripple will never succeed.

Sasuke may seek power but now his focus was solely on Naruto’s wellbeing. A lifetime of
regrets and wrongs for him to redeem for himself, as Naruto or Ashura still loves him and
forgives him despite the echoes of trauma, Sasuke and Indra was the only ones who has yet to
forgive themselves. From what Kakashi had gleaned, Indra’s afraid of falling back to
insanity.

If Danzo or anyone else for that matter attempts to separate them, then even if Ashura will
attempt a peaceful negotiation, Indra will raze the world into ashes for his Otouto.
 Chapter 8
Chapter Summary

Kakashi blinked, “Oh? So they didn’t invite you for lunch?”

Iruka shook his head, “No. They just creepily smile at me and told me to join them like
some kind of cult invitation,”

Kakashi nodded, “Knowing them, it is a cult invitation,”

It was the usual with Naruto; he was doing his own things and a ghost showed up. Except this
was no ordinary ghost. His eyes widened in awe and respect, “Hamura-jii-sama,”

Otsutsuki Hamura looked at his nephew’s descendant and was surprised to see Ashura,
reborn and aware, standing in front of him with eyes blue instead of black and hair gold like
the sun instead of the brown of earth. The child bowed, “Hamura-jii-sama, welcome back,”

Hamura was amused when he saw a strange spirit coming closer to the boy. He raised a brow
at their similarity. The man bowed, “I am Namikaze Minato, Naruto’s father,”

Hamura looked back at the blond, “Naruto…you go by that name now, Ashura?”

Ashura, now Naruto, grinned, “Yeah!” His smile sobered, “How can I help you, Hamura-jii-
sama?”

Before Hamura could say anything further, he froze. A familiar chill came closer and he
turned to see Indra, as dark and sombre as he recalled, “Indra,”

The wayward son of his brother bowed, “Hamura-jii-sama. Welcome home,”

Hamura studied the boy, “Your madness has disappeared…for now,” He looked around and
sighed, “I would like to know more but my chakra aren’t as strong as Ani-ue. I need your
help,” He gestured and a sleeping child appeared in the moonlight, “This is Otsutsuki Toneri.
He is the only one left from my clan on the Moon,” He looked at them, “I sensed a great
upheaval in the future. Besides, no child should be as alone as he is at the Moon,” He
grimaced, “He has started to have dangerous thoughts. He needed guidance, not mindless
agreements,”

Before the brothers could say more, Hamura started to dissipate, “That is all I can say. Good
bye…and good luck. Treat him well,”

Indra blinked, staring at the child their age on the ground before coming close to pick him up.
Naruto stared at where his former Uncle once floated. He looked at a bewildered Minato,
“Well…can we adopt him into Konoha?”

Minato sighed, “Let me talk to Hiruzen,”

When Hiruzen was successfully fetched by a confused Kakashi, he was shocked by the
sudden appearance of the strange pale child in the Hatake house. He looked at Kakashi who
just shrugged, “I came home and saw him and they told me to get you to explain anything,”
He then narrowed his eyes at them in mocking suspicion, “You didn’t kidnap him, did you?”

Indra shrugged with his usual passive expression while Naruto shrugged, “Hamura-jii-sama
came and told us to take care of him. Apparently he’s the only one left on the Moon. I think
its right to worry. Anyone can go crazy with just yes-man,”

Hiruzen sighed, “So he’s family?”

Naruto and Indra nodded before Naruto dropped a bomb, “He’s also related to the Hyuuga,
considering he’s of Hamura-jii-sama’s line,”

Hiruzen sighed, “Please don’t tell me. Does he have the Byakugan?”

A quiet voice answered, “I don’t have the Byakugan,”

They turned to see empty eye sockets looking in their general direction. Naruto screamed in
shock and Hashirama-ki reacted like he would have screamed had he a voice. Indra looked
horrified and Kakashi was gaping in utter horror. Minato frowned silently. Naruto scrambled
to Toneri’s side, “What happened?! How? Why?! HUH?!!”

Indra quickly grabbed his brother’s shoulder, “Naruto, calm down!”

Naruto screeched, “How can I calm down?! He’s…that’s…!” He flailed voicelessly, unable
to say the word everyone was thinking. In the end he squeaked at Toneri, “What happened?”

Toneri was confused, “It is a tradition to give up our eyes to the Energy Vessel to be sealed
away,”

Naruto looked ready to cry, “And I’m still not strong enough to recreate it with Yang Chakra,
‘ttebayo,”

Indra sighed, “Then get stronger,”

Toneri tilted his head around, “Where am I? Ojii-sama said that he will take me to family,”
There was the sound of longing in his voice, “Are you…my family?”

Naruto scowled and turn to Hiruzen, “Can’t we just change our name to Otsutsuki?”

Indra frowned, “We are reborn in a human body. It won’t be wise. If the others in Obaa-
sama’s clan heard that we are using this name, we might attract destructive attention,”

Naruto grumbled, “Our family sucks, dattebayo,” He looked at Toneri, “I guess I’ll just adopt
you into the Uzumaki Clan. I don’t look like an Uzumaki and everyone knows that there are
Uzumaki survivor scattered all over. It won’t be so strange and you can stay with me,”

Hiruzen sighed, “Sounded like you have decided without me,”

Naruto rubbed his neck sheepishly, “Sorry, Jiji,”

Hiruzen groaned, “More paperwork for me,” He bid the boys goodnight, dragging a reluctant
Kakashi with him. He has plans to make the man take the hat and Kakashi can’t say no.
Kakashi looked at the three boys with pleading eyes before he was bodily dragged to the
Hokage’s office.

Minato finally speak up, “Well, I guess I don’t have to talk to Hiruzen after all. You have all
grown well,” He sniffed, “Am I of no use anymore? Am I even wanted here anymore?”

Naruto sweated, “No, Tou-san. You’re still wanted,”

Toneri turned to Minato’s direction, “You feel like Ojii-sama,”

Naruto beamed, “He’s my Tou-san and he’s a Shinigami, dattebayo!” Naruto then proceeded
to share all that he had experienced to Toneri, stopping to ask Toneri about his life and
listening carefully before comparing their experiences. He then dragged Indra into the
conversation though Indra was reluctant to share anything.

A week later, the girls in their class swooned over Uzumaki Toneri. The fact that he kept his
eyes closed, seemingly blind, and yet moved like he can see anyway only increased his value.
Unfortunately he hangs around Naruto but it was understandable, they were cousin after all.
What they don’t get was Uchiha Sasuke, their dark tormented prince, hanging around Naruto.
It was confusing for his fan girls.

The three spent a lot of time together. The teachers tried to separate them into different group
but Indra already warned Toneri about the village’s unjust treatment towards Naruto. So loyal
to family and clan, Toneri stuck by Naruto with Indra. They didn’t even flinch when the
instructors threatened them with detentions and punishments for ‘disrupting’ class. Indra does
whatever Indra wanted and what Indra wanted was to stick by Naruto. Toneri just wanted to
stay with his family because ever since he was adopted by Naruto he had felt complete and
belonged.

They kept doing whatever they wanted and being orphans of Konoha that does not belong to
an orphanage or even officially adopted, they were directly under the Hokage so all
complains will go to the Hokage. And since everyone in Konoha knew that Hiruzen favoured
Naruto, it was futile. So in the end, they let the three be together and ignored Naruto. Toneri
was smart and Indra even more so, so even though Toneri was new to the Academy he was
quick to catch up.

One day he sensed someone following them and quietly mentioned this to his ‘brothers’.
Indra rolled his eyes, “Naruto, your admire is following you again,”

The blond blushed, “Is she hiding behind the light pole?”
Indra looked through a reflected surface, “No, she moved behind the food cart,”

A confused Toneri asked, “Should we run for it?” He had enough of his fan girls. He didn’t
like anything about them. Since he can’t see them, all he could hear was their screech and
scathing gossip about Naruto, which he doesn’t like. So he’s wary of any girls that were
labelled as an admirer.

Indra shook his head, “No need. Unlike fan girls, Hinata’s a true admirer. She took Naruto’s
unbending will as a source of motivation and she didn’t bother us,”

Toneri compared the two, from what he had experienced so far and what Indra told him, “She
sounds lonely,”

Naruto sighed, “Yeah…she’s related to you through Hamura-jii-sama’s line. Her clan’s the
Hyuuga and they are troublesome people. I really feel sorry that she’s born in that clan,
‘ttebayo. She’s too…gentle…for a Hyuuga,” He added, “The other day, the older kids bullied
her but she didn’t fight back. Maybe because they’ll just say meaner things if she fights
back,”

Toneri smiled, “She sounds strong,”

Naruto pondered over this, “I guess she is…” He scowled, “I wanted to be friends but she
might get in trouble with her clan, ‘ttebayo,”

Indra nodded, “The Hyuuga Clan is very…elitist in conduct. She already stood out in a bad
way in their eyes. Who knew how they’ll treat her if she gets too close to us,”

Toneri nodded, “I see…”

Nobody said anything about his lack of eyes and the irony of his words…

Toneri enjoyed living in Konoha. He enjoyed it more that he lived with his brothers. Naruto
was always a riot, always out to make trouble that dragged the brothers along. Indra just
followed and Toneri had fun proving that he didn’t need eyes to be better than Shinobi with
eyes. When he first appeared, everyone walked on eggshells around him and tried to make
him drop out of the Academy’s Shinobi Course. He hated that.

Then their instructor change to Umino Iruka.

Iruka was a confusing man. He’s very…sincere…as an instructor. He took his job seriously,
wanting all his students to succeed and well prepared for their chosen career. But then he
acted in a very conflicting manner with Naruto. He looked carefully blank whenever he saw
the blond but utterly flustered when Hashirama-ki started dancing or moved in a very strange
manner for a plant.

It took Naruto a while, he could sense that the man was a good man, but he finally managed
to break through to Iruka. Since then, the class was more welcoming to the brothers and Iruka
noticed that they always attended his class as opposed to the other instructors. He realised
that Naruto’s important to the two boys and so always paired the three together for group
project.

One day Iruka was walking through Konoha on a weekend when he came across the three,
smiling identical smiles and making his paranoia-o-meter go haywire. Naruto approached
him, making him unconsciously step back, “Iruka-sensei, join us,”

Iruka shook his head, “I’m sorry, I’m a firm follower of the Sage and loyal to the Will of Fire.
I don’t consort with cultist,”

Sasuke, who has been referring himself to Indra, snorted, “Good to know,”

Toneri shook his head and approached the man, making him step back, “Iruka-sensei, be one
of us,”

Iruka was shaking in his Shinobi standard sandals. Somehow having the three smile in
exactly the same manner felt threatening to the 17 years old Chuunin. He mumbled, “Please
don’t. I’m too young to die,”

Indra rolled his eyes, “Just come,” He grabbed Iruka’s right elbow and Toneri dutifully
grabbed his right. Naruto looked all over the man before simply grabbing his Chuunin flax,
“Come on,”

Iruka was all but crying at this point.

Luckily for him, they were just dragging him to the Hatake house. Iruka blinked at the lunch
spread and the amused eye of Hatake Kakashi who chuckled, “You looked like you had been
kidnapped,”

Iruka deadpanned, “I had been kidnapped,”

Kakashi blinked, “Oh? So they didn’t invite you for lunch?”

Iruka shook his head, “No. They just creepily smile at me and told me to join them like some
kind of cult invitation,”

Kakashi nodded, “Knowing them, it is a cult invitation,”

Iruka stood up, “I’m sorry. I have papers to grade,” He felt the back of his flak being grabbed
and Iruka sat back down. Kakashi laughed, “Don’t mind them. The boys liked you,”

Iruka was confused, “Why?”

Kakashi shrugged, “What not to like about an unbiased teacher? You didn’t treat Indra like a
prince. You’re fair with Toneri and treated him as an able student. But most importantly you
treated Naruto as a person,” He eyed the man, “That was what sealed the deal for them,” He
then laughed, “So, be ready to get dragged into their shenanigans from this day onward,”

Iruka didn’t know but it was the Yondaime Hokage who had thanked him through Kakashi.
And true to the Shinigami words, Iruka was always the one the other teachers turned to when
dealing with the three. He chased them through Konoha on a daily basis, using his own
experience as a prankster to catch Naruto and his brothers. Because he realized that they were
brothers. And when he referred to them as such, the similar creepy happy smiles appeared
and he sighed, consenting that he’ll be kidnapped for another lunch at the Hatake house.

At least, Naruto apologized with really good veggies for the scare…
 Chapter 9
Chapter Summary

Iruka came in and found himself blinking at the sight. He’s fond of the three, yes, but
their singularity will always be creepy to him. Especially like now, when the three
smiled that similar creepy smile right at him. Iruka sighed; he’ll miss these brats.

Naruto straightened up suddenly. Hashirama-ki was furious. Something must be happening in

the forest. He watched as the forest spirit disappeared into the shrubberies. Toneri listened to
the wind, “There’s danger in the wind,”

Indra frowned, “Just let Hashirama-ki do what needs to be done,” He then smirked, “We on
the other hand should celebrate our graduation!” He raised his cherry flavoured sparkle
drink, “Kanpai!”

Toneri raised his blueberry flavoured sparkle drink, “Kanpai!”

Naruto rolled his eyes and raised his orange flavoured sparkle drink, “Kanpai!”

They downed their drink in one go, gasping in pleasure at the end. Kakashi shook his head in
amusement and Minato just laughed at the sight. The only one whose actually their age at the
table was Toneri while clearly Indra and Ashura had drank in their past life and was just
emulating the feeling. He looked at Kakashi, “So?”

Kakashi nodded, “Sandaime-sama agreed to make an exception to their case. Toneri worked
best with them and it won’t do to have secrets in a team. Trust is everything for a cohesive
teamwork,”

Minato chuckled, “This is probably the first Team 7 to break tradition of match up,”

Kakashi rolled his eyes, “Sure it worked in making a strong team but at the same time all
Team 7 ended up breaking apart. Just look at us and look at the Sannin,” He sighed, “It was
mess,”

Naruto suddenly groaned where he was sitting, “Dumb Mizuki. He stole the Forbidden
Scroll, dattebayo. Right now Hashirama-ki had him unconscious,” He looked at Kakashi,
“Go get him, Puppy!”

Kakashi grumbled, “It’s Dog, not Puppy!” He stood up either way and rushed out, trusting
the forest to guide him. A few hours later he returned just as the sun broke over the horizon.
He saw an amused Minato and shook his head. Ever since Naruto figured how to make a
shikigami, he had been using it to let Minato be seen. Minato had been liberally using it
around the Hatake house.
A few hours later, the three brothers woke up and prepared to go to the Academy for one last
time. Indra and Naruto wore a recreation of what they had once worn, while Toneri wore
something that he once worn back on the Moon which was similar to Naruto and Indra’s but
with an extra shroud tied over his right shoulder almost like a monk. Naruto however also
stitched his Uzumaki symbol on his left shoulder and Indra followed, stitching his clan’s red
and white uchiwa fan on the same side. Toneri also stitched a golden sickle moon cradling a
circle of similar colour, outlined with black stitching on the exact same spot.

Of course Kakashi had to be the one to order the whole thing. He just glared at the seamstress
and told them to just do their job and ask nothing because he didn’t know how to explain it
either.

When they appeared, the whole class was confused. Naruto had always worn bright orange,
bordering on neon so to see him in something else was jarring. When Indra showed up,
everyone had taken to call him by his preferred name rather than his given at this point, he
received just as much shock since the Uchiha had been famous for wearing dark colours like
black or blue black or navy. They weren’t as shocked with Toneri since they had never seen
the boy in any other colour.

Iruka came in and found himself blinking at the sight. He’s fond of the three, yes, but their
singularity will always be creepy to him. Especially like now, when the three smiled that
similar creepy smile right at him. Iruka sighed; he’ll miss these brats.

He gave his usual graduation speech, congratulating them and some last minutes advice about
being a Shinobi before finally moving on to what they all had been waiting for. He read out
the names, listing them to the class as written and blinked at the sudden break in tradition,
“…Team 7 will be Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Toneri and Uchiha Sasuke, I mean Indra,” He
cleared his throat. It took a while but Indra had finally made it sink that he preferred Indra
over Sasuke. He continued, “Your Jounin Sensei will be Hatake Kakashi,”

Hashirama-ki, who had suddenly appeared, started dancing and clapping its leaves happily.
Iruka ignored the sight; it was amazing how easily human adapt into ignoring the bizarre. By
the time he finished, some kids were complaining and others were cheering. The Otsutsuki
brothers shared a grin with each other. They had expected this so they weren’t as worried but
they do worry that some idiot will convince the Hokage to follow a dumb tradition.

Preserving tradition was good and all but if it needed some sprucing then it needed some
sprucing. Haruno Sakura moaned about not being with Indra and Naruto snickered at the way
his brother rolled his eyes in exasperation, relief apparent on his expression. Toneri just
laughed, sensing Indra’s perturbed chakra. He ignored his own fans complaining, some even
‘insulted’ him by fretting over his lack of sight. Honestly, by this point they should have
learned that he’s not helpless.

The boys were a bit peeved that Naruto has a single admirer that never insulted him or
bothered him, just silently supporting him from the shadow. For any other person it would
have been creepy but for a career oriented guys like them, it was endearing. When Hinata
leave with her Jounin Sensei and her teammates, Naruto sighed, “I hope she’ll be fine,
‘ttebayo,”
Toneri patted his shoulder, “You said it yourself, didn’t you, that she’s strong in her silent
way?”

The trio waited…and waited…and Naruto decided to crack out his cards. Although the others
never won, they learned quick that being a sore loser in games like poker with Naruto will
just hurt them in the long run. So unlike tradition dictated, they never gamble. Naruto always
win in games and his brothers blamed Kurama’s foxy luck.

Kakashi finally showed up near sunset and he blinked at the sight of all the games
surrounding the trio who had decided to meditate instead. He scratched his head. He could
hear Minato-sensei’s disapproval of his tardiness but he really needed that nap!

Kakashi didn’t bother with the traditional bell test; they trained with every possible scenario
anyway. Not to mention, Indra and Toneri would rather die than betray Naruto. He didn’t
know how or when but Kakashi knew that the moment Naruto declared him family was the
moment he gained Toneri’s eternal loyalty. So Toneri would rather sacrifice himself than
betray Naruto.

Kakashi won’t even go over that scenario with Indra. The boy had enough experience being a
traitor and using such a scenario will just be insulting to him. Kakashi liked his sanity, thank
you very much. Being the progenitor of the Uchiha meant that he knew well how to use his
eyes. Sometimes Kakashi was the one being tutored on how to use his eye. In fact, nowadays
Kakashi no longer tilt his hitai-ate. With Indra’s help he finally learned how to deactivate
Obito’s gift.

They went straight for missions the next day. Hiruzen just smiled at the uniform look of the
team, which Kakashi had decided to just call them Team Otsutsuki as it was obvious that they
had all but taken up the name. Kakashi even wore a necklace with six black magatama
stringed together to represent his affiliation to the team. Hiruzen was amused because it
looked like Kakashi had been adopted into the Otsutsuki family.

Kakashi accepted their ‘chores’ and took them out. Naruto said nothing, as Ashura he had
always helped so he relied on that experience to help Konoha even if the people don’t like
him much. At least they no longer chase him.

Toneri surprised many of their clients with how adept he was despite his closed eyes. Indra
ignored the drooling girls that watched him from afar. They learned not to get in his way
when he’s busy after that one time where the girls had almost bowled him over with their
bickering during a class project and he had simply threw them over his shoulder and left them
winded on the ground. Naruto had frowned but said nothing.

With Indra’s temper, she should be happy that she’s still alive or that her arms still attached to
her. Needless to say news spread and they figured that he doesn’t like being bothered when
working. If that was his taste, they will faithfully comply. Somehow it helped him when he’s
busy and needed to focus.

As the week passed, Naruto started to become restless. Even Indra and Toneri had grown
bored with their ‘chores’. They had just finished chasing Tora, who loved Naruto for some
reason. In fact, many animals will just saunter up to Naruto and beg him for a pet. Once,
while passing through the Nara and Inuzuka, a stampede of them will try to smother him.
Toneri was probably the only one to enjoy such an experience.

As Tora purred in his arm, he looked pleadingly at Madam Shijimi, “Shijimi-sama, Tora kept
running because your hugs are too tight. Cats are very sensitive, overstimulation is not good.
I noticed that he’s also obese from overeating. He must be stressed….” He started going on
and on about how to raise a cat the correct way and the right way to show love without
traumatizing the poor thing. The Daimyo wife stared as she listened intently.

Once the impromptu lesson ended, the woman added bonus pay for the team as when she
gently hold instead of squeezing Tora, the cat didn’t struggle. Naruto beamed, “See?! Tora
loves you too, dattebayo! You just need to be gentler…”

After she left, his beaming face switched to begging like a flip of a page and Hiruzen bit back
his laughter at the sight. Naruto whined, “Jiji! Give us a C-rank or something! Even Ani-ue is
getting restless, ‘ttebayo!”

Indra didn’t mind being used by Naruto. But it wasn’t a lie, he was getting restless.

Iruka, who was minding the mission desk as his mission that day, frowned, “Naruto! D-ranks
are given to Genin for a reason-!” He quickly fell into a long lecture about the importance of
D-ranks and missions ranking. Hiruzen just wanted to laugh at the whole thing but used his
training to hold back. Instead he asked Kakashi, “Have you met the quota for mission raise?”

Kakashi shrugged, nose in book as he nodded, “We did more than the minimum
requirement,”

Hiruzen nodded, dug into the scrolls for C-rank and smiled at one. He had been suspicious of
this one but here’s a team that can do what needed to be done. He handed the scroll to
Kakashi and almost laughed at the look of dismay on Iruka’s face. For someone so reluctant
with Naruto, he had grown ridiculously attached to the boy. He was about to give his answer
when a Shinobi falcon landed on his desk. Iruka quickly retrieve the message and looked at
Hiruzen, “Sandaime-sama, it seemed that Team 8 had met a complication on their mission,”

Hiruzen accepted the message and frowned, “It seemed that Jounin Kurenai had bitten more
than she can chew,” He looked at them, “Since your team wished for an advanced
assignment, I supposed you could help out Team 8. They are already on their first C-rank
anyway,” Naruto didn’t care that Team 8 had gotten a C-rank approved mission before theirs
because all he was thinking was what had gotten the track oriented team stuck. Hiruzen
noticed the stern look sent his way and explained, “Team 8 had been given a mission
escorting bridge builder Tazuna back to Wave Country and additional fees will be given if
they protect him until the bridge’s completion,”

Kakashi frowned, book hidden in his pouch as he asked, “So what had gone wrong?”

Hiruzen answered, “He was targeted by the shipping magnate Gato who didn’t want his
strangle hold on Wave diminished by the bridge. After all, with limited travel the island is all
but isolated from outside help. Since Team 8 had decided to accept the mission and see to the
completion even with wrong ranking, they decided to ask for aid from Konoha,”
Kakashi nodded, “So, what’s the danger that made them ask for aid?”

Hiruzen looked grim, “Gato had sent the nuke-nin brothers Gozu and Meizu,”

Iruka jumped to his feet, “They’re Chuunin level threat! The team should have dropped the
mission as protocol dictated!”

Hiruzen sighed, “Tazuna’s desperate and Team 8 has bleeding hearts for Shinobi. I supposed I
should have stick them to closer C-ranks,”

Kakashi looked at his team and noted the steel gaze reflecting his own back to him. Ninshu,
the brothers hold onto this belief. They still see themselves as guiders and providers, not
simple Shinobi. Toneri too had taken up the same belief. Kakashi nodded to himself, he knew
that a decision has been made. His team was not one who would only give help to Konoha.
This is the true Will of Fire. And as he’s all but part of their system, he knew that it has
become his duty to help them. He looked at Hiruzen and their eyes exchanged understanding.

He accepted the mission scroll much to Iruka’s horror. The Chuunin looked at the Hokage but
noticed from his leader’s expression that a decision had been firmly made. As a soldier, he
has the duty to follow despite his own thoughts on the matter. So the only rule breaking he
did was gathering his former students together and held them tight, “Come back safe,”

The brothers shared a smile. They knew that Iruka was simply aware that strength and power
alone would not be enough to face the world. He knew that they can take care of themselves
but he didn’t know to what extent. So he react in the only way he knew how when it came to
the limit of his knowledge; concern. The three returned his squeeze with their own. As usual
Naruto speak for all of them, “Don’t worry, Iruka-sensei. We’ll bring ourselves and Team 8
back safe and sound, dattebayo!”
 Chapter 10
Chapter Summary

She knew who her ‘sun’ was. She just…need the right ‘soil’…

Team 7, informally known as Team Otsutsuki by its member, practically flew through the
trees. Minato, not wanting to be left out, nestled beside Kurama within Naruto. The squad
knew that the only one that they really need to watch out for would be Toneri. Not that the
boy’s weak but rather because this will be his first mission outside Konoha facing a possible
hostile. Anything can happen and they refused to let their cousin fall.

Kakashi mumbled, “C-ranks are cursed rank,”

Naruto hummed, Hashirama-ki clinging for dear ‘life’ on his blond locks while Naruto’s
Mokuton ability unconsciously making the trees move out of their way, allowing them to all
but fly in a straight line. Indra’s eyes flashed crimson Sharingan as he took note one area that
they passed by, “We already passed the area where they were ambushed. ANBU already
cleared the space of the Nuke-nin brothers,”

Toneri asked, “Do you think they already take the boat?”

Kakashi hummed, “Possible,”

Naruto chuckled, “We’ll just chase after them, dattebayo! Toneri, try not to fall!”

Toneri called back, “Alright, Nii-sama!”

They flew over the coast, taking the sighing boatman by surprise as they passed him by
running over choppy water. Toneri grinned; glad that he’s not falling under. His brothers have
an easier time learning chakra manipulation and chakra control, blessed with experience and
understanding of the concept itself from their past lives. This also meant that Kakashi
focused on the Toneri the most, allowing Indra and Naruto to practice on their own. But when
Kakashi went AWOL for whatever reason, either Indra or Naruto will help him.

They blitzed straight for Wave Country, looking like white phantoms cutting through the
oceans. They didn’t stop upon reaching shores but the moment Naruto’s feet touched the soil
of Wave, he frowned. He picked up his speed and his team followed. Indra looked at Toneri,
“Whatever we came across, make sure you defend those that cannot defend themselves,”

Kakashi looked worriedly at Naruto’s figure as he crashed into a foggy clearing, “That’s
chakra generated,”
Indra nodded, using Ninshu to blow the unnatural fogs off the ground and they saw that
Jounin Kurenai had been badly injured, bleeding profusely on the ground while Kiba and
Shino had crumpled on far ends with only Hinata left guarding who can only be Tazuna.
Naruto was just in time to punch the giant cleaver of a sword from cleaving her and the client
in two.

Kakashi went straight for Kurenai, “Kurenai!”

Kurenai looked up at him weakly, limbs shaking as she tried to keep her organs from falling
out of her cut stomach. She asked, “Hi-Hinata…m-my…b-boys?”

Kakashi shushed her, “We are here, we’ll help,”

She gurgled, “Z-Za-Zabu-za…”

Kakashi looked at his team, noticing that crying Hinata stood her ground in front of Tazuna
who had soiled himself. Toneri and Indra had gathered around her while Naruto glared at the
Nuke-nin from Kiri. Knowing that Kurenai needed help or else, he called out, “Naruto! I
need medic here, stat!”

Naruto looked at him, trusting his brothers to keep him safe from the frowning Kiri
swordsman and in a blink, Kawarimi exchanged with Kakashi who immediately went on the
offence. Indra turned to Toneri, “I will look at the others. Keep the ones behind you safe,”

Understanding his orders, Toneri nodded; his usually serene face uncharacteristically stern
and grim. He noticed that Jounin Kurenai’s chakra had fluctuated dangerously while his
distant cousin was traumatised behind him. Naruto had told him about Hinata being much
more closely related to him than either Indra or Naruto, so he felt compelled to protect her
above the others. Sure he never had the chance to get close to her because she didn’t know
who he was to her and her clan. Also, he’s adopted as an Uzumaki which made getting close
to her would land her in deep trouble with her clan. He didn’t want that so he only keep track
of her from a distant, which was easy because she made it a habit to watch Naruto. Her
chakra was happiest when she watched his brother and it was the only reason the Otsutsuki
brothers didn’t confront her for her stalking habit.

He whispered, “It’ll be fine, Hinata. Naruto-nii and Indra-nii and even Kashi-sensei will keep
us all safe,” He didn’t say anything to the old man because he was a little mad that the man
would drag his gentle cousin into such a dangerous situation. He sensed Hinata’s disturbed
chakra slowly settling the moment he pointed out Naruto being near. He hid his grin,
deciding that she’ll be a good match for his brother.

On Indra’s side, he gingerly turn Shino to his back from where he had crumpled to his side
after what seemed to be a vicious kick had crashed him against a tree. The boy’s Kikaichu
was frantic, buzzing outside him in hope that with less chakra consumption he will survive.
Indra gently sent some Iryochakra to pulse through the boy’s body. His Kikaichu allowed him
to pass his chakra through, recognising him as ally to their Aburame host. Indra sighed in
relief, “He’s knocked out. Some bruised ribs and one cracked rib, nothing Naruto can’t heal,”
He manipulated the earth and guided the unconscious boy to Toneri and his team Hinata. He
then rushed to Kiba’s side. He frowned at the slashed back. He wasn’t worried because
Naruto can heal him but the wound will mean Indra have to carry the boy on his back. He
noticed the shuffling and growling under Kiba and realized that the boy had defended his
Ninken, thus the wound.

Indra could respect that.

On Naruto’s end, he focused on Kurenai’s wound. He ignored the battle behind him, trusting
his team and nature to protect him. He gently pushed her spilled gut back in, healing
whatever injury that it may have suffered and controlled his chakra to be precise as he coaxed
her chakra to regenerate her cells. Kurenai gasped, in pain for only a moment but soon
Naruto’s soothing chakra eased her pain into numbness. She looked bleary eyed at the blond
Jinchuuriki.

Naruto noticed her look and sent her a gentle smile, “Hinata’s fine. From how Ani-ue didn’t
call out for me, your other students are not in critical condition. I will get to them too but first
I need to focus on you,” He knew that Indra will give them first aid to hold them until Naruto
can deal with them. He would have formed a clone but he need to fully focus on Kurenai.
Splitting his chakra mid-treatment would be a horrendous idea.

Kakashi didn’t take long to finish with Zabuza, having grown stronger but the sudden
entrance of the masked Oinin stopped him. It was only after the boy just disappeared instead
of destroying Zabuza that he realized that he had been duped. Deciding to leave the matter for
later, he turned to his team. Naruto was still focused on Kurenai and Indra had given both
Kiba and Shino first aid while Toneri had stood guard over the last of Team 8 and their client.
Kakashi frowned at the shaking man, “I think you understand why you need to be forward
with your mission request. You could have discussed these things with the Hokage instead of
lying,”

He looked at Hinata, “Are you alright?”

The girl finally deactivated her Byakugan and tears started to fall. She couldn’t speak, too
frightened by the recent brush with death. This was nothing like that time with Kumo. She
had seen her Sensei being cut open and her team crumple to the ground leaving her exposed
and alone to be the final defence for their client. She didn’t abandon him no matter how
scared she was or how unfair she felt. Kakashi could respect that steel in her.

He looked at Indra who nodded, looking at Toneri who took Shino. Kakashi then turn to
Naruto who had just finished with Kurenai who forced herself to remain conscious through
the treatment; her fear that she would not wake up when she fall asleep kept her awake. She
noticed her team, frowned at Kiba’s bleeding back but didn’t say anything as Naruto tended
to the boy, his Ninken whining at Naruto as if asking the blond to help. Naruto simply patted
his tiny white head, smeared a little with blood, and focused on Kiba. Green, almost golden,
glow spilled from his hands as he worked his miracle.

She noticed Kakashi looking at her, eyes impassive but she knew that he was wondering
about her sanity. She knew that he was wordlessly asking why she didn’t turn back when she
realized the severity of her situation. She didn’t have any answer to give, only excuses. She’s
too soft for a Jounin Sensei. As their teacher and leader, she had failed her team.

She didn’t have the heart to turn down Kiba’s request to go forward with the mission or reject
Shino’s logic that it would be dishonourable of a Shinobi to turn their back on a mission
accepted. She just smiled at Hinata who had turned pale with worry but too timid to speak up.
She was too eager to prove herself a capable Jounin. It seemed that the only thing right she
had done right for this mission was asking for aid.

Kakashi turned away and offered his back. She felt his Shadow Clone help arrange her body
so that he can carry her to wherever they will be staying. She noticed her team being carried;
Naruto’s had his hands free for some reason as he walked beside Hinata while Tazuna walked
in the middle of their formation. As she slowly falls unconscious from the sway of Kakashi’s
silent steps, she could only thank the Sage that they came as swiftly as they did to save her
and her team from their foolish bravado.

Naruto’s worried about Hinata, the girl’s face too pale that it contrasted her usual blushing
cheeks. Minato helpfully nudged him, “Talk to her,” Minato’s fond of the girl through the
years watching her. Hiashi had proven to be a distant father and harsh taskmaster. He can see
that by simply watching Naruto, she managed to go through her day. His boys knew this so
they didn’t bothered to stop her otherwise creepy obsession. People cope with things
differently; Naruto with his plants, Indra with his tomato experiments, Toneri with music,
Kakashi with his Icha-Icha series, Minato with strolling and finally Hinata with watching
Naruto.

He asked, “Is there…anything you want to share?” He knew that he can’t really do anything
more than listen. Dad had advised the same thing and so Naruto offered, “I can’t really do
much for you but I’ll listen, ‘ttebayo,”

Hinata slowed but continue to move. No one pushed them, just letting Naruto do what he
does best; helping others see the brighter side to life. He would have made a killing if he’s
allowed to work with the Yamanaka’s psychiatry. She sniffled, “I’m useless,”

For the first time since knowing the girl, Naruto did not hear a single stutter. His eyes
widened cold with realization that she believed herself so. Hinata continued, “Father’s right.
I’m useless and unworthy of my clan. I couldn’t do anything. K-Kurenai-sensei a-almost d-
died be-because I c-can’t move f-fast enough. Ki-Kiba-k-kun…g-got hurt a-and I f-froze…I
d-didn’t remember t-to use m-my Juuken. S-Shi-Shino-k-kun had t-to block f-for me…”

She was staring ahead but her eyes shed tears like miniature waterfall, “I-I’m not b-brave o-
or s-s-strong. Why…w-why am I…e-even..?”

Naruto didn’t like where her mind was going, he simply moved and pulled her into his arms,
silencing her rambling mind. Minato was speechless. He didn’t think that Naruto had it in
him. Their team and clients moved ahead but Naruto can sense where they were heading so it
didn’t matter to him. He’s more worried about Hinata.

It took him a while but two years back he finally recalled her name and where he had met her.
She was that Hyuuga girl he helped rescue when he was three. He left her in a giant rose he
created. He had considered her his first friend. He can’t believe he forgot about her for so
long but then perhaps it was a good thing because he had once heard her and her cousin Neji
interact once. The cold of his words and mocking deference to her was scarring, Indra didn’t
like Neji because he invoked in both of them ancient memories that they’d rather forget. That
they saw Hinata going through something even worse was…horrible for them but there’s
little they can do for her other that misdirection.

Worse because all the cruel things Neji said came from his own heart, made of his own
choice and his own belief; worse because there was nothing that should have excused such a
thing; worse because Hinata so clearly needed someone from her own family to help her;
worse because…Hinata was struggling but none of her family would extend a helping hand,
only cruel dismissal. But the only thing the brothers could do was create trouble so that the
teachers would end up coming across them before Neji could do more than just scathing
remarks.

Hinata froze and Naruto sighed, “Hinata…you’re not a failure, you’re just a kid. You will
find your own strength in time for as long as you don’t give up and live. Take what happened
today not as trauma to be crippled but as motivation to grow,” He pulled back and smiled at
her wide eyes, “Great trees take time to grow and so does a great Shinobi. You will be great,
Hinata! You are just missing some things in your life like how a tree need the sun and the
right soil to really grow. You will find them and when you do, you will be awesome,
dattebayo!”

Hinata could only stare at Naruto after that. She knew who her ‘sun’ was. She just…need the
right ‘soil’…

Naruto was glad as he feels her calm behind him, his hand holding onto her firmly yet gently.
He had long wanted to help her but so many things get in the way. Perhaps now that they’re
both Shinobi, there will be more leeway to interact with her. He was sure his brothers will
accept her. She’s Otsutsuki too after all!
 Chapter 11
Chapter Summary

“With the way you act…then you’re right. Because you killed your hero and that’s why
he’s dead,”

Kakashi looked at the gathered Genin, “Zabuza’s still alive and if what I know about Kiri Nin
still apply, then he won’t give up until Tazuna’s dead. For this reason I am going to help you
lot grow,” He looked at Kiba, “You however will take it easier, not as easy as Kurenai but
much easier than the rest of these brats,” He looked at the remaining five, “Naruto and Indra
will be in charge of watching over Tazuna because there’s little I can teach them. But the rest
of you will be learning more about chakra control and grow them from whatever reserve you
have right now,”

He then demonstrated his first lesson, “You two, Shino and Hinata, will learn how to do this
until you both master it and drop from exhaustion. Repeat this until I’m satisfied and then we
are moving to water walking. Toneri will focus on elemental manipulation,” He looked at
their palest member, “You already mastered water walking but I need to bulk up on your
Ninjutsu repertoire. I will have you master them while on water,”

He looked at Kiba, “You won’t be doing much until Naruto give you the green light. Before
you argue, if you think Tsume is scary then you haven’t meet Bijuu Medic Naruto,” He
shuddered, “The Kyuubi pales in comparison when facing that monster. He’ll tie you to bed
and feed you himself if he must but he will do it. If you escape then he will hunt you down
with great success and drag you back to bed rest. Then he will further traumatise you by
helping you with bathroom needs even when you so obviously don’t need it,”

Naruto blushed from Team 8’s staring, “I only threatened him with the helping because he
decided to go training and complained that he’s injured, not crippled, ‘ttebayo,”

He and Indra left soon after to guard Tazuna. While passing through the town, Naruto’s sunny
expression slowly dim like a cloudy day as they took note on the condition of the town.
Impoverished, starved and dying; these are the words best describe the place. Wordlessly, he
picked up a rotting apple on the ground and sealed it away. Indra knew then what Naruto was
planning but it won’t be a permanent solution. For Wave to be free and healthy once more,
Gato need to die.

The rest of the following days followed the same pattern. Then one day Inari, their client’s
kid, exploded from watching them working hard. He did tell them that they will all die when
they first arrived. He had avoided them the whole time since, only showing up during dinner
because everyone ate at the same table and in the same room. Kurenai was flustered and after
a talk with Tsunami learned that he had lost faith in hero when Kaiza died. Naruto looked at
the distressed ghost standing in the corner.

He scowled, “A hero will only truly die when you deny they ever exist in the first place. A
hero will only truly die when you forget why you made them your hero in the beginning. A
hero…will only truly die…when you turn your back on the cause they died for,” He glared at
Inari, “With the way you act…then you’re right. Because you killed your hero and that’s why
he’s dead,”

Kurenai gasped, “Naruto!”

Naruto glared at the boy, “Kaiza fought Gato not because he wanted to be a hero because it’s
the right thing to do. He fought because there are people worth fighting for. It seemed to me
you only remember his death but didn’t remember the way he lived, what makes him a hero
in the first place. Kaiza…” He looked at the bewildered ghost, “…is a really remarkable man
who did everything he could to protect what is precious to him with his own two hands,”

Inari gasped, words of his own father figure echoed in his mind. Naruto sighed, “I’m not
afraid of death. But I’m more afraid that I’ll die regretting that I could have done something
but instead chose to do nothing. There is nothing worse for me than that…”

He stood up and excused himself before he said anything more. Inari stood up and ran out
soon after. Kakashi sighed and followed the boy. Before Kurenai could say anything more,
Indra stopped her, “Naruto is right. The dead is only truly dead when you forget about them.
The way Inari acted…in a way he’s killing Kaiza in death. If this goes on, sooner or later he
will only remember his hate for the man rather than his love for him,”

Kurenai scowled, “That is too harsh!”

Toneri nodded, “I agree but Naruto could have been harsher. He’s worried about Inari after
all,”

Kiba frowned, “Worried?”

Indra nodded, “He saw himself in Inari. He…also has a hero in his heart but that hero died
leaving him alone. But Naruto never gives up hope. He wanted to stand side by side with the
shadow of his hero. So when Inari said that hero doesn’t exist, it hurt him deeply. To him, a
hero will live even in death as long as he remember him. Inari is trying to erase Kaiza from
his memory and Naruto couldn’t accept that,”

Toneri stretched out, “Inari need to live. Isn’t that what his hero wanted him to do? Moping
about and accepting the oppression around him is not living, that’s just existing. Now if you
don’t mind, I’m going to patrol,” Indra wordlessly followed suit after the paler boy.

After the two brothers disappeared, Hinata stood up, “I-I’m…going to look for N-Naruto-
kun,”

Hinata walked through the late night, guided by only her eyes as she saw Naruto sitting lotus
style and meditating. She watched in quiet wonder as he made the greeneries around him
bloom before letting them wilt only to germinate the seeds the left behind in a rapid pace,
making it look as though he surrounded by a pulse of nature that bloom and wilt according to
his heartbeat. It was beautiful. Her cheeks flushed as she watched him quietly, admiring his
silent strength.

Minato noticed her. He had a talk with Naruto for his outburst. The boy accepted that he had
gone too far by claiming that Inari’s killing Kaiza in death but he was only telling the truth.
He didn’t want to be like Inari because in a way Minato died for him and not just Konoha.
After a quick hug Naruto had decided to cool down by meditating.

Minato moved towards her, watching her watching his son. He had always been amused by
Hinata’s antic, drawing similarity between his and her habit of following their person of
interest. She was never disruptive, only idolising Naruto politely from afar and taking his
boisterous personality as a source of strength. He also knew that she always felt useless
whenever Konoha behaved unkindly towards him and she was shackled by her family’s
status and expectation that she can’t help him.

He also knew that she had tried to get closer but Naruto’s surrounded by loud environment,
him being the loudest, making her voice fade into the background. She just didn’t know that
he was loudest around her, as if challenging her to match his voice. He wanted her to come
forward, be braver and break out of her timid shell. But like her, he’s much too aware of their
status differences. He cared too much to just ignore her family and get close. The last thing
Naruto wanted to do was hurt her and cause her further trouble.

So the two had awkwardly danced around each other from a distance…

It was adorable…

Minato did his best to not chuckle, even though he can tell that Naruto knew that she’s there.
His son simply continue as he were. He had long practiced staying cool whenever Hinata
found him and stayed awhile to watch. He supposed that this was the only way he could help
her without getting her into trouble with her strict family. When Hinata finally dozed off,
Naruto came out of his meditative state and looked at her with a soft look. He stood up and
carried her back before returning to the clearing to practice some more as the day that
Kakashi predicted almost arrive.

He dozed off near dawn, finally winded down enough to rest. Naruto was never afraid
sleeping in the forest. To him, the forest is cradle. It was the people that frighten him the most
when he was younger. After Indra came into his life and later on Toneri, Naruto’s bluff of
confidence grow to be true and his smile grew brighter. Sure, he used to be afraid of the
ghosts too but Minato’s always there to keep them away from him. Then when he learned
how to manipulate his Reishi, something that’s hard for him as he’s still alive and more
trained in Chakra, he learned to defend himself and send a signalling pulse to alert Minato.

He opened his eyes to see a strange boy who looked and even dressed like a girl kneeling
right in front of him. Naruto calmed himself down, studied their energy before smiling, “Can
I help you?”
The boy’s name Haku, coming to the glade to forage some herbs. They had a strange
conversation after Haku confirmed that Naruto’s a ninja. He asked, “Why do you want to be
strong?”

Naruto stared at his possible opponent, “Well…everyone has their own reason to be strong
but for me…I want to correct the path that Ninshu had taken. This power we are born with, it
is given so that people can connect with each other in a level so deep that it would be
impossible to misunderstand them. But instead this world is full of greed and hate,”

He picked up a wilted herb, “Like the Bijuu…they are meant to protect, to oversee the
balance of the world but the people made them into demons and monsters. Don’t they get it?
Monsters like the Bijuu are made, not born. Just like Ninjutsu. It can be used to heal, to
protect and to help those in need. But instead we are taught to use them to hurt and to kill.
Such a waste of potential,” He let out a sliver of chakra, making Haku flinch only for the
boy’s eyes to widen as the dying herb started to rejuvenate and bloom.

Haku blinked as he stared at Naruto whose eyes looked distant and sad, “To me…a person is
only truly strong when they have something to protect,”

Naruto smiled, “Yeah…especially when they want to protect everyone,”

Haku stared, confused, “Everyone?”

Naruto looked at him, “Can you tell Zabuza to play along but not go for the kill? Men like
Gato…he will definitely do away with you because he’s not one to pay. The dead he
betrayed…the living he oppressed…all of them wanted a piece of him,”

Haku leapt away, eyes wide and between his fingers were senbon needles ready to be
launched, “How did you-?!”

Naruto looked at Haku, “Your chakra isn’t at the level of an untrained civilian; it is strong
and familiar to me, possibly the Oinin that took Zabuza away. You dressed like a girl to throw
people off but the chakra between male and female has different feels to them so you didn’t
fool me,” He raised his hand in a placating manner as Haku looked ready to attack, “I’m not
going to attack you. Like I said, I wanted to end this cycle of hatred that the world is trapped
in so attacking you just because Zabuza attacked my fellow Shinobi is not the answer to
that,”

Haku glared at him, “Forgive me if I say I don’t trust you,”

Naruto shrugged, “Then don’t. Personally to me the only person that needs to die here is
Gato,”

Haku shuffled further away from Naruto, “Why just him?”

Naruto’s face was cold, “Because he’s a cancer to Wave. I have seen the people and I know
who is truly at fault here. A soldier must never carry the sin of their commander or order will
truly break down,” He smiled at Haku, “You and Zabuza are just following orders. Hating
you for that will be hypocritical of me,”
His amiable aura then turned cold, “But if you insisted on aiding Gato to the end then I’m
afraid I will have to cut you down too. Just like you said, you are strong when you have
someone to protect. But I have to be stronger because I have a whole nation to defend,”

He smiled wryly, “I hope you understand,”

When Haku rushed back to Zabuza’s side, his whole back was covered in cold sweat. His
mentor immediately took notice, “What happened? Did that creep Gato do something?”

Haku shook his head and as he placed the basket on the table, he noticed how his hands
shook. He put them down, “The Konoha Shinobi…the blond one…I…I came across him
while picking up medicines,”

Zabuza frowned, “Did you fight him?” He still remember the way the blond brat hit
Kubikiribocho so hard his whole arm vibrated from the blow. Haku shook his head, “No…
not exactly,” He picked out a single whole herbal plant, complete with roots, “Zabuza-
sama…is there a Kekkei Genkai out there that can regrow a whole plant?”

Zabuza hummed, “Mokuton. The Shodaime of Konoha was famous for this and people has
been clamouring for his Kekkei Genkai even long after he died. He could turn a whole barren
land into a thriving forest with a single seal. Some said the forest surrounding Konohagakure
was made by his own chakra alone. The man doesn’t need a catalyst like a seed, just pure
chakra. Why are you asking me this?”

Haku showed him the single plant, “The blond call himself Uzumaki Naruto and he…he did
this…in front of me,”

Zabuza’s eyes widened as even he could feel the chakra coming from the single plant. He had
been near Konoha once back during the war and the forest there was different, lending
credibility to the story about the forest of Konoha being born of the Shodaime’s chakra. He
studied Haku and scowled and though his face may be fierce his heart was pounding, as he
asked, “What did he want? He won’t have let you go if he can do that much,” There’s a
reason Shinobi all over feared and held the Mokuton Kekkei Genkai in awe; it used precise
chakra control that would made Senju Tsunade’s legendary skill look like Genin’s as well as
monstrous chakra reserve. Combine these two and you have someone that deserved the title
of Shinobi no Kami.

Haku frowned before answering, “He told me that Gato will betray us,”

Zabuza sighed, “That’s a given but we have a contract,”

Haku shook his head, “He said something about the dead that he betrayed and the living he
oppressed. I think he meant that Gato won’t honour our contract,” He shuddered, “I know
that it sounded ridiculous but there was just something in the way he said it. I don’t…I don’t
know how to explain it but…he’s not lying or being delusional…”

Zabuza groaned, “Fine! Just tell me in detail what happened!”

 Chapter 12
Chapter Summary

“Kashi-sensei, you should know better than to jinx it by saying it out loud. Now we
know that this will definitely be a trend where Naruto is involved,”

When Team 7 came back the evening after they left Team 8 to guard Tsunami and Inari, they
didn’t expect to see Zabuza and his apprentice coming along. Kurenai stiffened before
Kakashi placated, “Stand down. Gato broke his contract by attempting to kill them so he
doesn’t have to pay them. So Zabuza kill him instead and get his money anyway,”

Kurenai frowned, stance more relaxed but still on guard, “So why is he here?”

Kakashi sighed, “Naruto…enough said,”

Kurenai blinked, “That…doesn’t explain anything,”

Kakashi sighed, “So Naruto met Haku by chance one morning and after a few exchanges the
two became friends. I know!” He raised his hand, “I know that it is impossible but the brat’s a
walking paragon of impossible. I stop questioning how he does things a long time ago. Got to
keep my head on straight somehow, get it?”

Kurenai rubbed her face, “Kakashi…he sliced me open!”

Kakashi shrugged, “We are on the opposing sides. He does his job and we do ours. Basically
you tried to kill him on the job and he tried to kill you on the clock as well. Now that we are
off the clock, everybody should just chill,” He eyed her, “I’m tired of grudges. Don’t you?”

Kurenai stared at him before groaning, “Fine! Just keep him away from the Genin!”

Zabuza grumbled, “Hey, I got my own kid to take care too you know,”

Kurenai glared at him, “Your kid aren’t the one about to get cut down last we met!”

Zabuza raised his hands, “Alright, touché!”

Akamaru growled at Zabuza where he stood guard in front of a wary Kiba. Granted, he did
almost cut the Inuzuka into two so he supposed some bad blood was to be expected between
them. His eyes however slid to the oddest team he had ever met. Kakashi has two Uzumaki
and an Uchiha on his team, the paler Uzumaki blind to boot but no less powerful. His ability
with Ninjutsu was something else as well as his sensory skills. It made his disability
unimportant as he stood in front of their target, deflecting their long distance attack like
nothing.
But the way the blond Uzumaki and the Uchiha tag teamed between him and Haku was
something else. They moved as one unit, the Uzumaki attacking and the Uchiha defending as
well as vice versa. Even when he and Haku managed to separate them it barely made a
different. Kakashi showed up later and the three stepped away abruptly after the Uchiha did a
seal and blew away his mist cover, revealing Gato and his men crossing the almost finished
bridge.

He shared a look with Haku and decided to accept the olive branch the blond had offered a
few days back. No reason to continue the pointless fight when it was obvious who his enemy
was…

Kurenai looked at Haku who looked sad that he’ll be separated from his Nuke-nin mentor
Zabuza. She was there when Zabuza asked Kakashi to take Haku in, citing that he’s now
certain that Haku was never one to be an assassin. He has a greater calling for medicine but
being with Zabuza stunted his natural talent in the medical field. His reasoning was that Haku
was never an official Shinobi affiliated with any village, not even Kiri. What skills he learned
he picked up when traveling with Zabuza. He shared with Kakashi about Haku’s unfortunate
past and Kurenai can’t help softening her harsh treatment of the older boy.

It took some cajoling between master and apprentice but Haku finally relented. They bid all
of Wave goodbye, the bridge somehow gaining the name Great Naruto Bridge for some
reason. Kurenai chuckled at Naruto’s red face. It was a unanimous vote among the people of
Wave and she could understand why. In the remainder of their stay in Wave while Tazuna
finished the bridge, Naruto had spent his day going about Wave and helping the people
especially with their crops. She didn’t know how but he managed to help their food problem.

Inari had also taken to follow him around, somehow admiring the blond even though the boy
said such harsh words to him. What she didn’t know was that Naruto had noticed Inari’s
lethargy after the fiasco with Gato ended and taken the boy aside…

Naruto whispered as he pulled Inari into the deeper part of the forest from where the team
trained, “I can help you but you have to keep quiet about this. Promise?”

Inari was confused but when Naruto sat down with Inari in front of him, hands on his
shoulders, his eyes widened and the boy sobbed, “I promise I won’t tell anyone…”

In front of him sat a teary eyed Kaiza…

After a long talk with his late father figure, Inari finally found closure and he learned a lot
about Naruto. He learned that Naruto lost his father because his father was a hero too but he
didn’t lose heart. Instead, he wanted to stand side by side with his father even if it was only
the man’s shadow. So he admired Naruto, trying to adsorb as much of the blonde’s optimistic
outlook as possible. Wave had never met someone so calm yet so chaotic at the same time but
Naruto bring back life to the impoverished country, just like the plants that he quietly helped
grow when no one’s looking.

That’s not to say his brothers did nothing. As according to the teaching of Ninshu, they too
goes around and helped the people of Wave. Toneri helped with relations between people,
frayed from the stress of Gato’s oppression. His calm smiling face and cool approach to their
petty problems soothed many ruffled feathers and mending bridges strained by Gato’s
tyranny.

Indra went hunting and bring back so many meat that the country held a small buffet festival
to celebrate Gato’s end. He didn’t really step forward, simply content to provide in silence.

Team 8, not wanting to be outdone, had also taken up some odd jobs here and there. Kiba and
Shino helped Tazuna with his bridge and Hinata helped the fishermen with their nets,
somehow her fingers deft as she quickly learned how to mend their broken nettings making
her a high demand. Her Dojutsu also help making it easier for her to notice the holes in their
nets, thus making the mending faster.

Now that they’re about to leave, the whole country was hard pressed on letting them go.
Their Daimyo even came forward and asked them to hand a scroll to their Hokage, “For our
future,”

Kurenai was bewildered as the whole island send them off. Zabuza had long left after helping
Tazuna finish his bridge, picking up the bulge of the work as an apology for attacking the
man. He already bid Haku goodbye and good luck the night before. Kakashi sighed,
“Naruto…this better not be a trend,”

Toneri chuckled, “Kashi-sensei, you should know better than to jinx it by saying it out loud.
Now we know that this will definitely be a trend where Naruto is involved,”

Kiba sighed as he stretched his back muscle, “That bridge better last forever! I thought I was
going to break my back from all that work!”

Shino nodded, “I will never look down on builders ever again. Why? Because building things
are hard work,”

Hinata nodded, “I-I don’t l-like seafood s-s-still but…b-being a fisher-m-man is a-also ha-
hard work. T-they wake up really e-early,”

Kurenai smiled, “It seemed like everyone learned something on this mission,” Me as well,
she silently added. She will have to trained Kiba to be less brash, Shino less cold and Hinata
to speak up when she disagree. She will also have to be a harsher taskmaster for the sake of
her Genin. Something like this mission must never be repeated. She sighed internally as she
hoped that this won’t impede on their future growth as well as her career considering that
she’s in charge of three heirs from three different clans.

She noticed that Kakashi’s team worked seamlessly and recalled how they helped her own
team to grow. She swallowed her pride, “Kakashi…”

The silver haired man shifted his speed so that he will be right beside her and waited for
Kurenai to say her piece. After taking a few deep breath, she asked, “Can we hold joined
training every evening? Or whenever it’s convenient for you and your team, that is,”

Kakashi mulled over the suggestion and nodded. He knew that his team didn’t need much
help as a team and they studied differently from the rest of their class Genin batch. His
biggest concern was their lack of camaraderie with the rest of Konoha. Naruto, despite his
open friendliness tended to keep people at a distance. He has always been a strange
contradiction like that.

Naruto’s childhood trauma of being chased and almost died still hurting his interaction with
the village. Indra didn’t care for anyone who hurt Naruto and Toneri followed suit because of
his secret origin meant getting close can be dangerous for him. That said, none among the
brother expressly liked Konoha and should a chance ever be given, they will leave no
question asked. Perhaps this was exactly the kind of opening they need.

Minato, who had listened in on Kurenai’s request, thought the same thing. A village is
somewhere his boys can belong but it won’t mean anything if they only expect for the other
party to reach out. He certainly didn’t want his boys to be refugees from their own home.
What happened to Itachi was a tragedy that really shouldn’t be repeated. So he was happy
that Kakashi accepted her suggestion.

Ahead, Naruto started asking Hinata about her likes and dislikes. Honestly he was bored by
the silence and only started the conversation to alleviate some of his boredom. However it
was really a good thing he did it because he learned several things about Hinata that
coincides with him; she likes gardening and flower pressing. He grinned with a strange
giddiness, “Why don’t you come over some time? I have a whole garden of flowers all year
round, dattebayo!”

She blushed, “O-oh?” She nibbled her lip before asking, “Do…do you ha-have mi-miniature
sun-sun flowers?”

Naruto thought back on the numerous plants he grew on his leisure before beaming, “Sure
do! What colour do you want?” He ticked his fingers as he started listing, “I have the usual
yellow, the one with green centre, purple, chocolate, pink, cream, the giant one, and my
personal favourite orange!”

Her eyes widened, “I-I only k-know about the p-pink and c-cream coloured ones!”

He chuckled at her expression, “Then come over and I’ll show you my garden. I’m very
proud of them. Oh, I have a vegetable plot too!”

Hinata shyly smiled at that, “I-I know…you…you a-always gift I-Iruka-sensei vegetables,”

He scratched his cheek, “Oh yeah…I did, didn’t I?” He offered, “If you want fresh
vegetables, just ask me! I’ll give you some, free of charge ‘ttebayo!”

Unknowingly behind them Shino blinked at the flowery atmosphere growing between the
two and asked Shino, “Oi Shino…has Naruto and Hinata always been this…pink?”

Shino shook his head, “I think this is a recent development. Why? Because Hinata and
Naruto never interact before this,”

Haku smiled at the sight. He like Hinata, she’s very kind even though she’s rightfully wary of
him like the rest of her team because of Zabuza’s action but she was never outright cold and
dismissive like Kiba and Shino. If anything her team was hard pressed into keeping her away
from Haku, which was understandable. Still the girl’s warmer to him than the rest of her
team.

Indra simply blink at the sight and mentally sigh, wondering if Naruto even realize just what
was going on between him and Hinata. Honestly he’s too young to be inviting girls over. He
should chaperone them just in case those stuck up Hyuuga tried to cause trouble for them.
Toneri on the other hand started composing musical piece to play for Hinata. To him Naruto’s
invitation was equal to a chance for him to get to know his cousin. Already he’s taking note
of the things they were talking about.

Kurenai finally noticed the exchanged, “Kakashi…Naruto is soliciting my student…”

Kakashi giggled but cleared his throat at her glare, “Don’t worry. He’s too clueless about
those sort of things. On Naruto’s part it is absolutely innocent when he invited her over. Not
to mention Indra will probably chaperone them and so will Toneri. From the way his fingers
move, I’d say he’s composing a piece to share with Hinata,” He pointed out at the palest
member of his team. True enough, he’s humming slightly as his fingers move as though
playing a stringed instrument, “Toneri plays the koto in his spare time,”

She blinked at the sight, “Oh,” She then added, “Hinata’s trained to play the koto as part of
her lessons too but she haven’t played in a very long time,”

Kakashi nodded, “I see…then she definitely have to come over. Naruto likes to garden but
Toneri has no talent in that area but likewise Naruto has no musical bone in him and Toneri’s
a genius at music. She’ll make for a fine friend for the both of them,”

Kurenai raised a brow, “And Sasuke?”

Kakashi corrected her as a habit, “Indra. He doesn’t like being called Sasuke. As for Indra…
he preferred to train his Dojutsu but on the less volatile side, he shared an interest in
gardening but only on tomatoes,”

Kurenai was confused, “Tomatoes?”

Kakashi nodded, “Just tomatoes. He experiment with them. Just last year he managed to
cultivate two different types of tomatoes. The boy is obsessed with tomatoes,” He has no idea
why but at least Indra didn’t experiment with either his Amaterasu flames or his Susanoo
avatar around their home. Kakashi happened to like the Hatake house nowadays. It would be
a grand shame should anything destroy it.

Kurenai hummed, wondering how the three boys that seemed so violent and chaotic shared
such…peaceful hobbies in their downtime. She supposed having Hinata spend more time
around them would benefit her confidence. As it were, Kurenai can hardly hear her stutter the
longer she speaks with Naruto.
 Chapter 13
Chapter Summary

“Some gardener would be horrified and call this deformed and weak or dwarfed and
won’t survive. But I think this is beautiful too. Best of all, it’ll live longer than an
ikebana arrangement, ne?”

Kakashi looked up to see a hawk flying overhead. After returning from Wave, they have been
busy with missions. Kakashi decided to take the slower ones, wary of Naruto picking up
more strays. If anything, Naruto’s happy to work with the farmers. They do clean up bandits
along the roads leading to Konoha but in so far there was nothing more like the mission to
Wave. Escorting mission was the most exciting missions they took as of late.

Kakashi looked back down to where Naruto was trying to convince a man about Ninshu. He
sighed, sure that if it wasn’t because the man’s a civilian he might have followed Naruto. As
it were, Naruto already managed to make Team 8 followers of Ninshu but only because
perhaps out of all clans in Konoha, the Inuzuka and the Aburame understood the concept of
spiritual connection better than most. It wasn’t hard to convince them to try it on people
instead of just their respective partners.

Kurenai was baffled when her team started to become even more cohesive than before after
that meet up with Naruto and his brothers. When she learned about Ninshu, she was shocked.
Konoha has always promoted team play but this took it on a whole other level. She had
wondered why Team 7 acted like one brain, many limbs before but if what she was told about
Ninshu was true then reading the intention of their teammate was only a matter of simply
thinking of it.

Nowadays Kiba and Shino no longer bicker and Hinata didn’t really have to speak to let them
know her mind. It was a little creepy because such cohesive interaction was usually between
veterans Shinobi who had survived a war. When she brought this up to Kakashi, he simply
shrugged and said to let it be as it will keep them alive at the end of the day. She didn’t have
anything to reply with.

Kakashi yawned, “He’s starting a cult,”

But at least this cult won’t demand human sacrifice like that Jashin Cult he heard about…

Indra huffed, “It’s not a cult it is a religion,”

Kakashi shrugged, “All religion started as a cult if you ask me,”

Toneri balanced a beam of silk into the cart, using gravity manipulation to ease the weight,
“Alright, that’s the last of that,”

As they made their way back to Konoha, Kakashi dropped a bomb, “I’m going to sign you up
for Chuunin,”

Toneri was confused, “I thought we have an exam for that?”

Kakashi nodded, “I am signing you guys up for the exam,”

Toneri moved his head around before asking, “Do you think I’m ready?”

Kakashi snorted, “If you’re not ready with brothers like them, no one is,”

The pale boy thought about it before smiling, “You’re right,”

Hinata came over that evening with Kiba and Shino. Shino had made a promise with Indra to
look over the health of his tomatoes, keeping pests off the garden with his own kikaichu.
Kiba was just bored and has been trying to make Toneri listen to more modern music, though
it seem that he’s slowly being converted to classical instead as Toneri can play the koto.
Hinata was quick to bond with the boy over the instrument.

Hinata whispered to Toneri, “Toneri-san, can I…?”

Toneri chuckled, “You know that you can be more relaxed with me, right Hinata-chan?”

She blushed but said nothing. Toneri sighed, “Another day then,” He took out his koto,
“Here, I have a new score that I have been trying to string together into something other than
sound,” She giggled at the description. Un-composed music does sound like Toneri was just
plucking one or two strings randomly.

Naruto came in with stalks of flowers that he had pruned, “Oh, you’re helping Toneri with his
music, Hinata?” He sat down, “Don’t mind me then, I’m just going to arrange this whole
mess first,”

Hinata watched as she listened to Toneri while Naruto started to arrange the flowers. He
recently learned about ikebana and was quick to want to try even though it was a class for
Kunoichi. When he heard that the girls have been studying the art behind the boys, he had
pouted, “But it’s so relaxing, dattebayo!”

So now instead of just flower pressing, he has been trying to make beautiful ikebana
arrangement. Naruto will be the first to admit that he’s not that creative with static
arrangement. He can move his plants whichever way he wanted and they will still look
picturesque. But when he brought them inside, he has no idea how to make the vision in his
head true.

Kiba rolled around on the engawa, Akamaru chasing his tail happily, “Damn…I thought you
guys train all the time to be so strong,”
Naruto hummed from where he sat, “True and false. Sometimes to be better, you need to step
away and relax. Only then you can see what you have been missing,” He grinned, “It’s like
Konoha. Up close every day, the people can be too much. But when you walk up the
Hokage’s head, you will see why this village is still worth protecting,”

Shino came in with a cage full of new bugs, “Indeed. You can barely see anything when you
look too closely at the hive. Why? Because you will get overwhelmed by their sheer number.
But step away from them and you will see the beauty of their teamwork,”

Toneri nodded, “Even I get confused if I only work on my music alone. I won’t be able to tell
if it’s really good or it I only think that it’s good,”

Kiba scrunched his nose, “So you’re telling me that you decided to not practice because you
won’t be able to see how good you are?”

Indra sat down with a basket of fresh tomatoes, “Don’t be too focused on the little and missed
the whole picture. At the same time do not forget the little ones when you look over the
whole picture. It is a matter of balance,”

Toneri and Naruto chorused, “As all things should be,”

Kiba flinched, “Sheesh you guys! Will you stop creeping me out with that?!”

Hinata giggled. Somehow sitting with the brothers always made them think about the world
and their lives. It wasn’t as if they were speaking false things. As it were, ever since she spent
time with Naruto and his brothers, her nerves slowly settle and things that she would usually
miss in a spar was easier to catch on. Yesterday her father Hiashi looked a bit surprised but
still he said nothing. But that small reaction showed that she, at least in his eyes, has
improved even though she still loses her spar. She smiled as Naruto almost skewered his hand
on kenzan and Indra panicking about it.

Politely, she feels a sense of tranquil settle on her shoulders and mind as she pulled at his
hesitating hand and guided him, “Asymmetry is a key component of ikebana, so arrange your
materials in different heights and angles. I k-know you’re used to natural arrangement of the
f-forest, but ikebana is all about visual. You can m-manipulate the plants in any which way
for as l-long as it can express the vision you have in m-mind,”

It didn’t take long for a beautiful arrangement stood tall in the vase, stuck on kenzan like
lilies from a pond. Naruto tilted his head and then looked at Hinata, “It’s pretty…but sad…”

Kiba was confused, “Sad?”

Shino buzzed in equal confusion. Toneri stopped plucking his koto, the tranquil music falling
silent as he tilted his head, “I think he meant that you’re like an ikebana, Hinata-chan,”

Hinata blushed, “H-huh?

Indra sat right next to the two, looking at the flower arrangement and then at her. His dark
eyes flickering between them and nodded, “You’re someone that could have thrived in the
wild but the Hyuuga cut you, prune you and bend you in every which way to suit their need
and their ideal of what’s beautiful. I think that’s what Otouto meant anyway,”

A glance to Naruto and the blond nodded, “See this stem here? It’s beautiful to onlooker,
sure. But it’s broken in several places, isn’t it?” He then sighed, “It’s pretty but…it’s also
dying…”

Hinata stared at the flower she just helped arranged. Suddenly she sees herself in those
flowers. She could thrive but the Hyuuga didn’t want a wild flower, but an ikebana that they
arranged,

Naruto reached out, “Hey, it’s not your fault,” He looked at the others, “I’m going to do
something but this must stay a secret, alright?”

Toneri frowned, “Are you sure?”

Naruto beamed, “I trust them, dattebayo!”

Indra studied the three before him before sighing, “Fine. I’ll trust your judgement Otouto.
Father knows I can’t trust mine,”

Naruto took the ikebana in one hand and Hinata’s pale hand in the other. Squeaking in
surprise, she followed him to where it was obviously his room, the futon still unrolled with
magazines and manga strewn over it as well as unrolled scrolls, papers and ink set uncaring
to the side. But most telling of all was the plants, leaves dancing from unfelt wind as if
greeting Team 8.

He sat down on the engawa out of his room. Kiba whistled at the sight of nature spilling from
inside to out and beyond, “Wow…I would think this is the jungle but that felt like an insult,”

Shino buzzed, “That would have been an insult no matter which way you twist it,”

The six Genin gathered in Naruto’s room, Shino noticing the rolled up cot with the small
library in the driest corner of the room that apparently belonged to Indra. A hammock just
floating by the open door suggested that it belonged to Toneri. It was obvious that the three
sleep in this room but it seemed that the bulk of their things were elsewhere.

Naruto sat down and focused. Team 8 was confused at first before each other them can be
sucking in through their teeth in shock and wonder as the ikebana started to grow roots. The
wound from being cut slowly healed and earth started to form, the dust clinging to their
surrounding pulled and clumping together. The kenzan was pushed off as the plant roots
began to assimilate and fuse together. Kiba gawked as the flowering plants around them
bloomed and closed in a kaleidoscope of colours, “Whoa…”

Shino listened to his kikaichu buzzing, “Mokuton…life?”

Hinata however was watching Naruto. Her Byakugan active, she caught the beautiful
fluctuation of his chakra. After a moment, he grinned and put the now living plant inside a
vase out of a piece of driftwood, “Here! A living ikebana, ‘ttebayo!”
He handed her plant, “Some gardener would be horrified and call this deformed and weak or
dwarfed and won’t survive. But I think this is beautiful too. Best of all, it’ll live longer than
an ikebana arrangement, ne?”

Hinata accepted the potted plant, a mixture of the flowers and leaves that she had arranged
before. Sure, it will never grow but at least it will live prouder than the ikebana.

Naruto grinned, “I can keep it alive for you if you want,”

Hinata smiled, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. She’s breaking from the hands of her
clansmen. Bent and twisted to suit their need and ideal. But Naruto had taken that and told
her that she didn’t need to change, just grow stronger. A new chance at life already lived. She
set that pot aside and threw herself into his arms, bewildering the blond.

Naruto flushed a deep red.

He looked at his brothers and his friends and noticed that Kiba looked disgusted at him,
Shino looking away, Toneri hiding a grin and Indra just watching with a knowing look. He
blushed a deeper red as Minato was crying with that I’m-proud-Father look, thumbs up and
happily grinning.

Naruto decided to just let things flow…

He had gone through this once…

Or was it twice?

First he was helping Kanna and then Mito. He never asked anything from them but they
always ended up giving him their all. As he feels her heart beat against his, Naruto steeled his
resolve and decided to take responsibility for her heart. He may goof around a lot but he’s a
responsible man by nature. He lowered his flustered hands and pats her back, letting her
silently cry her eyes out on his shoulder.

Hinata has been hurt enough, he won’t do that to her. It’s just fortunate that he wasn’t
attracted to anyone at the moment. Besides, life had thrown her his way often enough. The
least he could do was help her find her true potential…

On Hinata’s part, only one thought circulate her soul; she’s home…
 Chapter 14
Chapter Summary

“If I have to suffer then so do you!”

Naruto looked at the scroll in his hand, “So…we are doing this?”

Indra looked at the scroll in his hand, “Seemed like it,”

Toneri looked at the scroll in his hand, “I hope I won’t hold you back,”

Naruto smiled at him, “Don’t worry. You are strong, Toneri, dattebayo,”

Indra nodded, “If someone says otherwise, just pummel them to the ground,”

Minato sighed unseen by others behind them, “No need to be so violent. I’m glad that all
three of you have decided to register for the Chuunin Exam,”

Naruto eyed his Father, “Anything you can let slip, O’ Hokage-sama?”

Minato grinned back, “I’m not a Hokage anymore but that does not mean I’m telling,” He
then cackled, “If I have to suffer then so do you!”

Indra sweat dropped at sight, “Why is he only ever sadistic when it comes to exams?”

Toneri added his piece, “I’m more shocked that a genius needs to feel suffering during
exams,”

Minato pouted, “I might be called a prodigy but only because no one seen the effort I put to
be on that pedestal. Honestly, the term prodigy and genius are thrown around too easily
nowadays. Talent does not beat hard work. You can have talent but without effort that too
will go to waste. Hard work never betrays,”

Toneri asked, “But what if you failed even when you have done all that work?”

Minato smiled, “Then that is how far your hard work had taken you. It only meant you have
met a greater adversary than your current self can handle. Remember, there is always
someone greater than you somewhere out there. Never slack off,”

Toneri nodded, “Alright,”

Naruto stopped, “Konohamaru and co. Can I help you guys?”

The decidedly square 'rock' burst open with copious amount of gunpowder. Konohamaru,
grandson of Hiruzen, coughed as he hacked, “And that’s why…you’re…the Boss!”

Moegi choked, “I think…we put…too much…!”

Udon sniffled, “Me too!”

Indra scoffed, “Iruka’s coming,”

Konohamaru jumped, “Run, kore!” His friends immediately took off after the Honourable
Grandson. The three delinquents disappeared around the corner and Naruto snorted. Toneri
chuckled, “He’s not even anywhere near here,”

Just as they were about to walk away, they heard Konohamaru’s scream. Frowning, they took
off in the direction they heard the scream came from and found the three children being
cowered by a taller Genin in a coverall complete with a hood that had two protrusions that
looked like he’s wearing a cat suit. The Genin snarled, “Damn brats! This is why I hate
them!”

Moegi and Udon called out in worry, “Konohamaru!”

Suddenly a tanto found its way to the foreigner’s throat as well as two kunai. Naruto scowled
at the foreign visitor, voice cold as he threatened, “Put him down or have your throat slit,”

The blond girl with the unique hairstyle that has only been rolling her eyes on the side
stiffened, “Kankuro!” She didn’t even notice them arriving let alone move. Toneri added,
“You don’t want the wrath of the Hokage on your head for beating up his grandson, now
would you?”

Kankuro cursed and froze when a cold voice reached them, “Don’t be a disgrace, Kankuro,
Temari. Or I’ll kill you myself,” He paled and his fingers slackened, dropping a pale
Konohamaru to the ground. The young Sarutobi stood and Indra nodded his head, “Iruka
should be two blocks to the right. Go,”

After the skipping Academy students ran off to find their much more adult instructor for
better protection, the Otsutsuki brothers stepped away as a unit. Temari and Kankuro were
decidedly disturbed by how smooth and united the movement was. It was like the three
worked on a single mind. They have heard about teamwork but this was something else.

A sixth figure joined them with a flurry of sand. Naruto looked at him, “Hey Shukaku,”

The red head, with the kanji for ‘love’ tattooed on his head over his left brow bone, frowned,
“Mother is confused,”

Naruto smirked, “Kurama can’t wait for a family reunion. See you at the Chuunin Exam. In
the meantime behave or I’ll sic Indra-nii-san on you,” He then asked, “I go by Naruto these
days. You are; host of Shukaku?”

Still confused by the strange emotion coming from his tenant, the red head answered,
“Gaara,”
Naruto looked up and they finally noticed the sapling dancing oddly on his head, “I’ll borrow
you Hashirama-ki for the duration of your stay here. Hopefully you’ll get a good night rest,
‘ttebayo. The energy of Mokuton will keep Shukaku’s rampage on the tamer side. It is not
good for your growth to live the way you do,” The sapling jumped and landed on Gaara,
ignoring the grabbing sands, surprising the Suna visitors.

Gaara was shocked but for once the haze of bloodlust dissipated the moment the strange
sapling landed on him. He had never felt more clearheaded. He blinked and suddenly Mother
whispered, “Ashura?”

The three bid the siblings goodbye and turned, revealing the symbol of Ninshu on their back.
Shukaku shuddered, “Ninshu…Gaara…made friend with them. They are our salvation.
They can proof our existence,” He then added, “Be wary of Indra…”

Back with Naruto, Kurama said, “That was wise of you to send Hashirama to them. The
Mokuton energy already started healing Shukaku’s scrambled brain. He’ll behave,”

Minato asked, “We should inform Hiruzen about Shukaku being here in Konoha,”

Naruto nodded and the brothers headed for the Hokage’s office. They had to wait awhile for
the Hokage to be free and so took the time to practice reading each other’s mind through
Ninshu. It’s not a passive thing, that’ll be invasive, but something that they practiced. The
heart of Ninshu is understanding others and they decided to weaponise this so that they can
watch each other’s back and cover their weaknesses.

When Hiruzen finally called them in, Naruto signalled that the Yondaime wanted to say
something and Hiruzen send his ANBU out. Naruto frowned and looked to the side, sensing
one chakra that refused to move. Hiruzen frowned as well, throwing a kunai immediately
when Naruto’s eyes glanced at the suspicious direction. With quick movement, the seal of
privacy used in the era of Shodaime was erected and Indra dragged the dead ninja out of their
hidden spot. Their mask revealed much of their master.

Minato used his special seal to manifest and clucked his tongue, “Danzo is acting more and
more suspicious. I really don’t understand why you insisted on keeping him. He tried to
assassinate you and had spread his stupid ROOT everywhere. Surely there are others just as
capable as him in keeping Konoha safe from the darkness of the Shinobi system?”

Hiruzen sighed, “That was exactly the problem. He’s close to the Daimyo and keeping him
close was the only way I could keep an eye on him,”

Toneri tilted his head, “Keeping friends close and enemies closer?”

Hiruzen nodded, “Precisely,” He then asked, “Is there anything I can help you lot with? It
isn’t every day you decided to come here and ask me to send everyone out,”

Naruto stepped forward, “Shukaku’s in the village,”

Hiruzen frowned, “Shukaku? Ah yes…Suna’s Genin team this time has the Kazekage’s three
children applying. I believe one of his most desperate moves was turning one of his children
in the Jinchuuriki while in the mother’s womb,”

Naruto scowled, “Desperate?”

Hiruzen nodded, “Suna has very tight resource. The Yondaime Kazekage’s specialty on
pulling out gold sands was in fact to keep Suna floating economy wise. One of the first things
the Shodaime Kazekage asked of Hashirama-sensei was part of the Fire Country; the area
closes to the Wind Country, instead of accepting any of the Bijuu,”

Toneri nodded, “Suna is situated in the desert. It’s understandable…but why put such a
burden on his son? I mean, from Naruto’s reaction, the seal is not a good one,”

Naruto scoffed, “It’s a seal used for storage, not a proper seal like mind. There’s not mental
filter and Shukaku likes sleeping over anything else. He must have been driven mad from the
seal itself added with the treatment most Jinchuuriki faced…not a good combo,”

Hiruzen nodded, “Indeed,”

Naruto looked at him, “Jiji…I have a proposition. Let me help Gaara,” He raised his hand
before the man could argue; “Shukaku is still my brother. I would not let him be abused by
that sorry excuse of a seal any longer,”

Minato stepped forward, “Besides, I will be there and if anything happen, Indra will step in,”

Hiruzen sighed, “I would agree but this will step on the toes of the Suna ambassadors as us
interfering with their village’s structure,”

Toneri piped up, “What if it is Gaara’s wish? Would they still think it as us interfering?”

Hiruzen hummed, “That would be up to him, now would it?”

Naruto smiled, “Hashirama-ki is with him. With Mokuton, Gaara would be able to truly rest
and so do Shukaku. I am sure they won’t want to lost that sensation,”

Hiruzen sighed, “Very well, I shall let you handle it. Had it not been because I know your
ability with Fuuinjutsu and Minato being near you, I won’t have agreed,”

That evening, Naruto reached out with Kurama to call Shukaku over to their home. It didn’t
take long for the Sand Siblings to arrive. Temari eyed the three brothers suspiciously, “Why
Gaara wants to see you?”

Naruto introduced himself, “Because I am the host of the Kyuubi Otsutsuki Kurama and I
have a proposal that will benefit Gaara and Ichibi Otsutsuki Shukaku greatly,”

Kankuro whispered, “Otsutsuki?”

Indra explained, “The Bijuu all came from the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo,”

Gaara echoed Shukaku, “Chichi-ue,”

Naruto nodded, “I am the reincarnation of Otsutsuki Ashura and I am sure Shukaku-nii
remembers Ani-ue,”

The sands flurried dangerously around Gaara’s feet, “Betrayer,”

Indra shook his head, “Not anymore. I would not remain Her puppet anymore,” He looked at
Shukaku through Gaara’s eyes, “If I ever fall once more, then…kill me. Make it so I will
never resurface in this world ever again,”

Naruto frowned, “Indra…”

Gaara shook his head, “Mother…Shukaku…wants to accept your proposition,”

Temari looked at him on worry, “But we don’t even know if we can trust them?!”

Gaara frowned, “Shukaku trust Ashura…not Indra…Ashura cares about the Bijuu…” He
looked at his hands, “Ashura…cares about Jinchuuriki because…because Rikudou Sennin
was also a Jinchuuriki,”

Kankuro gaped, “What?”

Gaara shook his, “That’s what Shukaku said…” He looked at Naruto, “I will trust you…
because Shukaku said you can proof to me my existence,”

Naruto smiled, “Press your knuckles with mine,”

Gaara looked at the offered fist, curled his fingers and does the same…only to gasp after a
moment. He understood just as Naruto lunged forward and hugged him. They understood
each other, as if they had lived the other’s life. Their heart and mind had become one for that
single glance of knuckles, chakra flaring and resonating unlike any before.

Temari fidgeted and Kankuro’s fingers twitched, ready to defend Gaara when they heard their
youngest sibling cry for the first time. Gaara broke, clinging to Naruto and asking for
forgiveness. He realised his mistake, understood the wrongness of his ideal and sought
comfort from the one existence in the worlds that can accept his sins without judgement.

After a moment, he pulled away and sniffled, “Please…help me…”

 Chapter 15
Chapter Summary

“Uchiha Sasuke died the night of the Massacre. I go by Indra, not Sasuke,”

The brothers took a stroll as they headed for the Academy building where their first exam and
registration will take place. Naruto sighed, “To think that they will be that desperate. Just
what is wrong with their Daimyo?”

The other day, after helping Gaara, the boy decided to reveal the main reason he’s away from
Suna against his siblings’ wish. Temari was ready to take them down but Toneri’s gravity
manipulation was enough to deter her from attacking as he made her tessen heavier for a
moment. Kankuro was wary but Naruto had managed to calm them down. They won’t do
anything but they will inform Hiruzen.

Turned out Hiruzen’s contact had sniffed the whole possibility but the shock that they will
use the Chuunin’s finale to execute an invasion was still there. There will be important people
attending and Hiruzen decided to bolster their security. Naruto left Hashirama-ki with the
Hokage just in case.

Indra sighed, “Greed. He didn’t want to share his own resource with Suna, that’s why he
betrayed them and drove them to the edge,”

Toneri frowned, “Greed is always a reason for war to ignite,”

Indra nodded, “Alright, we are here. Let’s go,”

The group ignored the people gathered in front of a door claiming to be ‘3-1’. They rely on
their memory and the stairs climbed weren’t enough. The group missed the look the one in
green sent Indra, eyes burning with challenge. Instead they headed straight to where they can
see and sense Minato waiting with Kakashi. Kakashi smiled at them under his mask and
congratulated them, “Good luck,”

The door opened to myriad intensity of killing intent. Indra scoffed and let out his blood lust,
shutting up most of the people in the room, before letting go and join a snickering Naruto
who had found Team 8. Hinata shyly greeted them and Shino buzzed. The group just realized
that Aburame Clan speaks ‘bug’ more than ‘human’ so their buzzing can mean a lot of things
other than agitation. Kiba barked, “I bet I can beat the asses of the people in this room on my
own,”

Toneri chuckled, “Remember the last time you bet against Naruto?”

Kiba’s smirk fell, “Why’d you got to poop on it like that man?”
Toneri smirked, “Let’s just say I save your life by lowering your overconfidence,”

Shino agreed with a buzz and Kiba pouted, “Traitor,” Ever since they learned Ninshu, Kiba
quickly learned the Aburame Clan was quite the chatterbox with their buzzing. He even
slowly pick up of the nuances of Shino’s buzzing.

Hinata giggled, “H-he’s right. Your o-overconfi-dence can get you k-killed,”

Ever since spending time with the Otsutsuki brothers, Hinata’s stuttering was more of her
tongue’s muscle memory than her own timid nature. She’s still shy but not as timid as she
once was. Spending time with Naruto, she has started to find her own confidence. So far the
stuttering has gotten better. She has been speech training when she has the time on her own,
reading the “Tale of a Gutsy Ninja” aloud in her free time. It quickly became her favourite
partly because of how much the main character reminded her of Naruto.

It doesn’t hurt that they even shared the same name!

As the group of friends gathered, someone approached them, “You really shouldn’t act like
this is a friendly gathering,”

Naruto looked at him, “Even so, such a gathering is also to promote teamwork and village
unity,”

The bespectacled silver haired Genin, “I see…I supposed that is one way to see it. But still,
Chuunin Exam is very stressful. Seeing you being so carefree could only bring out
resentment,”

Indra looked around, “If that is how they feel then they aren’t ready,” Blast of killing intent
filled the air and Indra scoffed at them, “Weak,”

Naruto laughed, “Ani-ue, stop antagonising them,”

Toneri chuckled, “Being able to stay calm in a tense situation is a sign of a ready mind. Indra-
nii isn’t wrong,”

The older Konoha Genin, “Well, don’t mind me. I did take this exam 7 times,”

Kiba barked laughter at the admittance, “Wow you must suck!”

Minato frowned behind Naruto, “That doesn’t sound suspicious at all,”

The teenager then pulled out a deck of cards, “But because of that I am able to gather as
much intel about the exams as possible. As Konoha Genin, I do not mind landing a hand,” He
showed the cards, “My name is Yakushi Kabuto and this is my handy dandy info cards. Just
ask me anything and it will show up,”

A Hyuuga Genin stepped forward, “Uzumaki Naruto,”

Hinata mumbled, “Neji-nii-san,”

Naruto pointed at his face, “Me? You could just ask me, dattebayo,”

Neji glared at him, “I know you have been keeping a lot of secrets, Uzumaki. Your influence
on Hinata-sama is clearer than summer sky. I would like to know what is it about you that
break her out of her stupidity,” He then sneered, “Even if she’s still worthless,”

Naruto frowned, “Aren’t you family?”

Neji scoffed, “If you know anything about us Hyuuga, you won’t be saying that,”

Before the fight could escalate, Kabuto brought up one card, “Uzumaki Naruto-!” Before he
could further, the card burst into flames along with the rest of his decks. He flinched,
dropping the cards and looked wide eyed at Indra who closed his mouth, “I would not have
you leave my Otouto at a disadvantage. Secrecy is the armour of a Shinobi after all,”

The room flinched from the slight bloodlust he emitted until Naruto placed a calming hand
on his shoulder. The bowl haircut boy in green jumpsuit grinned, “As expected of the Uchiha
prodigy!”

Indra shook his head, “I am not a prodigy. My talents are my efforts. Talent can only take me
so far. A wise man once told me that talent without hard work will betray me and so I make
effort so I will not be betrayed by my own perceived talent,”

The loud boy’s eyes sparkled, “So you aren’t just a genius but also a true hard working
genius?! You have opened my eyes, my friend!”

Indra’s eyebrow twitched, “When did I become your friend?”

The boy exuberantly introduced himself, “My name is Rock Lee. I know you are Uchiha
Sasuke-!”

The brothers corrected him, “Indra,”

He sputtered, “What?”

Indra introduced himself, “Uchiha Sasuke died the night of the Massacre. I go by Indra, not
Sasuke,”

The group fell silent but before anything more can be said, their first proctor arrived yelling,
“ALRIGHT SHUT UP YOU MAGGOTS! Take a number and take your seats in ten minutes
or you are out!”

The Genin scrambled and grabbed whichever number from their boxes. Naruto was
pleasantly surprised to find Hinata sitting right next beside him while the proctor, Morino
Ibiki, start explain the rules of their written exam. As the clock ticked, he started the exam
with a warning about being caught cheating. Naruto pondered and saw Indra signalling in
ancient sign language that only the Otsutsuki brothers knew. It seemed that they must cheat
but mustn’t be caught.
Even though he’s a Shinobi Naruto was too straight laced. He felt terrible at cheating and so
watched Indra’s hands. The proctors looked confused by his twitching, not knowing how to
act since they can’t recognise anything Indra signalled him.

Naruto looked at Toneri whose senses allowed him to perceived the world through chakra. In
the end, Indra agreed to use their Ninshu connection. The brothers then moved as one, Toneri
being the brightest and Indra using his Sharingan to spy on the other examinees’ papers,
Naruto simply let his hand be guided by his brothers. He’s never the brightest when it comes
to written works beside Fuuinjutsu. Some of the questions raised his brows as he couldn’t
recognise it from any syllabus he had ever read and finally understood the need to cheat.

Information gathering; that was the true purpose behind the written exam.

Feeling less guilty, he let the connection flow into him easier. Indra smirked and Toneri
smiled serenely. More and more Genin was disqualified, caught cheating. Naruto noticed
Hinata finished and smiled at her encouragingly, knowing that she could see him. She
blushed. In the end, he finished his test and rest his head. Even though he loved using Ninshu
with his brothers, he still feel slightly dizzy from sharing their mind.

Ibiki finally called time, “PUT DOWN THOSE DAMN PENS OR GET OUT!” He then
started on the 10th question…or rather he would if he didn’t threaten to kick them out
permanently if they answer him wrong. As the pressure rose, the suspicious Genin planted
around the room that Toneri had pointed out ‘bolted’ and Naruto knew what the game was
about. He would have stayed silent if it wasn’t because the pressure get on Hinata’s nerve. He
noticed her hand twitching and impulsively raised his own first, shocking his brothers and his
friends.

He slammed the hand down, “DON’T SCREW WITH ME! I DON’T GIVE UP AND I
DON’T BACK DOWN! SO STOP WITH YOUR STUPID GAME! EVEN IF I FAIL TO
BECOME CHUUNIN AND STAYED AN ETERNAL GENIN, I WILL BECOME
HOKAGE!”

His roar of defiance silenced the room, Hinata watching with wide eyes. She smiled and
settled her restless hand down to her lap. The room’s nerves settled down along with her
hand. Ibiki raised a brow at the kid, knowing how he will play around but rumour amongst
the Jounin was that he held back so he can be on a team with the Uchiha. That means that the
kid knew what he’s doing and is a natural leader.

With that, he passed the whole room and explained to the discontented Genin the real 10th
question. His fellow proctor Mitarashi Anko burst through the window at that moment. She
scoffed at the amount he let through, calling him soft. He ignored her and instead pointed out
that she’s early. As she dragged the rest of the Genin out, he started to pick at the papers and
noticed three strange papers.

Strange because all three shared the same writing. Two sets of similar writings in the same
answer boxes. Three papers in three different areas belonging to Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki
Toneri and Uzumaki Naruto. The only writing that was different was Naruto’s name. He
blinked, “How…?”
It’s like they shared one body and one mind…

Meanwhile back with the brothers, Naruto stretched and smiled at Hinata, “Hinata, you need
to believe in yourself more,”

She fidgeted, “I’m sorry,”

Toneri shook his head, “What are you apologizing for? Others with more confidence have
buckled. You are just starting to recovering,”

Indra nodded, “The fact that you held on as long as you did is already commendable,” He
smirked, “You just need Naruto to give you an extra boost,”

They chuckled at the two’s blushing face. Kiba sighed, “Too bad that boost also include all
these other losers,” He growled at one cat themed girl who hissed back.

Naruto sighed, “As long as we pass the Second Part, everything is fine,” He mummed as they
reached Training Ground 44, Kiba whimpered along with the cat themed girl as a giant snake
slithered too close to the fence keeping them out of the forest. Anko cheerfully invited them
to her ‘home’ away from home; the Forest of Death.
 Chapter 16
Chapter Summary

Naruto…hate killing and taking life…

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Toneri shuddered, “It is official. I can’t see, yes, but this place gives me the creep,”

Naruto nodded, “Same…and I can see dead people,”

Indra added, “We can see the Shinigami,”

That was the main difference between Naruto and his brothers. Indra and Toneri can see
Minato but they cannot see the typical dead. Maybe because Naruto once wore the Shinigami
Mask and became the ‘door’ between the stomach of the Shinigami and their world. That
aside, the Forest of Death lived up to its name. It was only because Minato walked with the
brothers that some of the more violent ghosts didn’t come forward.

Naruto shivered, “The energy in these trees…they are of Mokuton but…twisted. Dark and
miserable, angry even,”

Toneri hummed, “Maybe because this was created after the final battle at the Valley of the
End?”

Naruto sighed, “Maybe,”

Minato chuckled, “Alright, kids, focus,”

Just after he said that, Toneri was snatched into the air by a trap and Indra quickly found
himself running for cover from water needles. Naruto parried an attack with his kunai,
“Ame!”

The Genin from Ame….let’s call them Ichi, Ni and San respectively since no one knows their
name…attacked the team with a laugh. Ichi looked smug that Toneri was caught in his snare
but Toneri just float upright and loosened the wire threads using a small knife from his shoe
with his gravity manipulation. Ichi complained, “That’s just cheating,”

Toneri smiled, “I’m just resourceful,”

Indra scowled and disappeared. Ni looked around, confused, “Where’d he go?” At that
moment he felt cold steel against his throat, a chilling whisper in his ear, “Give up or die,”
Naruto rolled on the ground, San coming after him quick and nimble. In the end, Naruto
manipulated the vines of the tree to grab hold of him. San yelped, “The hell is this?!”

After they tied the group up, Indra flashed his Sharingan and demanded, “Scroll,”

Ni whimpered, “Earth,”

Toneri grinned, “Give,”

San struggled, “As if!”

Indra scoffed, tanto out and ready, “I could always take it off your dead body,”

Ichi sighed, “Just give it,”

Naruto smiled, “I’ll let you go once we are out of your sight…just pray to the Sage that the
beasts in this forest didn’t find you first,” With that, they bid their competition goodbye and
leapt away deeper into the forest.

After a while, Naruto let go of his control once Toneri couldn’t sense them. Minato smiled
over them, “Wonderfully done. No injury and no death. That’s a good start,”

Naruto suddenly stopped and looked to the side just as he was swallowed. Indra and Toneri
screamed, “NARUTO!!”

But before Indra could hack the stomach of the snake open, someone met his strike and sent a
gust of powerful wind to blow Toneri away. Minato looked on in horror, “Boys!”

Toneri called out before he disappeared from sight, “Get Naruto-nii!!”

Knowing that Toneri can handle himself and so does Indra, Minato headed straight for the
snake that’s taking away his son to digest him. Zenitsu out, he cut off the head of the snake
but though the soul has been beheaded the physical form remained intact. It was moment like
this that Minato hated that he’s dead.

Suddenly roots and branches grew from inside the snake and Minato breathed easier,
“Naruto!”

Naruto coughed, a little blistered from the stomach acid, “The snake’s a summon!”

Minato paled, “Orochimaru! He’s aiming for Indra’s Sharingan!”

Naruto blanched, “Ani-ue!” He leapt out and straight to where he can sense Indra’s chakra.
His brother was putting up a mighty fight but even though he has the memories and abilities
of his ancient self, Ninjutsu change with time and has evolved so considering how obsessed
Orochimaru was with Ninjutsu, the arsenal of jutsu he can use against Indra would put him
on the defensive.

He found Toneri being held hostage by a giant snake and headed straight for the kill. He
forgoes hiding his Mokuton the moment he became Genin but never really has a chance to
use it. This time he didn’t hold back and touched a tree, a glancing touch of his finger was
enough for the cells to go crazy and deadly. It took hold of the giant snake and stabbed it
right through the head, forcing it to let Toneri go.

Naruto looked up to see Indra almost bitten but he activated his Eternal Mangekyou
Sharingan, using Kamui to escape. Orochimaru found his jaw snapping over nothing and
quickly combust in black flame. Naruto took that chance to take his brother away, his much
younger body unable to handle the drawback of using Amaterasu.

Orochimaru hissed as this prey escaped but looked around in great interest, “Eternal
Mangekyou and Mokuton…my, my…what interesting subjects we have…never matter, you
will fall under me, Sasuke,”

Toneri guided Naruto who was carrying an unconscious Indra through the forest, just in time
to see a girl being assaulted by one of the forest bear. Naruto wordlessly handed Indra to him
and headed down to help her. He still needs to carry out his duty to Ninshu.

He dropped onto the bear and guided the roots to grab hold of the beast. He looked at the
terrified red head and asked, “Can you go up the trees?”

She nodded and did just that.

Naruto joined her and once far enough, he let the bear go. She looked at him, “Who are you?”

He smiled, “Uzumaki Naruto,” He noticed her wide eyes and asked, “You are?”

She bit her lower lip nervously, “Uzumaki…Karin…”

He almost fell off his branch and grinned, “You’re family,”

She blushed, “I…guess…” She spied his hitai-ate, “You’re from Konoha?”

He nodded and noticed her own hitai-ate, “How did an Uzumaki ended up in Kusa?”

She grimaced, “Refugees,”

He landed in front of a tree hollow where he can sense Toneri, “Strange. Uzumaki refugees
would have headed for Konoha. We are sister village. My mum has been here since before
the fall of Uzu,”

Karin shrugged, “I don’t know. My mum has been serving in Kusa since the Third War,”

Naruto nodded, “I see…anyway, what are you doing alone?”

Karin grimaced, “My team left me for bait is what happened!”

Naruto frowned, “Alright, you’re staying with me until we get to the Tower. I know we are
from opposing villages but we are also Uzumaki. Family should stick together,”

Minato nodded, “Well said,”

Toneri spied them, “Naruto-nii-san?”

Naruto introduced Karin, “Looks like we are having a little sister,”

Karin looked at Toneri with wide eyes, “Are you saying that-?”

Naruto nodded, “I adopted him,”

Toneri greeted her, “Hello,” He then looked at Naruto, “Indra-ani-ue is running a fever,”

Naruto frowned, “Let me look at him,”

Karin fidgeted, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

Naruto smiled at her, “Its okay. I’m the team medic. You can keep an eye out for hostiles
though,”

Karin looked oddly relieved at that and nodded, “Sure. I’m a sensor after all!”

Naruto looked at Toneri, “What happened?”

Toneri sighed, “I don’t know exactly. When I managed to find my way back to them, they
were locked in a Genjutsu battle. Then Indra broke away but he looked disturbed, saying that
he’s not Sasuke over and over. We all know that psychologically Sasuke’s ego is sleeping.
Whatever that snake tried to do, it seemed to awaken Sasuke from Indra’s psyche,”

Minato pondered, “That is not good,” He asked, “What did Orochimaru want?”

Toneri looked grim as he answered, “He offered Sasuke power….power to take down Itachi,”

Naruto sighed, breaking Indra’s fever and checking his body over, “What do you think he
tried to do when he went for Indra’s neck?”

Minato paled, “Cursed Mark. It was a seal that he was working on when I became Hokage.
Anko was the only survivor of his prototype,” He added, “She confessed once that it corrodes
her mental faculty whenever she used it and he can control it like the Caged Bird Seal,”

Naruto gripped Indra, “No! I won’t let Indra or Sasuke fall for his lies. Indra lived the life of
a puppet until his death! I won’t let him go through that twice!”

Toneri put a soothing hand on his shoulder, “Don’t worry, I won’t let him either,”

Karin listened from the outside, wondering just who they were talking to. She could sense
something but her senses told her to avoid looking at it. So she kept quiet. They may call
themselves her family but she still have trouble trusting them. The only reason the follow
Naruto was because of his chakra. She has never seen a golden chakra before and it felt
warm, inviting like the morning sun. The one named Toneri felt cool, like moonlight. But the
sleeping one felt dark, not evil just dark like the night.
 Their chakra was welcoming and that was the only reason she followed them. Her team’s
chakra felt sickening to her and she was forced to endure the whole way from Kusa to
Konoha. She decided to take this chance to get out from becoming a chakra battery like her
mother was her whole life. Naruto said Uzumaki are welcomed in Konoha. Well, she will
take this chance as his chakra didn’t lie to make a new life for her.

The next morning, three Genin from Oto breaks into their impromptu camp and Karin slipped
inside, “They are hostile,”

Naruto nodded, “Stay here with Indra. Toneri, with me,” The moment he stepped out, his
eardrum burst and Toneri flinched at his side. They couldn’t hear them but from the way the
three from Oto make it clear from their body language that they didn’t think much about
Konoha Genin.

Naruto raised his hand and green chakra spilled. He immediately hear one of them curse, “A
fucking medic?! This sucks. Never mind, you will just die first!”

Naruto stomped his foot down, raising a wall of wood before him. The bark burst from the
sound attack. He took that cover to heal Toneri’s ears and his brother nodded. He cocked his
fist back and used pure chakra push to level his opponent to the ground. Naruto stepped onto
the wood chips and said, “We are out of your league. I suggest backing off or kiss your
Shinobi career goodbye,”

The girl of the team sneered, “Oh shut it!”

Toneri stepped forward and pushed his hand, “Then we will have no choice but to kill you,”
With that he flew up and pressed his palm down, “Shinra Tensei!”

The three person team fell to their knees and Naruto quickly moulded the roots around them
to strange them. It didn’t take long for the Genin from Oto to die. Naruto sighed, “I really
hate the Shinobi system. Konoha…and the Hidden Villages are supposed to be the beginning
of true peace. Instead, it became a reason for people to fight even more,”

Karin stared at her supposed cousin in shock. She knew that he’s strong but also didn’t expect
him to kill so easily. She then watched as he began to bury his dead opponents, muttering
prayers for their departed soul. She sensed the strange energy moving over each grave,
unable to see Minato as he send their souls back to the Cycle.

Naruto…hate killing and taking life…

Chapter End Notes

I'm bad at trash talking so I tended to skip all that. Hope you still enjoy it though..
 Chapter 17
Chapter Summary

A promise by his brother transcends life and death…

Indra stared at the child before him. Within his mind, the child Uchiha Sasuke had slept
dreaming of happier times with his family. Orochimaru’s whispers of vengeance had woken
him up and Indra struggled to lull the boy back to sleep. He sighed as Sasuke fought him
tooth and nails, “Give me back my body!”

Indra shook his head, “No,”

Sasuke snarled, “Why not?! It’s my body!”

Indra stood firm, “Because you will make the same mistake I did. The same mistake all
Uchiha did. Because of me, we are cursed by hatred. I will not fall the same trap every
again,”

Sasuke stared at him before sobbing, “Then why won’t you go after him? If you are my
ancestor, why won’t you avenge them?”

Indra rubbed the boy’s head, “Because I don’t know the truth. Until then, I would not make a
move. We know Itachi, he never do a thing without reason,”

Sasuke shook his head, “No! He told me-!”

Indra chuckled bitterly, “And you believe that? Itachi lies. He lies all the time,”

Sasuke cried, “Why? Why did you do it, Nii-san?”

Suddenly Ashura’s image superimposed over Sasuke and Indra gasped. He shook his head
and pulled Sasuke into a loose embrace, “Keep dreaming Sasuke. Keep dreaming and let me
carry the burden of reality for you…”

As Sasuke’s eyes lulled to sleep, Indra’s eyes opened. He looked to see Naruto fussing over
him and smiled, “Otouto,”

Naruto breathed, his precious face lighting up with relief, “Ani-ue!”

Toneri tilted his head over to their sound, “You’re awake!”

Naruto fussed over him, “Did he get you?”

Indra shook his head, “No…I managed to use Mangekyou to get away,” He then noticed a
third member, “Who is she?”

The red headed girl greeted him, “Hi. I’m Uzumaki Karin,”

Indra looked at Naruto, “Did you adopt her, Otouto?” He rubbed the boy’s blond locks, “You
have always been fond of orphans,”

Naruto pulled his head away, “No! She’s a real Uzumaki, dattebayo!”

Indra blinked, “Is that so? Interesting,”

Now that he’s awake, they have another two days to get to the Tower and the three decided to
head straight to their destination. Toneri filled Indra in on the happening of the last two days
they were stuck waiting for him to wake up. Indra scowled, rubbing his neck. Minato
explained what he knew of the Cursed Mark and Indra knew that he was lucky that he
instinctual enough to avoid being bitten. But knowing Orochimaru, Minato told him that he’s
all the more prize worthy for the Hebi Sennin with his original Sharingan. Even though he
didn’t know it, a mature Sharingan was most wanted for the jutsu obsessed snake.

Indra sneered, “I will not let him turn me against my clan and family,”

Upon reaching the Tower, they let Naruto deal with the scrolls. One look and the boy told his
brothers to throw them open on the floor. The seal glowed with a flash of chakra and Umino
Iruka appeared with a burst of smoke, “Congratulation for passing the Second Phase of the
Chuunin Exam!” He then noticed the fourth member, “Uhm…boys? Why is there a Kunoichi
from Kusa with you?”

Naruto chirped, “She’s an Uzumaki, dattebayo! I want to talk to Jiji because of her situation,”

Iruka replied, “Call him Hokage-sama, Naruto! Also…he’s busy but I’ll try and inform him,”

Toneri piped up, “Also…Orochimaru tried to mark Indra-nii,”

Iruka paled, “Who? Orochimaru, are you sure?”

Naruto nodded, “He tried to bite Ani-ue but failed,”

Iruka nodded, absentmindedly telling them to rest in their rooms while he inform the Hokage
about Naruto discovered family member. Heading to their room, Naruto talked Karin, “Sorry
about this. Your team must have been disqualified so you’ll have to share our room,”

Karin sighed, “It’s no difference then when camping out to me,”

Naruto nodded, “Alright. We’ll give you as much privacy as you want. Just ask,”

This was completely from the left side to Karin who was used to have her concern brushed
aside. She watched as they chose to give up one bed to her and shared the remaining two by
pushing the bed closer together. They also went as far as to leave the room for her to freshen
up. This really put her in an awkward situation. Everything they do just felt so…sincere…
Karin was used to being neglected and abuse by her team.

She was not used to sincerity and kindness…

Breakfast was an interesting affair. Naruto greeted Team 8 warmly, asking about their
wellbeing. He also greeted the team from Suna like one would a visiting relative. Karin really
don’t get the three ‘brothers’ but it seemed other than foreign Shinobi, everyone their age
group that came from Konoha was completely unfazed by their behaviours.

Kakashi then appeared and asked the four of them to come along. Karin stiffened. This was
it. She’ll either be used or be welcomed if Naruto and his brother’s words were to be trusted.
The old man with the Kage hat must be their Hokage and she was surprised that Naruto
would call the man Jiji to his face. She was used to people being rude behind their superiors
but it seemed that the term Jiji that Naruto referred to old Kage was really out of affection
than rudeness.

Hiruzen studied her and Karin fought her need to fidget. He asked, “You said that you are a
sensor?”

She nodded, “Yes,”

He puffed his pipe as he pondered, “Do you have the Adamantine Chain? I know enough that
an Uzumaki female have an easier time calling on the chains than their male counterpart,”

This time she fidgeted, “I don’t have it,”

Hiruzen nodded in acknowledgement, “Then…a sensor you say? Could it be that you can use
the Eye of Kagura?”

She blinked, “Yes,”

He then started to test her sensor ability right there in the room. He asked her numerous
question regarding the famous Uzumaki sensing ability before smiling, “I know Uzumaki
chakra. After all, I was close to many of them when they are still numerous in Konoha so I
knew the moment I felt your chakra that Naruto has not been lied to,” He nodded, “A short
period of probation, some psychological evaluation and we could bring you in to Konoha
from Kusa. Obviously they don’t care much for you so I doubted that they will be fussy about
letting you go, as unfortunate as that may sound,”

Karin couldn’t believe her ears even as Hiruzen turned his attention to the waiting brothers.
He asked them about Orochimaru but she didn’t hear any of it. He trusted her because of the
feel of her chakra and because of Naruto? She looked at the blond who somehow have a
dancing plant in his hand that he handed over to the Hokage. What was that? A pet?

Karin trust her sensing ability. Chakra doesn’t lie.

And Naruto as well as his brothers all have very harmonious chakra that just seemed call her
to join them. She felt safe with them, a feeling that she never have been able to associate with
anyone besides her late mother.
Is this how a family should feel like?

Karin was sent to Konoha under the guide of Kakashi. She will be living at the Hatake house
once she’s been cleared by the Yamanaka Clan. It only take a day and after being referred to a
Yamanaka psychiatry help for the abuse she suffered in Kusa, surprising her as they didn’t
ask anything about her healing ability, Karin found herself in a room in Hatake House. She
was already informed the some ANBU will keep an eye on her for her safety but somehow
the whole Hatake house was suffused with Naruto overwhelmingly calming chakra. She felt
safe…

Safer than she had ever felt in her life…

Back at the Tower, the final day arrived and the gathered Genin stood in an arena as
Konoha’s Hokage give his speech about their alternative to war to evaluate the skills of their
Shinobi and the ability if their Village. Then a coughing guy name Hayate started explaining
about the Chuunin Exam’s Third Phase, his coughing bad enough that Naruto had to be held
back before he bring out his Medic Bijuu by his brothers. Hinata giggled while Kiba and
Shino pitied the coughing man. It seemed that Naruto has found a new victim-ahem! I mean
patient, yes, patient.

Indra’s name was called out first and he faced someone from Oto who could adsorb chakra. It
was unfortunate for the man as Indra simply put him to sleep with a glance of his eyes. Toneri
faced someone from Kiri and smacked the Genin face down to the ground with Shinra Tensei
rather lightly long enough that they almost suffocated from their broken nose, forcing them to
submit. A few more of their friends faced their adversary and it didn’t take long for Naruto’s
name to come out. He listen in silent amusement as Kakashi harassed his ‘eternal rival’ Maito
Gai by being the complete opposite.

Minato always think that their ‘rivalry’ as endearing, much to the horror of the Hatake.

Kurenai sighed when she heard Kiba was to face Naruto. She looked at her student and Kiba
grinned back. Naruto met Hiruzen’s eyes and the Hokage knew that the time for Naruto to
keep his abilities hidden has come to an end. He will be targeted like so many of Hashirama’s
kin after his death but he knew that Naruto’s strong not to mention that neither Indra nor
Toneri will leave his back open.

Kiba jumped to the arena and crowed, “Come on, Naruto. Let’s see who the better Alpha is!”

Naruto snorted, “Sorry Kiba but I’m cutting this short,” He stepped onto the arena, just a
single stomp of his foot, and the arena bloomed with lush grass. He relished in the gasp of his
spectators, heard someone dropped whatever it was they were holding, and breathed in. Kiba
cursed and started to flatten all the grasses around him but they only grow taller and wrapped
all around him as Naruto moved in Ninshu, turning Kiba into a mummy made of grass
leaving one his eyes exposed. He grinned at the deadpanned Kiba, who growled, “I give…”

Naruto listened as the coughing man, whom he’s so dragging to bed rest, called out, “The
winner for this round, Uzumaki Naruto!”
He gently let Kiba and Akamaru out, the puppy whimpering and whining at the unfairness of
it all. It wasn’t easy to fight against nature. There’s a reason why the Uchiha was the greatest
adversary for the Senju. Especially for the founder of Konoha, only those with fire in their
arsenal have a chance to fight him. It’s also the reason why Uchiha Madara excel in fire
based jutsu so much and in retaliation Hashirama’s brother Tobirama became an expert in
water based jutsu to put out not just Madara’s flame but also to douse the forest fire resulting
from their battle before everyone died from asphyxiation.

Ah….the duty of the younger brother…

When Hinata’s name came up, Naruto frowned. He had seen how Neji treated Hinata. It was
like he was angry that he’s stuck being beneath her even though talent wise he’s far above
her. Hinata had confessed that he used to be so kind and generous toward her, willing to listen
to her woe but now he’s the worse of the Hyuuga that berated her for being unable to meet
their standard.

His fear came true when Hinata stood up for herself for the first time and Neji retaliated by
aiming for kill blow. Around the tower, the trees reacted to Naruto’s violent temper when
Hinata slumped on the arena’s floor, heart stuttering. He ignored the medic, intent to see to
her himself as he placed golden hands on her chest.

One medic gasped, “Mystic Palm?!”

An attending Jounin familiar with the technique frowned, “The colour’s wrong but…”

Hinata lurched forward, coughing out blood as Naruto turn her to her side. Weak from her
almost death she looked at him, “Am I…changing…for the better…Naruto-kun?”

Naruto stared at her as her consciousness slipped away. He bit his lower lip, “You’re
stronger…” He then turned his gaze to Neji, “I will teach you what it means to be a family,”

Neji snorted and turned away, much to the disappointment of his team and the furious disgust
of Hinata’s team. Kiba looked at Hinata as her prone figure was taken out to the hospital,
“Naruto?”

Naruto replied, “Yeah?”

“Kick his ass for us,”

Fortune smiled on Naruto as when the names came out, his first battle was with Neji. He
rubbed the blood clinging to his fingers, “I promised…and I don’t go back on my promise.
Just ask Indra…” His brother would know.

A promise by his brother transcends life and death…

 Chapter 18
Chapter Summary

“No peeping. The trees in Konoha will castrate you if you do,”

Naruto have a month to prepare and so does his brothers. He’s confident in his ability so he
didn’t worry too much. After all, he’s always training with his brothers. But at the same time
he thought that perhaps an outside perspective will help further their training. Minato and
Kakashi have done all they could and he’s thankful for that.

What he need was someone not part of the family.

Meaning someone that’s not Karin and thinking of the girl in question bring about
amusement to Naruto. The other day apparently someone was dying in the wood near
Konoha and the ghost haunting said person was panicking for help. The ghosts of Konoha
immediately brought them to Naruto who was taking a bath at that time. Naruto being Naruto
had panicked and ran out with only a towel around his hip screaming for Kakashi about
“she’s dying, dattebayo” and scaring Karin with the antic that was really the norm at the
Hatake house.

She swore up and down that her new found cousin is a crazy pervert.

It doesn’t help that everyone beside her in that house has Y-chromosome.

The shenanigans of the Hatake house aside, the Otsutsuki brothers have been visiting Hinata
daily. They totally let Indra lead them to her room as no one would bat an eyelash at that.
He’s their precious Uchiha-sama after all. They might not care but considering the exam they
didn’t want to cause trouble. Naruto would attempt to heal her but the medics there have been
giving him the stink eye so he relented and curb his need to see to her health personally…

Back to the present, Naruto’s currently following an angry ghost of a former hot spring
owner. Ami complained on and on, “I thought that he’ll change once he’s my age but it’s like
he’s stuck being a brat! Worse, he’s good at hiding with that weird technique of his!”

Minato groaned, knowing just who it was that she was complaining about. Naruto had to
personally go as he has nothing to do that day, what with Indra off experimenting with new
jutsu and Toneri practicing his Otsutsuki inherent abilities. The only reason he knew about
Banshou Ten'in and Shinra Tensei was because of Indra’s intimate knowledge on the abilities
of Rikudou Sennin. So now he wanted to see if there’re more to it. Alas, Kakashi was busy
helping with the upcoming invasion so he’s out. Naruto can create clones to fight with but…
he feel bored.
So after he beat his own self for the nth time that morning, he decided to go on a stroll
instead. That’s how the harried ghost granny found him. Naruto have had dealings with her a
few times in the past and because of his dealings with the ghosts, part of Konoha had become
more welcoming to him especially after he started his Shinobi career as Genin. Naruto may
have accepted being a Shinobi but he will try and revive Ninshu through interacting with the
people he met.

Granny Ami growled, “There he is!”

Minato groaned, “Sensei…”

Naruto blinked at the giggling man and sighed, “You know, even the female ghosts felt like
kicking you in the balls right now and that’s saying something since they usually didn’t care,”

The man looked at him with confusion, “What?”

Naruto glared at him, “Come along,” He signed and the wooden fence thicken, almost
solidified into a single solid structure before grabbing the squawking man by the hair, “Let’s
go Ero-Sennin. You should really visit your godson when you came back first thing. But no!
Talk about priorities,”

The man grumbled in confusion, “Wait?! What?! Who-?! Let go! Dammit! Ow!”

Naruto dragged the man with remarkable strength. Well, the sons of Hagoromo has always
been stronger than the common man, what with being the grandsons of the Mother of Chakra.
There’s a reason the Uzumaki are famous for monstrous stamina. He finally let the man go
once they reached an empty training ground. Finally released from the vines that had
sprouted to negate any use of chakra in his white locks, the man jumped to his feet with a
furious red face. Well, he was dragged through the streets of Konoha after all.

He pointed at Naruto, “Who the hell do you think you are, you brat?!”

Naruto deadpanned, “Your neglected godson…you know Tou-san is really looking forward to
trashing you for taking so long to come back to Konoha, dattebayo,”

Minato invisibly cracked his knuckles.

The man, who can only be his errand godfather Jiraiya the Gama Sennin, paled. Hiruzen had
been sending stranger and stranger story to him about Naruto. He would have gone straight to
Konoha but the threat of Akatsuki has been taking up most of his time and years passed by.
Before he knew it, Naruto had grown into quite the character. He sighed, “So you know?”

Naruto nodded, “Hard not to when Tou-san recognize you,” He peered at the Sage, “Jiji did
tell you about me, right?”

Jiraiya grumbled, “At first it sounded like he wrote it while drinking. In fact, the first letter I
get from him reeked of sake. Then it kept coming and I asked the toads about Ashura and
Indra. Pa and Ma didn’t know them personally but Gamamaru-sama does,”

Naruto smiled, blue eyes glowed with ancient memories, “Chichi-ue’s shishou,”
Jiraiya groaned when he saw the ancient light in Naruto’s eyes, “Brat…why’d you have to be
so complicated?”

Naruto shrugged, “No peeping. The trees in Konoha will castrate you if you do,”

Jiraiya squawked, “What?!”

Naruto grinned, “What can I say? With the mastery of Mokuton that I have, the whole village
is one big living weapon to me, dattebayo!”

Jiraiya looked at the ominously creaking trees around him and then at the grasses at his feet.
For the first time in his life, as a Konoha raised child, he didn’t feel safe surrounded by the
forest and nature. He shed tears, “My research…”

Minato and Naruto growled, “You mean your porn,”

“At least let me use the bathhouse for that,”

Naruto eyeballed him, “Are you seriously asking a kid like me to let you peep?”

“You’re not a real kid,”

“I was born almost 13 years ago. My voice box hasn’t broke. I have yet to have any pubic
hair. I’m still a kid,” Naruto quirked a brow, “Need I say more?”

Jiraiya glared at him, “Oh come on! You’ve done it! In another life, maybe, but you still have
had sex before! You know how it’s like making babies! You should understand the beauty of
a woman physique!” He started rambling about his endless admiration of the fairer gender.
Suddenly Jiraiya felt his ear being pulled and looked at the offender, “What are you-!” His
eyes widened, “M-M-Minato?”

The new Shinigami smiled something frightening at him, looking just as ominous as his new
position, “How…dare…you…” He twisted the poor ear and caused his former mentor to
scream as he continued, “HOW DARE YOU TRY AND CORRUPT MY SON?!!!!”

The scream that came from the trashing delivered can be heard all the way to Nami. Tsunami
looked up from the fish she was cleaning, “Hm. A pervert’s scream is the best kind of
music,”

Inari shuddered, his eyes wide as he looked around in fear and confusion, “What’s that?”

Back in the forest of Konoha, Naruto watched Jiraiya begging Minato for forgiveness while
doing push-ups while the former Hokage sat on his back with weight seals. Kurama was
laughing and rolling in his mindscape, enjoying the horror the Yondaime unleashed on
Naruto’s errand godfather. Naruto sighed and shook his head, “You’re hopeless,”

Minato nodded, “I should never have asked you,”

Jiraiya grumbled as he finally collapsed from the tons of weight on his back, “My spine…”
Naruto stared at him a while longer before offering, “I’ll make dinner. Come eat with the
family,”

Jiraiya dragged his body after Naruto to the Hatake house. He took note that the boy
sometimes stopped for a moment, tilt his head to listen to someone before nodding and
moving on. Sometimes he veered off path and managed to help a cat off a tree, helped a brat
that had fallen down a well out, assist an elderly to carry her grocery bags and many more
before finally managing to reach their destination. The elderly looked like she knew Naruto
well and called him Saito, who Naruto later informed Jiraiya was her son who died back
during the Third War. He couldn’t move on and had worried over her so had sought out
Naruto when he could to help her with her daily grocery run.

Jiraiya smiled. Naruto’s busy but not for no reason for as he helped the people, he was
spreading Ninshu through advices. The people he had helped naturally sought him out to ask
for advice. He can tell that they’re usually children or people who recently moved to Konoha.
Those who had lived there long enough to recall the 10th of October weren’t as welcoming
but slowly, their prejudice towards Naruto was being chipped away. Like river water, Naruto
sanded away their hatred towards him because of Kurama.

The boy has patience, Jiraiya have to admit that.

Uchiha Sasuke, or Otsutsuki Indra, was as mysterious as he appeared when Jiraiya met him
that evening. The boy was a cold as any Uchiha but underneath that closed off mien was a
hint of warmth and fondness whenever he looked at Naruto. From what Hiruzen had sent him
via his monkeys, as things with Naruto became the greatest of secrets between them and
Kakashi, Indra has no loyalty to Konoha whatsoever but for as long as Naruto saw Konoha as
home and precious to him, Indra will stay and protect it as well.

Otsutsuki Toneri, adopted Uzumaki, came from the obscure and mythical clan on the moon
that Gamamaru confirmed to exist. Like Indra, he was the last of his family. Toneri showed
greater innocence when compared to either Naruto or Indra. Both brothers did their best to
guide him but Indra often left the teaching to Naruto. Clearly the eldest of the boys do not
trust his own judgement. Having read the full history of Indra’s former life, Jiraiya couldn’t
blame him. It wasn’t that he lacked confidence but rather he did not trust his own judgement
when it comes to things like right or wrong.

Naruto was his moral compass. As long as Naruto showed him the way, he will take it as a
law unto himself.

Kakashi…remained Kakashi. Albeit a lot more laidback than he recalled, the steel in the
man’s eyes were back and the once simmered Will of Fire has once more bloomed into an
inferno. Especially with Minato back on his life, Kakashi was more stable than the last time
he set his eyes on the boy. Well, it doesn’t hurt that he’s a big fan of Jiraiya’s work.

Minato on the other hand…Jiraiya couldn’t find it in him to blame the man for turning his
back on Konoha. His greatest sacrifice, belittled. His most heartfelt wish, ignored. Konoha
had betrayed the Yondaime in the wake of his death.
Oh, he will still help protect Konoha as long as Naruto wished for it. But he will no longer
sacrifice anything for the village. Jiraiya thought about the matter and found that he could
accept the man’s reasoning. Loyalty scorned was the cruellest thing one could do to others. It
would a greater amount of sacrifice on the other parties’ part to regain the lost loyalty but so,
it might not ever be enough.

The most surprising person to meet at the Hatake house was Uzumaki Karin. Jiraiya was
pleased to see her and her red hair reminded him of all the Uzumaki he had come across. He
approached her, as he has nothing to teach Naruto, “How would you like to learn about
Fuuinjutsu?”

Karin stared at him, surprised by the offer, “You’re…going to teach me Fuuinjutsu?”

Jiraiya grinned, “Fuuinjutsu is the bread and butter of the Uzumaki Clan. It’s only right I
show you the starting line for it,”

Karin fidgeted, “I don’t know…I’m not sure if the Hokage would let me,”

Jiraiya snorted, “Sensei? He won’t mind, especially if you learn it from me!”

Naruto watched as the two interacted. He knew Minato will talk to Jiraiya about the invasion
from Suna. He has been keeping an eye on the people involved. Turned out the boy Kabuto
that Minato have been suspicious of was indeed a traitor.

And so the days continue with Naruto training his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu with further
guidance from Jiraiya who had taken Karin up as his apprentice for the duration of his stay in
Konoha. Some suspicious people have been visiting the Hatake house’s perimeter but
couldn’t get closer because of the plants Naruto grew around ground. They worked as a form
of barrier that not only detect but also capture and contain.

With Naruto’s chakra within, Naruto would know the moment someone invaded their home.

Just like that, a whole month passed and soon the Final Phase of the Chuunin Exam arrived…
 Chapter 19
Chapter Summary

War has come to Konoha…

Naruto stood flanked by his brothers. He stretched his fingers, making sure that they’re truly
loose and warmed up. He didn’t know what he will say to Neji. He had asked Hinata why
Neji behaved the way he did but it seemed like it was due to toxic environment. He treated
her badly because he felt like he was being held back unfairly.

He refused to acknowledge Hinata’s struggle against her own demerits.

Their names were called and Naruto faced Neji who glared at him, taking a stance, “I heard
rumours that you dreamed of becoming the Hokage? From what I can see you, it will remain
nothing but a dream,”

Naruto didn’t answer him, taking the ancient Ninshuken stance and breathed. The ground
under him breathed along, grasses grow and revert. The crowd fell silent. Neji scowled; his
Byakugan flaring to life as he moved. Naruto meet his palm stance by stance. The Juuken
was derived from the Ninshuken but deviated from the one taught by Hamura-jii-sama and
Chichi-ue-sama. He could sense the Hyuuga Clan becoming restless as Naruto slapped Neji
back.

Naruto do not have the Byakugan but he knew the human body well, being the Father of
Chakra Medic. He learned the human body extensively to help the people and heal their
ailment. It was much later in life that his children created the Byakugou no In to replicate his
own natural gift and strength. So it only made sense that he knew exactly where each
tenketsu points were on a human body. With each slaps of palm to palm, he ‘echoed’ his
chakra through Neji’s body, making his tenketsu resonate in defence against the invading
chakra that brushed through.

Neji pulled back, his face red, “What do you think you’re doing?!”

Well, Ashura actually accidentally discovered this technique when he was being frisky with
his then wife. Understandably Neji would feel violated as his coils was literally stroked.
Infuriated by Naruto’s sheepish look, he lunged forward. But Naruto had already mapped his
tenketsu. Now it was a battle of who can close the other’s tenketsu faster.

Neji was horrified. It wasn’t Juuken and this brat before him didn’t have the Byakugan. But
he knew a different way to learn the tenketsu points of his opponent and was fast enough to
map everything that made up Neji’s chakra path. He pulled back, “Whatever it is you’re
planning, it won’t work!”
Naruto didn’t answer him.

Now…to teach him Hinata’s heart through Ninshu…

Their palms meet once more and Neji felt Naruto’s chakra invading his body yet again. But
this time instead of that violating strokes, this was like a pinpoint acupuncture.

He saw Hinata through Naruto’s eyes. Heard her always worrying over the divide of her
family, saw the bonsai created through ikebana that represented her. She loves him, adored
him and respected him so much that each cruel words he threw at her cut deeply. Because
ultimately it only hurts when she cared. And she cared for him more than he deserved.

She had faith that he will fly higher than anyone in the clan…if only he saw that he mattered
more than the words and the divides of their clan.

Then…he saw another clan in a different land.

One family, divided into two. One family, divided by war. One family, slaying each other.
One family fought, killing kin and spilling each other’s blood until all that was left was only
one child. They killed themselves from the inside, their pride was their downfall.

It was a second but felt like eternity.

Neji then saw two brothers, grew up happily together. Divided by duty, estranged by
ambition, killed by pride. Two brothers with power like a god, rending the lands beneath
them like nothing as the sky crumbled and the ground quaked. The storm flew down with all
the fury of the heaven while the earth reached skyward with all the embrace of life.

Brothers of one womb. Brothers of shared blood. Brothers that had sworn to defend and
protect each other, killed by pride and entitlement.

Naruto’s voice echoed through his mind; “Is this the very same ending you sought for?”

Neji came back to Konoha, falling from the hell scape that invaded his mind and stared at
Naruto with horrified eyes. He was walking the same path, didn’t he? Hinata was a bridge,
the one that could gap the divide in their family but she was alone. He will only made it
harder for her. He could see the future of his clan clearer than ever should Hinata failed in her
endeavour. With the rising tension, it wasn’t impossible for either side to start breaking into
war.

And didn’t he promised to always be there for her?

In that vision, the elder brother was tricked…

For Neji, it was willingly on his side. He chose to abuse her, he chose to ignore her pleading
eyes and reaching hands, he chose to…kill…her. Neji fell back and threw up, the reality of
his action cold on his skin and heavy on his mind. Naruto had shown him just how close to
death Hinata was. Had it not been for him, Hinata will always be suffering from a weak heart.
He looked up to see a cold eyed Naruto rushing forward. In reaction, he defended himself and
was brought to another vision. Indra, breaking, crying, horrified Indra choking on regret,
searching, seeking, and reaching out for the one he hurt the most; Ashura.

Ashura, hurt, traumatised Ashura, accepting, welcoming, embracing Indra, forgiving him and
loving him. Ancient promises reformed, recreated and revived. Ashura will always be there
for Indra, because he loved his brother and will always chase after Indra when he go down
the wrong path. They promised to look out for each other because they’re family.

Even in death.

Even in rebirth.

Over and over, a cycle of hatred and a cycle of rescuing, endlessly until the final cycle came
and they recalled everything. The haunting trauma and the choking regret, everything, formed
and reformed them but in the end one thing remained; they’re brothers. Whether it be in this
life or the next, they will always be brothers. Ashura will always chase after Indra and Indra
will always find Ashura.

Family and brotherhood.

Naruto’s voice reached him, “I said it, didn’t I? I will teach you what it means to be a family,”

Neji fell back, sick to his stomach. When was the last time the Hyuuga Clan stand as a family
and not a system? Hinata…Hinata tried to so hard to break that system and uncover her
family. No one help her and she’s wilting. But he could see her in Naruto’s eyes; she won’t
give up even if it killed her. Her Will of Fire stand not just for the village but for her family,
even when they rejected her.

Hokage.

He believed that everything was set in stone; that one needed to be born to be fated their
status as either the winner or the dreg of society. Naruto…Naruto broke that monotony with
all the grace of a typhoon. He didn’t care for the system or for fate and destiny. He has only
one thing in mind; peace. Peace that can only come through fruition of understanding.

That moment Neji became a believer.

He understood Hinata. He understood Naruto. He understood that he was wrong. His believe
and his pride had been shredded to nothing by Naruto’s hands. He stopped, staring at Naruto
as though he had seen a ghost. But it wasn’t the ghost that he was seeing. He saw more than
just the blond; he saw the silhouette of Ashura standing over Naruto. Ashura flickered into
the Shodaime and flickered into Naruto.

If there was such a thing as destiny, then Naruto had always been one to defy it. He decided
his own destiny and that was one where he didn’t have to kill his brother ever again. No
matter how many lifetimes it will take.

Neji raised his hand, “I forfeit,”

The crowd buzzed as Neji didn’t wait to be declared the loser. He has so many things to think
about. He had always known himself intelligent, took pride in that same intelligence, but
apparently intellect could not replace wisdom. Wisdom that Naruto force fed him with.
Hinata might not be as strong but her wisdom was greater than Neji’s. She saw the divide in
her family and knew that it will ultimately lead to their extinction.

He looked at his hand, a decision solidified in him.

He will help her. By Sage he will help her. If the Hyuuga seek strength in their leader, then he
will give it to her. It doesn’t matter that her own father had abandoned her because she was
too kind. What the Hyuuga needed to truly survive for future generation wasn’t just
ruthlessness. Their strict discipline needed to be tempered with kindness, kindness that only
Hinata can teach.

He sat with his team and Tenten asked, “What was that? You guys were equal but…why did
you forfeit? You could have won,”

Neji shook his head, “No…I lost…in so many I have lost…”

Lee stared at him, “I don’t understand,”

Neji looked at Naruto as he joined his team, “Naruto-sama…is a far greater man than I could
hope to be. I may win the fight but spiritually I am beaten but even so, I knew, he was
holding back. What he did was not a fight, but a lesson. One that apparently I sorely needed,”

Tenten shared a look with Lee, “Naruto-sama?”

Neji smiled, “Naruto-sama…he earned that title,”

Gai looked at Kakashi, “What did your student did to mine?”

Kakashi looked at Neji who looked calmer but kept spying Hinata with guilty look. He
shrugged, “What he was born to do; teach,”

“Huh?”

Kiba eyed Neji and shared a look with Shino, “Neji just got taught, didn’t he?”

Shino buzzed.

Naruto looked at Hinata, “I think…Neji will be nicer to you on his own freewill now,”

Hinata stared at him and bowed, “T-thank you,”

Naruto shrugged, “It was nothing. Neither of my brothers and I liked what he was doing.
Toneri especially felt slighted and Indra was an inch away from having his temper snapped.
Besides, I think it is better this way,”

Hinata blushed as he smiled at her. The battle continued and they watched quietly. Naruto can
hear the trees of Konoha whispering ‘invasion’. Toneri won easily as before. Really, his
ability was overkill for Genin level opponent. Shikamaru forfeited, apparently his Nara
instinct for self-preservation worked as well as his ancestors. Shino buzzed angrily as
Kankuro forfeited without even stepping into the arena.

It was soon Indra’s and Gaara’s turn. Gaara stared at the boy, wary. Indra may have become
younger but that does not mean his experiences and his knowledge had disappeared. With
enough training and time to grow, he would be even stronger than his previous life. Shukaku
was wary of Indra’s eyes. He had been Madara once before, a life that he suppressed in utter
distaste. But the fact remained, Madara had enthralled Kurama once before and someone out
there had done that as well. Though distasteful as it sounded, Shukaku knew his chakra
strength was less that the eldest Bijuu and he knew that he would be defenceless before Indra.

Gaara used his sand manipulation to keep Indra away from him and Indra danced about,
pretending to take the battle seriously. Naruto and Minato had been warned about the
invasion and from Gaara’s behaviour, they will soon be at war.

The first Genjutsu feather fell from the sky and Gaara moved with his siblings. Though he
had attempted to warn Baki against invading Konoha, citing the Gaara’s more stable because
of a Seal Master from Konoha but Baki had told them unless their troop’s morale was
completely crushed, no one from the desperate Suna would retreat. So in the end Gaara
decided to rescue as many of either Suna and Konoha Nin as possible while trying to stop the
war. There was little else they can do due to lacking any influence on the order of their higher
ups.

The VIP box exploded and Naruto growled as he moved, barking at Kiba and Shino to keep
Hinata safe. Chances of her being kidnapped during wartime was high after all. Not to
mention since she had been ousted from her clan for being unable to meet their standard,
security around her had been lowered immensely. Neji moved beside her, “Let’s head to the
Compound. It should be more secured there,”

Hinata looked at him in surprise before smiled, “Yes,”

The group of Genin followed their Jounin instructors’ orders to seek shelter and walked out
the area to see the trees of Konoha coming alive. Snatching up Suna Shinobi and keeping
them contained while dragging Oto Shinobi under their roots, silencing them forever.

Kiba gulped, “I know Naruto always talked about all of Konoha being his living weapon but
now I don’t think I can look at the trees of Konoha the same way ever again,” All around
them, important places like the Academy, the Hokage Tower and the Hospital were hidden
beneath tough shells of winding trees with only one way in and out, practically making them
a living fortress.

War has come to Konoha…

 Chapter 20
Chapter Summary

Well, it will become their problem should the Council proved too much.

With Gaara and his siblings siding with Konoha, more and more Suna Shinobi found
themselves inside shells made of sand and successfully isolated from the war. Gaara made
short work of Oto Shinobi, crushing them instead of containing them. Konoha Shinobi was
surprised by his action but said nothing as he pointed at them to continue vacating Konoha’s
main street of civilians. He looked at the stadium, “I’m doing my best, Naruto-sama.
Please…save your people,”

Baki had seen that Orochimaru was the one wearing Rasa’s face and came to a horrified
conclusion. Suna had been played. He called command centre to try and get to their higher
ups that should be in charge of the war but instead received terrible news. Slowly, he
commanded the remaining Suna Shinobi to send a message down their rank that Oto had
betrayed them. Hopefully by turning onto the traitorous village, they could salvage something
with Konoha.

Kakashi studied the barrier and sighed at the sight of the three coffins. Minato had mentioned
that something was niggling at a part of him that had remained human the past week. This
would explain it. He noticed Hashirama-ki standing straight on the Hokage’s shoulder. Well,
Hashirama-ki was both the Shodaime and not. It was complicated and only Sensei could
explain it.

Orochimaru weaved his hand signs and revealed the Shodaime and Nidaime. He chuckled,
“What a lovely reunion, don’t you say, Sensei?”

Senju Tobirama opened his eyes and looked at Hiruzen, “Saru? You’re old,”

Senju Hashirama frowned, “Why…do I feel myself over there?”

The sapling moved and grabbed onto Tobirama, growing roots to stab at Orochimaru before
he could stab his sealing kunai into the man’s head. He couldn’t do the same with Hashirama
and the man became a puppet. Tobirama cursed, “Who is this?!”

Hiruzen explained, “That would be Orochimaru. He…was my student and now… a traitor of
Konoha,”

The third coffin exploded and Hiruzen stared as the Edo Tensei of Minato appeared.
Orochimaru chuckled, “Well, it seemed I would still gain my own Kiiroi Senko after all,”
The body then crumbled, making the man stare in confusion, “What?”
Hiruzen explained, “Oh…you didn’t know? Minato managed to overthrow the previous
Shinigami and became the new Shinigami. He won’t tell me how that worked and for my
own sake, I refused to know anything about the afterlife,”

A shikigami floated and Namikaze Minato formed around it. He looked at Orochimaru,
“Well…this is interesting. I mean, I felt the pull and decided to see what will happen. Since I
am in charge of death now, it didn’t really stick,”

Hiruzen scowled, “Really Minato? What if it stick?”

Minato shrugged, “I doubted that Naruto will let it last,” He pointed at the purple barrier.
Orochimaru stared at the scowling blond. Naruto knelt down and pulled out a scroll, a brush
held in his hand like a weapon. Hiruzen grumbled, “Go figure he would do that,”

Tobirama felt chakra being pumped into his seal and he grew strong enough to break the
control that Orochimaru had on him. Orochimaru cursed and controlled the Shodaime, “Get
rid of them!”

Minato looked at Tobirama, “As long as Hashirama-ki is attached to your body, Orochimaru
will never be able to take control of you! Work together!”

Tobirama felt the sapling danced, his brother’s chakra flickering through him and purifying
his chakra coils of impurities. But unlike the chakra of the brother attacking him now, the
chakra cleaning his own was more natural, almost like how Hashirama would explain the feel
of nature’s chakra when he activated Sage Mode.

Hiruzen cut the branches out to skewer him. Minato, apparently the new Shinigami as
Tobirama can feel it, headed towards Orochimaru with a snarl and blitzing with sword, “This
is for trying to feed my son to a giant snake and corrupt his brother!”

Tobirama defended Saru as though he’s the Hokage and still strong, it doesn’t change the fact
that he’s mortal and his stamina can never contest against an undead soldier like Hashirama.
His ability with waters only bolster’s Hashirama’s trees. Oddly the sapling on his neck, his
other brother, managed to influenced the trees produced by Hashirama and redirected them
away from Tobirama.

He was glad that he’s on Konoha’s side though, as zombie Hashirama does not tire while
Hiruzen’s age was catching up on him. Orochimaru was certainly Hiruzen’s student, with the
number of Jutsu he spewed at the mysterious blond Shinigami, the aging Hokage would
easily be overwhelmed especially with tireless distraction chipping away at his stamina and
chakra.

Yet somehow outside the barrier, Konoha was alive in a way that he has only ever seen it
with his brother. The trees defended the citizen while the roots and branches proved to be
great weapons against invaders. He noticed a boy with a gourd and sands defending Konoha
while halting several people with Suna’s hitai-ate, two pre-teen keeping him safe from sneak
attacks. A man confronted several of his own Shinobi and explained some things. This
quickly made the people he talked to turn on the other party of invaders.
It was a mess.

Clearly the one from Suna had been betrayed by the other unknown village and had decided
to come to Konoha’s defence instead.

The barrier shuddered.

Hiruzen crowed, “Go, Progenitor of Fuuinjutsu!”

There were cracks and Orochimaru panicked. The four Shinobi that stood as pillars that held
the barrier up started to scream in pain as black markings of complex seal crept all over the
barrier. Naruto glared at Orochimaru, “Break!”

The four screaming children reached a new frightened crescendo as the barrier trembled and
shattered. Orochimaru growled, “Hashirama, kill him!”

Minato scowled but he has faith in Naruto. Besides, there’s someone more apt to face the
famous Senju founder. Indra appeared and faced Hashirama easily, his battle stance reminisce
of Madara as he face the controlled Shodaime. Tree limbs burned with unholy black flames
and Orochimaru couldn’t break past Minato’s defence to get to Hiruzen. The elderly Hokage
started to cough, his fatigue making it hard for him to focus his chakra to filter through the
smog.

Naruto snatched him, taking that moment of short contact to heal his lungs and handed him to
a shocked Jiraiya before returning to the battle with Orochimaru. He moved the trees through
pure chakra manipulation, “Konoha…is me,”

He breathed and Orochimaru felt fear trickle down his spine as Minato pulled back and faced
the manipulated Shodaime. His sword made quick work of the corpse, sending his soul back
to the Pure Land. Naruto looked at Orochimaru and confronted the man, “Defiler of Ninshu! I
will not let you abuse my Chichi-ue’s gift ever again!”

Orochimaru spit out Kusanagi but Indra smacked it away with his standard Shinobi chokutou.
Naruto weaved past him and split into three, creating two Kage Bunshin within a blink of the
eye. They flanked the snake and slammed their palms on his shoulders. Naruto personally
attempted to seal his main chakra coil but someone appeared and grabbed Orochimaru away.

Naruto scowled at he caught sight of Kabuto Yakushi.

They disappeared and Naruto cursed, “Damn it!”

He was hoping to capture the snake. But at least they bought time. Hopefully Orochimaru
will be busy trying to undo the seal he placed on his arms to do scheme against Konoha,
buying them time to find his nest. Naruto looked over Konoha and breathed. He closed his
eyes and saw the damage and those trapped under debris where the combination of spread out
forces and chaos failed to evacuate in time.

He moved and trees bloomed, the roots uplifting the heavy debris and brought the trapped
people salvation. He focused on blooming the flowers and using their pollen to spread
healing chakra to the injured via breathing. He noticed some that had adverse reaction to
chakra and pulled the pollen away, instead growing mushrooms around them to let the spores
do the same thing.

Tobirama stared at him, “What is he doing?”

Indra answered, “A combination of search and rescue using nothing more than trees and
chakra. He is also using both pollens and spores to spread Iryojutsu to do some first aid for
those who are too injured to wait for help. At the very least their injuries can be lessened until
a better, more focused help arrive,”

Tobirama was impressed, which was rare. Not even Hashirama had that much control on his
Mokuton ability. To combine Iryojutsu and Mokuton was unheard of.

Hiruzen returned to the ruined roof and looked at Naruto. He didn’t say anything, nodding to
Indra and looked around, “Where’s Toneri?”

Indra explained, “We agreed to let him focus on helping the new Genin get to safety,”

The Suna Siblings arrived, tensed as they saw Tobirama still standing with Naruto’s sapling
still attached to his neck. Minato had long returned to the other side of the veil and focused
on cleansing Konoha of the newly fallen. Baki appeared and stood before them, “Hokage-
sama…I…would like to speak to you,”

Hiruzen studied him, “I am glad that Suna decided to make the right choice in the end,”

Baki looked ashamed, “We were tricked. If it wasn’t because I saw for myself that Kazekage-
sama was…not Rasa…”

Hiruzen nodded, “This is indeed complicated. I apologize but perhaps it would be better if
Suna helped Konoha settle the chaos within the village and hunt down those from Oto. I
would like a full report of what had happened within Suna to drive you to breaking our peace
treaty,”

Baki nodded, “Yes, sir…” He hesitated, “The children…they tried to make me change the
mind of our leader but…”

Hiruzen smiled, “Yes, I saw them,” He addressed the Genin siblings, “You did well in
defending Konoha as promised in our treaty,”

Gaara answered, “Naruto-sama helped me…helped us. It is only right I do this,”

Hiruzen stared at the red head before sighing, “He got you huh?”

Gaara said nothing, only standing there with clear determination and steadfast loyalty to the
blond still meditating behind him. Tobirama didn’t know what he was doing here still but it
seemed that the sapling called Hashirama-ki refused to let him disappear just yet. Well, since
he’s stuck he refused to remain idle, “Saru, I want a full report on the current Konoha,”
Hiruzen barely hid his flinch. There’s a lot that Tobirama will blow his top over. He knew
that there’re a lot of things about Konoha that goes against what the founders had envisioned.
Naruto still looked sad whenever he passed by the closed gates of the empty Uchiha
Compound.

He then mentally cursed ‘screw it’ and decided to throw the pain in his neck, the three
stooges with too much power and the Civilian Council that should have been disbanded long
ago, under the bull stampede that was Senju Tobirama’s tongue lashing. He did his part, he
just wanted to rest.

He smiled at his resurrected undead Sensei, “Tobirama-sensei…would you like the hat
back?”

Naruto fainted after he finished with the search and rescue of the whole village, mentally
drained and snoring away behind the silent Hokage, both the dead and the living. Minato
heard the suggestion and snorted, “Not my problem,”

Tobirama twitched from the nonchalant dismissal.

Indra picked the unconscious Naruto and excused himself to return to the Hatake House
where they will be better protected. The ROOT of Konoha will be in panic mode with
Tobirama taking the leash of the village. He didn’t know how long the Nidaime Hokage
would last but he hoped he would stay around long enough to deal with the likes of Danzo.

It won’t be easy. Tobirama had been removed from the central power of Konoha for too long.
He will have a lot of battle of wits to face with the Elders and the Civilian Council. The
Shinobi Council will probably lend a hand more than the Civilian as the Civilian was more
under the Daimyo than the Hokage. There’s a why reason getting rid of them wasn’t as easy
as disbanding them. Minato would have dismissed them long ago if that was the case.

But Hiruzen’s tired. Physically and mentally, the man need a rest. He had been the longest
reigning Hokage in Konoha, perhaps the longest reigning Kage in all the Hidden Villages
combined. But so far he has no worthy successor after Minato’s death and Kakashi was
stubborn as a mule. But as Minato who had totally retired and became the Shinigami said; not
his problem.

Well, it will become their problem should the Council proved too much.

But at the moment, Indra’s more concerned with Naruto’s depleted chakra. He was tired
enough to just black out after all. The boy, as either Ashura or Hashirama, can battle for days
on end as long as he could take a breather for a few minutes. But give him a mentally taxing
work outside Fuuinjutsu and he will be out like a light.

Indra placed him on his bed and sat vigil, waiting for the rest of household to return…
 Chapter 21
Chapter Summary

“Are you playing doctors with your potential kidnapper?”

Naruto didn’t know what was going on at the Hokage Tower but he heard that there was a lot
of reform for the Konoha Academy. Apparently it was inadequate and that the quality had
fallen so far that the Genin hopeful might as well be civilians. Tobirama suggested a
separated building for civilians to learn the basic like reading and arithmetic while only
allowing for serious Shinobi hopefuls in the original curriculum.

There was an explosion of killing intent that sent all the ghosts lingering nearby running and
gossiping excitedly around Naruto’s ears. Karin watched as he shouted at nothing to shut up
for nth time that day. Apparently Tobirama was furious with the treatment of the Uchiha Clan
and was extremely disappointed that Konoha’s force was further weakened by their death.
Uchiha made for excellent police and the fact that the increased criminal activity in Konoha
was threatening their internal security on a worrying level.

“How else would spies and traitors easily enter our village; this stupid fools?! Why haven’t a
new security system be put in place?! Are you trying to destroy Konoha from the inside out?!
If the Daimyo really care for the force of Konoha, then he better put in mind the importance
of securing Konoha’s force! There’re lists of children been kidnapped from right within our
village! At this rate Konoha would not survive the next invasion and he can bet his sorry
pasty ass that the rest of Hi no Kuni will fall along! We are his vanguards! We are not
babysitters for his pathetic civilians! We are guardians of the land, not his clown to dance for
him! Civilians are only welcomed within the walls of Konoha because it is a sign of trust
between the village and the Daimyo!”

Yeah…a tongue lashing of the century from the man that built Konoha into its once golden
era and the man that practically form many of the Shinobi system around the whole Hidden
Continent. The ghosts told Naruto just how disgusted the Nidaime was that no effort to better
his unfinished work before his untimely death had taken place, worse it only seemed to
deteriorate from when he had left off because he died.

He had stormed the orphanage and publicly scolded the matron for the sorry state of the
orphanage.

Clearly someone has been touching the money meant to upkeep the orphanage.

He was also questioning why the Yondaime’s work to instate the department for mental
health had been continuously pushed back. Do they honestly expect an unstable soldier to
deliver quality work? Konoha pride themselves for sound and healthy Shinobi that also
deliver perfect result or close to it.

He was utterly unimpressed with his former students; “Clearly you have aged but also clearly
wisdom has completely skipped you over. You might have more experience but you have
learned nothing from it! A disappointment is what you are as well as senile and utterly
useless!”

Hiruzen sat drinking tea in front of Naruto, finally have the time to read over his papers with
better focus now that the things that he has no choice but to push back due to lacking people
to trust was being handled by someone who has no qualm on stepping on toes and have the
power to just drown their voices, figuratively and literally. He looked at Naruto, “So as long
as Hashirama-ki continuously charged him with nature chakra, he will…sort of live?”

Naruto shrugged, “I am pretty sure Nidaime-sama is already looking for a way to make his
existence permanent until he decided that Konoha no longer needs him,”

Hiruzen hummed, “Well, too bad Chuunin promotion had to be pushed back with all this
tongue lashing going on,”

Jiraiya burst into the room where Naruto was figuring out a new seal for Konoha’s barrier
since it was old and easily accessed or bypassed by those who knew Konoha. When
Tobirama learned about Naruto, he had commissioned the boy for his expertise. Ashura might
be the one that built the foundation for the basic of Fuuinjutsu but Fuuinjutsu also evolved
with time. Yet the fact remained, everything started from the basic that Ashura had built as
the technique’s cornerstone. He understood the art of sealing better than even the greatest
Uzumaki Seal Master.

He looked at Naruto, “Well, Nidaime-sama insisted that you go get Tsunade. He wanted to
focus on rebuilding Konoha’s deteriorated system so he can’t play politic and he didn’t want
Sensei to be stressed over politic ever again. He needs his rest like no one else because not
even Ohnoki can claim to be Kage for as long as Sensei. The Sandaime had sacrificed enough
for the village. In fact, he sacrificed too much of himself it’s worrying even the Nidaime. He
agreed that I am not suitable because I have my spy network to manage but advised me to
find a successor just in case. So the only one left he evaluated worthy enough for the hat
would be Tsunade,”

Indra stared at the pervert, “She’s a drunkard and gambler,”

Jiraiya shrugged, “Kakashi’s still better off on the field but he agreed, the Rokudaime seat has
his name on it,”

Kakashi cursed.

Jiraiya added, “Danzo has been trying to promote himself but even the Nidaime has little to
no trust in that little gremlin. He said something about stinking the room with his stench or
something,”

Naruto sighed, “So…he chose our team?”

Jiraiya grinned, “Yeah! No better team to pick up your wayward granddaughter!”

Naruto rolled his eyes, “I barely recall being Hashirama,”

“Still count as him!”

Naruto rubbed his head, “What was Hashirama thinking teaching his granddaughter the vice
of alcohol and gambling?”

Indra shrugged, “I don’t think even Madara made it a habit to know what the chopstick was
thinking. It would be like smoking dubious mushrooms. 10/10 not recommended,”

Naruto eyed him, “Are you saying I used to smoke suspicious mushrooms?”

Toneri craned his neck, “Think we would come back to an intact village?”

Indra snorted, “The only way we would come back to it burning to the ground would be if
Danzo is dumb enough to do whatever it was he was always scheming in his rotten tree roots
like a rat,”

Jiraiya sighed, “Alright. You gossip worse that a fishmonger’s wife. Let’s go, girlies!”

Indra flashed his Sharingan, “Question my gender again and I’ll made you a woman by
burning what made you a man with Amaterasu,”

Jiraiya paled as he instinctually crossed his legs, squeaking; “Okay,”

Naruto laughed as he recalled something, “You’re still mad that people kept mistaking you
for a girl from so long ago, Ani-ue?!”

Indra huffed, “I am not a wakashu and I don’t plan on becoming one either,”

Toneri, innocent boy that he is, asked Jiraiya, “What’s a wakashu?”

Jiraiya groaned.

Traveling with the Otsutsuki brothers was an interesting experience. Toneri was always
curious even though he can’t see. Naruto and Indra would sometimes stare at the scenery a bit
too long before asking each other if the scenery was actually something else from a
millennium ago in a different lifetime. But at times either would look sheepish and guilty.
When asked, Jiraiya was glad he knew better than to piss off either brother.

It seemed that the Valley of the End was not the only terrain they reformed in their endless
rivalry. Some still has myths and stories to explain though many was already lost to time and
death. After all, they kept coming back and kept fighting. But in this lifetime, only two
lifetimes were clear in their head; their first and the one before their current.

Perhaps it was a way to preserve their sanity. Too much memory from too many lifetimes
could break anyone’s brain. They can’t effort to be too confused. Naruto drilled Jiraiya for
more Fuuinjutsu techniques that he had come across, ones that Naruto did not know. Indra
kept to himself, creating random new elemental release. Which made sense; he was the
Progenitor of Hand Seals.

Toneri was the normal one despite his blindness.

Jiraiya was happy to train Toneri.

Jiraiya liked Toneri.

Toneri’s easy to teach. He’s a sweet boy and a total cinnamon roll when in comparison to the
two devils in human flesh he called brothers.

The first town on their road appeared and Jiraiya mingled with the crowd, picking up on
Tsunade’s trail. Naruto curiously entered his rolling ryo into a slot machine. He hit jackpot.
Indra mumbled, “Kurama’s luck knows no bound,”

The brothers went around and played some games as they waited for Jiraiya to find a solid
lead. They didn’t lose much money as they kept winning. Toneri asked, “Are we going to die
this evening?”

Indra knocked on the nearby wooden structure twice, “Don’t,”

Jiraiya took them to a hotel but was distracted by a woman. Naruto grumbled, “He’s lucky
there’s barely any tree nearby,”

Jiraiya sneezed and shivered even as he flirted with the girl.

The brothers settled into their room and Naruto focused on his chakra control when Toneri
looked up, “Someone with immense chakra is approaching with another that has…his chakra
felt sick,”

Naruto jolted, “Sick?!”

Indra sighed, “It seemed like we are getting a patient,”

The door knocked and Naruto hurriedly opened the door before grabbing the knocker inside,
successfully kidnapping him. He ignored that Indra was blinking at his utterly confused elder
brother Uchiha Itachi and simply ripped his black with red cloud patterns robe opened with
gusto. He barked at Toner and Indra, “Hold him down!”

Toneri followed his order while Indra put both hands over Itachi’s eyes, “Why in the world
didn’t you deactivate your eyes, baka Nii-san?”

Itachi on his part was utterly confused. He was supposed to do the kidnapping but instead he
was the one kidnapped. He could feel warm chakra like morning sun poking and prodding his
own chakra coils. The blond Jinchuuriki huffed, “What were you thinking? Psychosomatic
symptom this bad meant you are all but committing suicide, dattebayo!”

Sasuke sighed, “I knew it. He never wanted to kill them,”

Itachi opened his mouth, “Foolish Otouto-!”

Sasuke’s finger pinched his lips, “Quiet. I know it was Danzo and that other one from 10th
October,”

Itachi froze as he could feel his organs’ cells regenerating, especially his lungs. He started to
cough and he could feel gentle hands pushing him upward to cough the dirty blood out.
Kisame finally broke through, “ITACHI!”

He stopped.

He stared at the sight before him. His partner on the bed with three preteens surrounding him
while the blond Jinchuuriki practically straddling him, his robe torn open exposing his pale
skin with surprisingly thin body. Well…he backed away with an embarrassed cough,
“Sorry…I didn’t know you were into that,”

He closed the door, “Carry on…”

He opened the door, “Oh, don’t forget to grab the Kyuubi,”

Naruto scowled, “His name is Kurama, dattebayo!”

Kisame awkwardly nodded, “Okay, Kurama! Don’t forget to grab Kurama!”

He closed the door.

Silence…

Toneri laughed uneasily, “Well…that was awkward,”

Naruto looked back on Itachi, “Time to fix this messed up body of yours!”

Itachi shook off Indra’s fingers, “I’m supposed to kidnap you,”

Naruto snorted, “Don’t care! You’re sick and you’re my patient now! You’re wellbeing is
more important!”

“I broke your teacher’s mind,”

Indra snorted, “Kakashi’s fine. If he still didn’t know how stay sane in a Tsukuyomi after the
training I put him through then he will have to go through another one with me,”

Jiraiya appeared, “BRATS!”

He stopped and stared…

“Are you playing doctors with your potential kidnapper?”

 Chapter 22
Chapter Summary

“Tsuna-chan~! Aigoo~! You cutie pie~! You’ve grown so big~!”

After Jiraiya appeared, Naruto managed to force him to wrestle with Kisame away from
Itachi for a while. Indra glared at his brother, “Will you stay still?! You going to bring out the
Medic Bijuu in him and trust me that it’s a pain in the crack,”

Itachi sighed and settled for a moment while Naruto continue to revive his dying cells. Indra
stroked his cheeks, “I don’t blame you. I know my blood well,”

Itachi frowned, “What do you-?”

Sharingan blazed, Itachi’s eyes widened at the complex Eternal Mangekyou as his mind fall
back. Genjutsu was the corruption of chakra. But Ninshu was the purest resonation of chakra.
Indra fed Itachi what he had seen as Sasuke, the memory they shared, then the horrible night
and the awakening of Indra. The horror of what he had done, of what he had brought his
bloodline through, the hidden enemy that continued to plague him, that continued to lead his
family and descendant astray. Indra showed all he could in that small window of moment. He
also showed him Sasuke’s broken psyche and the importance of Indra keeping him ‘asleep’
within.

Zetsu will gobble Sasuke up worse than he had ever manipulated Indra.

Sasuke’s unstable mental state would made him the perfect target for Zetsu’s manipulation,
just as he had manipulated Madara and just as how he now manipulated Madara’s successor.
It was all him, the catalyst of war, pain and death.

Itachi opened his eyes just as Kisame grabbed him. He saw Indra holding back a rabid
Naruto, practically frothing at the mouth as his latest patient was taken from him. His brother,
his ancestor reborn…is warning him about the one enemy he should be wary of.

Zetsu…

Itachi closed his eyes and reviewed everything Indra left within his chakra. Naruto’s warm,
sunny chakra continued to heal him stubbornly.

Family, they’re family.

Jiraiya sighed as he trod through the room with sodden clothes and flat hair full of water,
“Sorry. Sharkie insisted on getting away,”
Naruto vowed, “I’ll treat that Uchiha if it’s the last thing I do, dattebayo!”

Indra sighed as he patted the fluffed up blond, “He’s better now. Thank you-,” He cut off and
flinched. Naruto looked at him, “Ani-ue?”

Indra winced, “Sasuke…he wanted out…”

Indra opened his eyes and saw Sasuke lunging at him, “Why didn’t you kill him?!”

Indra wrestled him away, throwing him from his body, “Because Itachi is not our enemy,”

Sasuke roared, “LIAR!”

Indra sighed, “This will take a while,” He grabbed the other boy, “Why is it that my family
have to be stubborn when walking down the path of self-destruction? Why can’t we all be all
about love and family like Ashura’s lineage?”

Sasuke tried to kick him, “Shut up, you traitor!”

“Forgive me Chichi-ue for my blasphemy but Sage be damn it,”

Outside his head, Naruto carried Indra over his back. Sasuke was usually quiet but he
supposed having Itachi’s chakra so close was enough to trigger his ego. Jiraiya grumbled,
“You could have just send him back to Konoha,”

Naruto scowled, “I need to monitor his health. I don’t really trust Danzo to not try anything
when Ani-ue’s this defenceless,”

Jiraiya sighed, “Girls don’t dig guys with kids,”

Naruto snorted, “Says you. Hashirama was most popular when he was followed by a gaggle
of children around Konoha like a mother duck. Heck, his popularity only increased when
Mito gave birth and he helped her rest by taking his kid to work. Not that Tobirama was
happy about it,”

Jiraiya pulled a face, “The Shodaime was a DILF?”

Naruto clucked his tongue at him before glaring at Toneri’s direction, the boy further ahead
as scout, “Shut it! We have innocent ears nearby!”

Jiraiya snorted, “Whatever. Staying with you brothers will sooner or later corrupt him
anyway,”

Naruto glowered, “You know, Tou-san is inside me and he’s itching to thrush you up like a
dinner turkey, dattebayo. Just try him. You are already walking on thin ice with him,”

Jiraiya said nothing more. He can’t really do much. After all, there’re trees around and
Naruto’s overprotective with his brothers. He grumbled, already missing his solo travel. It
didn’t take long for the group to reach their next destination, Tanzaku Town. Jiraiya followed
a lead that led them through the town and toward a ruined castle where a gambling
competition was supposed to take place. He stared at the rubble, a random passer by
attempted to regal them with tales of giant snakes.

Naruto scowled, “Must be that traitor, the one that took him away from me,”

He was still angry. He knew what had become of Ninshu but to see it being blatantly used to
hurt others right in front of him was an insult to the gift that Rikudou Sennin had gifted
humanity with. He swore to seal the chakra within Orochimaru. Usually such a thing would
have sent the person into a coma as chakra had become so intertwined with the world that
they became life itself.

But Naruto was the son of the Father of Ninshu and grandson of the Mother of Chakra.
Sealing chakra and keeping the owner alive was child’s play to him. Orochimaru will only
become the weakest person in the world after the deed was done. On a bad day, he might
even feel like a warmed over corpse and that was Naruto being lenient.

Indra came around when dinner arrived and groaned, “Stubborn brat. I don’t know how you
kept trying with me even after death,”

Naruto shrugged, “Because I love you?”

Indra stared at and snorted, smirking with a light dusting of red across his cheeks, “Cheeky,”

Naruto twitched and looked at a small shop, “Tsuna-chan,” He blinked and shook his head,
“Whoa that was weird. Hashirama’s memory was usually dormant,”

He headed for the small shop, the small of booze and good food filling his head. Jiraiya
hummed, supposing that the Shodaime sleeping inside Naruto was reacting to the familiar
chakra of his descendant. Naruto looked around and his face suddenly loosened, “Tsuna-
chan~!”

Senju Tsunade twitched and looked around. The intonation and affection with the nickname
was too familiar, painfully nostalgic even but she had almost forgotten it since the death of
the owner. She saw a blond brat dressed in rather archaic clothing bounding towards her,
skipping with a familiar stupid look as he crooned at her, “Tsuna-chan~! Aigoo~! You cutie
pie~! You’ve grown so big~!”

Tsunade stared at the stupid face, recalling the only other man in her life with a similar stupid
face crooning at her and making kissy faces while calling her cute and spoiling her stupid
only to be hit on the head by another man with a scowling face and exasperated voice. Still
didn’t stop her Grandpa from spoiling her though.

But that can’t be.

Her Grandpa’s dead.

The boy suddenly blinked as if he just came down from a drug high and stared at her blankly
with a confused smile. He then blushed and scrambled back, “Damn it, Hashirama!! That was
creepy as all hell, dattebayo!”
Tsunade noticed Jiraiya bending over and snorting in amusement, “Jiraiya what the fuck?”

The blond turned on her with a scowl, “Tsuna-chan, language!” He then stopped and
whimpered, “I’m not in a place to call on her manner, dattebayo!”

Jiraiya roared with laughter, “And you kept saying you’re not her Grandpa!”

The blond snapped at him, “Shut up! How would I know Hashirama’s chakra would react this
much with her?! I hardly react with Tobirama!” He then whimpered, “He must have missed
her so much even as he died. Damn it, now I’m crying,”

A black haired boy comforted him, “Now, now. It’s okay. Your chakra resonated with her
because she was your descendant and very close too. We had never transmigrated so close to
our previous life that the people we know still existed let alone remembering them. I guess
that’s why Hashirama’s chakra reacted so strongly with her. She was your precious
granddaughter and you never did get to say goodbye,”

Tsunade frowned, “Granddaughter?”

Jiraiya snorted, “Trust me, I was in shock too when I first learn about this,” He looked
around, “Can we get a private room. Naruto, can you set up privacy seal? I don’t think you
want this to get out so soon, right?”

Naruto sobbed, tears leaking like waterfall just like another guy with a stupidly emotional
face, “Okay. Anything for my Hime,” He grimace, “Chichi-ue forgive me but Sage be damn
it! I need to get better control on this. Damn it! Why must Hashirama be so emotional?”

After a while of setting things up, Tsunade stared at the blond who sulked in the corner
growing mushrooms. It was too uncanny she felt like she was being thrown back in time.
Jiraiya cleared his throat, “This is Uzumaki Naruto. I think you know that he’s the new
Kyuubi Jinchuuriki but what no one else know beside me, Sensei and Hatake Kakashi was
that Naruto is also the reincarnation of Senju Hashirama who was the reincarnation of
Otsutsuki Ashura,”

He raised his hand before she could interrupt him, “Now before you go drinking in denial, I
want to let you know that Naruto’s Mokuton was the strongest I have ever seen or even from
the records left by the Shodaime. In fact, he could control the trees of Konoha and made the
whole village into a living weapon. Sensei said that not even Shodaime-sama was capable of
that much but considering the Ashura was the founder of the Senju and Uzumaki clans, I
would say that it made sense,”

“Oh, and Orochimaru brought back your grandfather and granduncle. But your granduncle
Nidaime-sama escaped Orochimaru’s control because Naruto here managed to gather enough
of Shodaime-sama’s lingering chakra into a tree and awakened his chakra spirit enough that
it…turned the sapling sentient or something…that sapling, aptly named Hashirama-ki,
attached himself to Nidaime-sama chakra network and is currently keeping him here in this
world,”

Tsunade gawked at him, “What the fuck?”

Jiraiya slumped, “My reaction exactly. The kid made no sense…at all…” He then added,
“Also, he’s starting a cult to revive the teaching of Rikudou Sennin because apparently
Rikudou Sennin was his first life’s father…along with this brat here,” He gestured at the
black haired brat poking the depressed lump in the corner, “That’s Uchiha Sasuke but
currently go around as Uchiha Indra. He was the current incarnation of Otsutsuki Indra, the
founder of the Uchiha clan and elder brother of Otsutsuki Ashura. He…has a lot of baggage
but I don’t think you’re ready to jump down that rabbit hole just yet so let us set that aside
first for the sake of our remaining sanity,”

Shizune asked, “And the third boy?”

Jiraiya grinned, “Officially he’s named Uzumaki Toneri but in reality he’s the last remaining
Otsutsuki that apparently lived on the Moon. Not the Tsuki no Kuni but the actual celestial
body in the sky on our head. His ancestor was Otsutsuki Hamura, Father of the Hyuuga and
Kaguya clans, and brother of Otsutsuki Hagoromo who is actually the real name for Rikudou
Sennin,” He deflated, “And that’s why…Naruto kept reacting to you like how you would
remember Hashirama-sama would behave around you. He’s trying to get himself under
control but as you can see…it’s a struggle. At this rate we can sell those mushrooms and get
extra cash,”

It was a mushroom forest.

Indra has started to harvest and Toneri was dutifully helping him gather it all.

Tsunade groaned, “I need sake…and maybe I’ll wake up to see that you’re all just some lucid
hallucination I’m having after that weird meeting with Orochimaru and his creepy boy toy,”

Jiraiya sympathized with her, “You won’t be able to heal him anyway. Naruto’s seal was
beyond even the Uzumaki Seal Master’s work. He was the Progenitor of Fuuinjutsu and
Iryojutsu. You should have seen him deal with the Hyuuga upstart. Brat used his own Juuken
against him and knew exactly how to find tenketsu points without the Byakugan,”

Shizune’s eyes widened, “The Progenitor of Fuuinjutsu and Iryojutsu?”

Jiraiya then dropped another reality breaking bomb, “Also, Minato’s back and he’s a
Shinigami rooming with the Kyuubi inside Naruto,”

Silence…

Tsunade thumped her head on the table, “What even is my life?”

Jiraiya shrugged, “It’s the sake and the gambling, I tell you,”

Tsunade flipped him the bird tiredly.

The mushroom forest grew thicker and healthier in the corner, Toneri somehow found
materials to weave baskets to carry their produce.
 Chapter 23
Chapter Summary

Naruto smirked, “Let’s name him Kura-chan,”

Naruto stretched while yawning. Hashirama’s emotions finally settled late last night while his
Godfather and his Senju cousin through marriage decided to be dead drunk because of what
his life had become. How rude. It wasn’t that strange.

Well, maybe he was so used to strange that normal became overrated.

He walked out of the room that Minato managed to drag them to when the two supposed
adults in his life decided to pass out drunk with the help of a rather frantic Shizune. Ton-Ton
decided to play dead in the presence of the Shinigami who had manifested himself with an
exasperated smile and a disappointed look that could turn diamond to dust when he stared at
Jiraiya. It was clear that he was wondering if he was under a strong Genjutsu the whole time
he was alive to make this mess of a man Naruto’s Godfather.

Naruto saw Toneri sitting by himself at the food stall opened just across their inn, having a
late breakfast. He joined his brother and asked, “Where’s Indra?”

Toneri pointed at a random direction, “Selling the mushrooms we harvested last night. He
said that even though you grew it because you were depressed, it still tasted way better than
those harvested from either forest or farm,”

Naruto grimaced, thinking back on the negative emotional roller coaster that Hashirama
dragged him through. Seriously, was the man born with a mental illness? Being depressed at
the drop of a hat and excited at another turn, it can be mistaken as his second Kekkei Genkai.
Like the man was wearing the theatre masks except it was his own face. Talk about two
faced.

Toneri poked him and Naruto looked out his head to see the stall owner frantically begging
him, “Shinobi-san! Please stop growing mushrooms on my stall! I haven’t finished paying for
it!”

Naruto winced, “Sorry,” The mushrooms that have been growing popped off and he smiled,
“Please use them. They might not grow the natural way but I assure you they taste really
good and are very healthy for the one consuming,”

Toneri nodded, “Almost medicinal,”

The vendor eyed him suspiciously but didn’t touch the mushrooms lying around his stall.
Naruto couldn’t blame the guy. Shinobi in the eye of the normal civilians are like youkai,
capable of causing harm even when meaning well. So he didn’t say anything when Toneri
ended up paying the man extra for the trouble he caused and gathering the mushrooms to eat
later. Naruto started to suspect that perhaps Hashirama ate one too many mushrooms when he
was younger.

Naruto looked around the town and saw Tsunade sitting with a group of gamblers, trying her
non-existent luck with the dice game. Naruto smiled and walked over to watch her but as she
kept on losing, Hashirama’s chakra burned.

He piped up, “Big,”

Tsunade looked at him and the dealer frowned, “Are you going to pay to bet?”

Naruto pointed at Tsunade, “I’m betting in her name,”

Tsunade raised a brow and Naruto grinned at her. She huffed and looked at the dealer, “Let’s
see how your luck hold, brat,” She still have a hard time seeing the gaki as her Grandpa.
They looked nothing alike…besides the confident grin and the sudden bout of depression.

The dices were rolled and the dealer revealed; Big.

He tried again and Naruto declared, “Small,”

It revealed a Small number.

“Big,”

It was Big.

“Big,”

Another Big and Tsunade cheered.

“Small,”

The dealer grimaced as Small numbers appeared. Tsunade’s cheering grew louder.

Naruto suddenly frowned at the next round and stared the dealer down, “You changed the
dice. This one’s weighed,”

The man snorted, “Now you’re just making a scene kid,”

Naruto smirked at him, “Are you sure you want to pull that? I have really sensitive ears,
dattebayo. The sound of the dices you threw under the cups was different, heavier. If this was
your game, I say quit,” He looked at Tsunade and she stared at him before smirking, pulling
her winning towards herself. She recalled her Grandpa; he had the same look in his eyes
when someone tried to pull a fast one on him. When a fight broke out, he was always the one
in the right.
The dealer cursed but let them go. They’re Shinobi and he was playing dirty as the losing
streak. It was one thing playing the Legendary Sucker. One didn’t need to play dirty against
her; she’s that bad at her favourite game. But the blond was different; he has real luck unlike
many of the losers that came to him before. His golden hair wasn’t just a colour. The dealer
has a feeling trying his luck with that boy would end up with him the loser. His gambler
instinct screamed so.

The dealer watched as the blond passed by a pachinko shop and the nearest machine hit gold
after almost a decade of staying silent. He gawked at the ridiculous luck as another machine
struck jackpot when the boy walked past and it was due for dismantling!

What was it with that boy’s luck? Was he a walking talisman for good luck or what?!

Tsunade watched the blond, Naruto, as he did nothing but walked beside her. Her Grandpa
was the same; he brings luck wherever he walked. But not even he can claim to bring luck at
this scale! She heard a den of gamblers cheering while the owner cried. Her Grandpa led a
very hard life and lost so many precious people but when it comes to fortune, he was lucky
with money. He never lacked money either as he kept raking it in especially when he became
Shodaime. Tsunade still remembered her Grandma’s room filled with things Grandpa won for
her at festivals he took her to when he was able.

She asked, “Hey…win me that stuffed toy?”

She pointed at the giant orange fox displayed as the main price in a claw game. It was the
hardest claw game in town and the fox looked really fluffy. Tsunade had once spent a whole
day and all her winning on the damned thing but lose it in the end. Shizune had to stop her
from breaking the machine to get her money back and the fox while she’s at it.

Naruto looked at her and smiled that same indulging smile Grandpa once showed her
whenever she asked him for something. Unlike Hashirama, Naruto did not have that pinch in
his eyes from losing so many family members to war. He wasn’t stressed from sending more
and more lives he had once vowed to protect with the promise of peace and a safe haven to
die so weaker members of their community get to live just one more day. So Naruto’s smile
was one from those halcyon days where Grandpa was still so happy to just be Hashirama
with Tsunade and Tsunade was just Tsuna-chan.

Naruto walked to the claw machine, entered his coin and played. Within moments, the stuffed
fox was hers. Naruto smirked, “Let’s name him Kura-chan,”

Tsunade looked at him, “Kura-chan?”

Naruto’s grin was pure mischief, “Kura-chan,”

She sensed a silly story behind that but shrugged and looked at the cartoon-y fox toy in her
hands, “Alright. Your name is Kura-chan from this moment on!”

She didn’t think much when Naruto started laughing his head off.

They walked around until Naruto asked, “Will you ever forgive them for dying?”
Tsunade stopped. She looked at him and Naruto turned tired eyes, eyes that coloured
differently yet carry the same light, and her voice was stuck. She thought about getting mad
but…couldn’t find it in her to even scream at him. Somehow, she felt that he will understand.

What a weird feeling. How can he understand? He’s more than half her age, still a baby in
their world. The brat had never been to war, had never experienced loss, had never failed
saving someone precious to their heart, had never experience faced death…but that was just
her bias. His eyes were ancient and knowing; her Grandpa’s eyes.

Tsunade’s lips trembled, “It hurt…they left and they never come home…Nawaki…Dan…
they just left,” She looked down, “I didn’t even have the courage to follow them,”

Naruto stood in front of her and reached for her trembling hand, “I know…I failed to save
Indra and died regretting that. I failed to come home to my family and died regretting that. I
had to kill someone I called brother of my heart and died regretting that. I tried to bring peace
and I failed and died regretting that. There is so much that I as Ashura and I as Hashirama
died regretting because I failed and I kept failing just when I thought I succeeded. But…” He
looked at Tsunade, “I never regret that I kept you and Mito and our family within the walls of
Konoha. I never regret sacrificing myself to build a world where peace is a possibility and
not just a dream. I never regret giving up my life for a future where you can grow up without
the danger of being killed. I never regret building Konoha for children like you, Tsuna-chan,”

He smiled, “Becoming Hokage was never my dream but my responsibility. To become

Hokage is the only way I can keep you safe, keep Mito and my family safe. I am sorry I was
too weak to keep my dream of peace going for much longer than just a decade. I am sorry
that I am so careless that even a stray kunai was enough to kill me. I am sorry I left you
alone,”

“Tsuna-chan,” He pointed at her necklace, “I hurt you so much for my selfishness and for that
I am sorry. But once again I must apologize for I have no choice but to continue to be selfish.
There is a war that I needed to end no matter what part of me I have to sacrifice,”

Tsunade hated that determined look in his eyes, the same eyes everyone precious to her wears
when they set out to war only to come home a cold and decaying corpse. She gripped her
necklace, the cursed necklace that she blamed all her misfortune on.

Naruto smiled up at her, “Because of what I must do, my ancient oath that I must uphold, I
will become Hokage once more!”

Tsunade sobbed. She can’t scream at him how Hokage was a stupid dream because he said it;
it wasn’t a dream but a duty he decided to carry on his own shoulders. When Grandpa
became Hokage it was not because he wanted to but because he was chosen for the role. His
dream was create a world where children will no longer be a weapon of war. He didn’t want
to bury another child. That was all there was to it.

Hokage, she had blamed the hat for so long she had forgotten why it even existed in the first
place. She looked at Naruto and saw that his mind was made. But he was much too young.
His age would not allow him to wear the hat no matter how qualified he was for the role.
She took off her necklace and tied it around the blonde’s head. Naruto blinked at her and she
smiled, “I’m returning this to you. This belonged to the Shodaime once and every boy I knew
who dreamed to chase the title Hokage had worn this,” She bit back her trembling voice
before smiling, “It was always just the necklace that came back. I hated it but it was the most
precious thing left by you. So much blood stained this stupid thing that represented that
hopeless dream,”

Naruto grabbed her hand, “It isn’t hopeless, just hard,”

She looked at him and saw that same light brighter than ever. The eyes of the Hokage, the so
called Will of Fire burned bright in him. He didn’t trade fists with her, simply apologized for
something that he couldn’t even prevent. She wanted to believe once more, just one more
time.

She smiled, “Can you…teach me more about Iryojutsu?”

Naruto blinked before grinning, “Sure! I’m sure that there are a lot of more modern things
about Iryojutsu that you can teach me, Tsuna-chan!”

Tsunade blinked and chortled, “Silly brat!”

Naruto grinned up at her, “So are you coming back to Konoha?”

Tsunade looked at him before smiling, “Konoha once no longer shelter anyone I would return
home for. Sensei didn’t really need me in his life and I don’t want to be just another Shinobi.
It was just a place of origin to me. Konoha had not been my home since Dan’s death. But
now…” She ruffled his golden locks, “My family’s there. Someone’s there for me to come
home to,”

Naruto was so happy that grasses grew on the once barren ground and in some areas trees
started to climb out of the earth probably from forgotten seed dropped there by animals.
Tsunade laughed, recalling how her Grandpa’s happiness made all of Konoha bloom into an
early spring when Nawaki was born. Her Grandpa’s back, her family’s back, maybe not the
same but there nonetheless. She’s coming home.

She’s coming home to a Konoha that was once in her childhood memory…

Naruto then added, “So…I know this technique that allows you to speak to the dead that still
lingers. Want to talk to Dan and Nawaki? They have been hovering worriedly over you since
I met you, dattebayo,”

“What?”
 Chapter 24
Chapter Summary

“ANI-JA, WHAT THE HELL??!!!”

They went to the location where Tsunade would be meeting Orochimaru but it seemed that he
had ditched them. They must have been watched and he must have recalled that Minato was
literally the very existence that he was trying to escape from. Tsunade grumbled about
wasting her time as they made their way back to Konoha.

Toneri sighed, “I was hoping to see an epic fight between the Sannin,”

No one said anything about him ‘seeing’…

The moment they reached Konoha, they saw Tobirama waiting in a more relaxed clothes of
blue casual kimono and sans his unique hitai-ate with the face guard. Hashirama-ki danced on
his head happily waving at the approaching party of six and TonTon. Tsunade has heard about
the sentient sapling from Jiraiya but seeing it was surreal. She would have thought that it was
a Genjutsu along with her much more lively and less dry looking Granduncle.

She stopped and nervously approached him, “Ou-ojii-sama…”

Tobirama studied her, taking note how far she had grown and nodded sharply, “Good. You
came back,” He turned to enter Konoha, “We need to prepare for your inauguration as the
Hokage,”

Tsunade had been informed why Tobirama didn’t want the Hokage hat but after much
contemplation, it would be easier for him to be her advisor than wearing the hat himself.
She’s younger and understand the current era more than him. She bowed, “Your advise will
be invaluable, Ou-ojii-sama,”

Tobirama stopped and looked at them, “We shall convene at the Hatake house,”

The villagers gawked at the sight of the party being led by Tobirama. Toneri sniffed the air,
“Wow, the village’s still standing and nothing’s burning,”

Jiraiya sweated, “Really, Toneri?”

Indra hummed, “I guess Danzo behaved,”

Naruto chuckled, “He still have some respect for Tobi-chan,”

Tobirama twitched.
Tsunade eyed Naruto, “If only they would treat you the same, Jii-chan,”

Twitch.

Naruto blushed, “They don’t know me well, Tsuna-chan. Getting mad at them for their
ignorance is the same as getting mad at a line of ants for entering my home and
contaminating my food,”

Twitch.

They reached the Hatake house and Tobirama opened the door a little too violently, making
the party behind him quiet, causing the frame and the wall attached to the sliding door to
shake. He took off his shoes and entered the house with a small greeting, “Forgive me for my
intrusion,”

Kakashi peeked from around the corner with a deadpanned look, “You say that but you
opened the door like you’re going to kill me or something,”

“Hn,”

Naruto chuckled, “And they say Hashirama’s the one that spend the most time with the
Uchiha. I sure don’t pick up on your language, Ani-ue,”

It was only when they convene in the tatami room that Tobirama turned to Naruto and
violently grabbed him. One would think he would hug the blond but instead he shook the
whiskered boy with furious vigour, “ANI-JA, WHAT THE HELL??!!!”

Hiruzen, who was already there at the table, sipped on his tea calmly, “Tobirama-sensei,
please don’t kill Naruto-kun. He’s not really your brother,”

Tobirama seethed as he glared at the bullet sweating blond, “Let me strangle him at least,”

Minato manifested, “Please unhand my son, Nidaime-sama,”

Indra scowled, “He’s always been heavy handed with Hashirama. At least that was the
recollection I gleaned from Madara’s chakra,”

Kakashi waved his hand lazily, “Maa, maa…calm down, Tobirama,”

Naruto blinked at Kakashi, “When did you get so close?”

Kakashi shrugged, “Apparently we share a lot of similarity,”

Toneri innocently asked, “Does he read smut in the open too?”

“Uh…”

Tsunade glared at Jiraiya, “You are a terrible influence,”

Jiraiya looked to Hiruzen who continued to pretend that he’s just there to drink tea. After a
moment, Tobirama’s bristling hair settled down and he glared at Naruto with confusion,
“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Naruto sheepishly answered, “You are…otherwise occupied? Besides, other than the people
in this room, no one knew I was Hashirama,”

He shrugged, “I inherited his memories and his chakra, but not his soul. Your brother
Hashirama is still in the Pure Land. It’s the only reason that Orochimaru can still summon
him. If I inherited his soul too, I would have to either die or the summon would fail,
dattebayo,”

Tobirama sat down but somehow he placed Naruto on his lap, holding him tight in his arms.
Indra scowled on the side with jealousy as he glared at the sight. They sat around the low
table in the middle of the tatami room. Kakashi watched as Tobirama sat contemplating; his
eyes a thousand miles stare. Minato watched for a moment before clearing his throat, “The
Pure Land is a lot more complicated than the Living World. This world has chakra, an energy
source that came from a world beyond the ours. It is a kind of energy that only accessible to
the living or pseudo-living in your case. The Pure Land has little chakra as most are created
from spiritual particles known as Reiryoku and thus are not as abundance as the Living
World,”

Tobirama looked at Minato, “You really are a Shinigami. I recalled some sensations that felt
familiar to the Pure Land coming from you. Is this Reiryoku?”

Minato nodded, “Yes. Unfortunately I cannot share anymore with you. You might be dead but
as you will remain part of the Living World for as long as you are under that jutsu, you will
be forbidden from learning anymore about the secrets of the afterlife,”

Tobirama hummed, “Understood. Such things are not for the living to know. I will not pry
any further from this,”

Minato smiled, “Alright. So…can I have my Naruto back?”

Tobirama looked reluctant.

There was some eyebrow twitching at his reluctant to let Naruto go. The next thing Naruto
knew, Indra was hugging his midriff in attempt to reclaim him and Minato was trying to pry
Tobirama’s arms from around the blond. Tobirama fought the best he could. Tsunade snorted
at the sight before she too joined the fray. Hiruzen sipped his tea beside a gawking Jiraiya and
asked, “So…when is your next Icha-Icha coming out?”

Jiraiya looked at the Sandaime, “Are we…ignoring this?”

Hiruzen shrugged, “I think it’s more bizarre that all the Hokage is in one room,”

Kakashi smacked his fist into his palm like a gavel, “Oh right! Now that you say that…” He
pointed, “Naruto was the Shodaime once. Tobirama is the Nidaime. You’re the Sandaime.
Sensei’s the Yondaime and Tsunade is the future Godaime,” He laughed, “We sure do have a
house full of Hokage don’t we?”

Jiraiya stared at the mess of limbs before him, “Yeah…but three out of five is fighting for a
blond kid who looked like he’s suffocating…also Indra was Madara,”

Naruto choked, one shaking arm sticking out for salvation, “H-help…me…can’t…a-a-air…”

Hiruzen sipped his tea, “When Hashirama-sama was alive, this was an everyday sight,”

Toneri bit into a senbei, “What a nostalgic view,”

Once again, no one said anything about that comment.

In the end Minato ‘won’ the Naruto-tug-o-war game, the blond preteen gasping for air. At
that moment, Karin came into the tatami room and saw the weird position Naruto was in. She
stared at Minato for a moment before turning away, “I am dreaming. I am dreaming. I am
dreaming. I do not see Death. I do not see Death. I do not Death. Nope. No. I didn’t. It was a
trick of the mind…”

Shizune blinked, “That’s one way to nope out,”

TonTon oinked in agreement.

Tsunade pouted at losing her Grandpa but to his new father but took notice of Karin, “So that
was the Uzumaki you were telling me about, Jii-chan?”

Naruto gulped down a cup tea and gasped, “Huh? Yeah. Oh, Jiji! How was everything with
Kusa?”

Hiruzen nodded, “Everything’s good. They can’t exactly demand for her return. Apparently
she and her mother was treated as outsiders and was exploited for their chakra. In fact, her
mother died from overworking her chakra sharing abilities as some kind of miracle medicine
to Kusa,”

Tsunade growled, “Chakra Hitokuchi. It was a Kinjutsu of the Uzumaki Clan,”

Hiruzen nodded, “When Karin informed me she showed me the scars along her arms. There
weren’t much but it was enough to show that they have started to use her for similar
purposes. It is unfortunate that we didn’t find her and her mother in time. It was only due to
her remarkable Kagura no Me that she was given the job of helping the participants in Kusa
to pass their Chuunin exam but due to their own selfishness and bias, they decided to give her
life to the Forest of Death in exchange of surviving themselves,”

Tobirama snorted, “Even if they saw her alive and well, it would be impossible to take her
back. Not only does she have the protection of Konoha for simply being an Uzumaki, she has
family here that will fight for her. Not to mention, they betrayed her and left her for dead.
Everything that lead her to stay here would only condemn their Shinobi should the news
become public. No one would trust Kusa with their life since they so willingly give up one of
their own to escape,”
Naruto sipped his tea and nodded, “Karin stays,”

Tsunade grinned, “Oh…an Uzumaki with some knowledge in medicine, eh? I am taking her
under my wings. It is only right. She’s my cousin nth removed,”

Naruto cooed at her, “Aigoo, my Hime~! You’re such a good girl~!” He sniffled, “Mito-chan
is going to be so proud of you! I just know it, dattebayo!” He then started to blubber about
Tsunade, Mito and several different names of the Senju Clan from his time as Hashirama as
well as Uzumaki Ashina and other Uzumaki Clan members that often visited Konoha and the
Senju Clan.

Hiruzen blinked while Hashirama-ki popped a tiny yellow flower on Tobirama’s head. The
white haired Senju gawked at the suddenly emotional blond. Even though Naruto said he
does not have Hashirama’s soul, he still has his brother’s memories.

Jiraiya groaned, “He started again…” He looked around at the numerous yellow flowers
suddenly blooming all over the room, “Are we going to sell these flowers?”

Indra shook his head, “We are going to use them to make either medicine or poison
depending on the type. Otouto’s plants are more potent than those that grew naturally. Even if
Konoha is already aware of his abilities, it is better to not use it for commercial purposes,”

Tobirama glared at the Uchiha. He recalled hearing Jiraiya saying something that the brat has
Madara’s memories but it seemed that from how he refer to himself, that memory was not the
dominant one. Indra noticed his look, “I will inform you in due time, descendant of Ashura,”

Tobirama took the clue that this was a much older memory in control. And from the sound of
it, older than their clans of Senju and Uchiha. Perhaps even the founder of either clans. Very
well, he will wait for an explanation. In the meantime…

With practiced ease, he took out a folded paper fan and smacked Naruto’s head, “ENOUGH!”

Naruto’s head bobbed from the action but blinked to clarity. He sighed, “What is wrong with
Hashirama, dattebayo? One moment he’s happy then he’s sad. Did he smoke recreational
suspicious mushroom to get off from all the stress of war? I am really curious, dattebayo,”

Indra shrugged, “You have to ask Tobirama,”

Tobirama scowled, “He didn’t but he make enough of them sometimes I think he infected his
brain with their spores and survived for some reason,”

Shizune paled, “That sounds like a bad horror movie plot…”

 Chapter 25
Chapter Summary

Love, like a garden, needed to be tended to. He needed to give it time and patience to
grow but also tend to all its needs and all its flaws. If he didn’t, if he ignored it, it will
wither away or evolve into something ugly.

Minato fretted as he hovered around Naruto, Kakashi scratching his head while Indra carried
his little brother and Toneri fingers twisted with worry. The unusual sight was due to a certain
mission mishap. It was nothing fatal…well it could have been fatal in certain situation but not
in this case. The mishap was that while helping with the rebuilding of Konoha, Team 7 had
taken up a simple reconstruction business for the Ichiraku ramen stall.

Long story short, a bucket of tools fell from roof right onto Naruto’s head. Injuries were
usually nothing to fret over in Team 7 because they have a beyond legendary medic but…it’s
their medic that got injured this time. So now they rushed Naruto to the hospital, Indra
glaring at the medic manning the front desk to treat his precious little brother but since
they’re not as good as either Tsunade or Shizune, they can only let him rest and advised the
team to not let him fall asleep.

Naruto with a concussion was rather…loopy.

He mumbled strange things, talked about their esteemed Chichi-ue, the odd some memories
about Hamura-jii-sama, a black blob with sinister smiles and how Indra really should practice
stranger danger, weird trees that grow legs, giant bamboo that stabbed the moon and more
nonsensical things. By noon, Team 8 and, surprisingly, Team 10 visited him and he
immediately took notice of Hinata, grabbing at Indra, “Ani-ue! Ani-ue! It’s a fairy, an
adorable fairy, dattebayo!”

He grinned happily at the blushing Hyuuga, “I want to marry the fairy, dattebayo,”

Indra huffed but entertained the blond anyway, “I’ll see if I can arrange an Omiai,”

Naruto blushed and giggled, “Ani-ue, don’t! That’s too sudden! What if the fairy gets shy and
run away to the moon? Hamura-jii-sama will hide her from me and make her his princess and
then I can’t marry her because now she’s the Moon Princess and not just a fairy,” He then tear
up, “Then she will have to marry a jerk from the moon who will put her in a cage and won’t
let her knit a red scarf for me. I will then have to punch a hole through the moon to save her,”

He blubbered, “I don’t want to punch the moon, dattebayo!”

Kiba gawked, “What in the ever loving Shinigami is he talking?”

The invisible former Yondaime nodded, “Yes, yes, I love my Naruto,”

Naruto pouted, “Hime, marry me. Not the moon jerk or Menma. Why do people like menma
more than naruto? Naruto is better, dattebayo! If you eat too many menma, you’ll grow up
mean and beat up people like Neji because he’s pervert that look through walls,”

Tenten gasped as she looked at her suddenly flustered Hyuuga teammate. Neji shook his
head, “I-I assure you I do not do such thing!”

“Bet he know exactly what Tenten wears under her clothes…”

Neji blushed, “That was an occupational hazard from having the Byakugan!”

Tenten blushed and covered her chest, “Neji?!”

Lee covered his crotch, “That is most unyouthful, Neji-kun!”

Naruto huffed, “Hyuuga’s are all closet perverts that get away because no one can prove their
peeping habit. Those stick up their asses persona is just to throw you off. Look underneath
the underneath, dattebayo!” He then winced from his own loud voice, “Ow…”

Kakashi shook his head, “Don’t take his words too seriously. He’s not right in the head right
now,”

Naruto pouted before blinking at Hinata with a loopy state, his eyelids closing out of sync
with the other, “Hime…my Hime…may this unworthy one know thy name?”

He conjured a rose and offered it to a blushing Hinata. The poor girl squeaked, “H-Hyuuga…
Hinata…”

Naruto giggled, “Oops, wrong flower…” The red rose turned into a beautiful white lily, “A
beautiful lily for the fairest maiden of my heart,”

Kiba shook his head, “Is he being serious right now?”

Shino nodded, “I believe he is. Why? People are known to be 90% honest when drunk,”

“He’s not drunk though,”

Shino shrugged.

Naruto groaned, “My head hurts…”

Hinata shuffled, “A-ano…you should rest…oh, but don’t sleep!”

Naruto stared at her, “Why are you so pretty? Are you an angel? Am I dead? I think I
remember being dead. Twice…” He grabbed his neck, “Someone got a lucky shot at my
artery using a poisoned kunai strengthened with Fuuton chakra. My head almost flew off,
dattebayo…” He then rubbed his chest, “Or was…it…a stab through the chest with
lightning? I’m not sure…”
The door opened before Naruto can make the visitors panic even more. Tsunade came in and
saw Naruto in the midst of talking about dying. Hinata looked pale and the other Genin
looked concerned. Indra looked guilty and Toneri fretted quietly on the side. Kakashi
looked…bored. Well, he had been around concussed people before.

“Alright, out! I need to deal with his swelling now!”

Hinata turned to leave but vines grew to keep her in the room, Naruto sobbing, “Yousei-chan,
don’t leave me for the moon! He’ll treat you like a puppet, dattebayo!”

Tsunade looked at the Genin for clarification and they explained that Naruto have been
declaring undying love for the poor Hyuuga girl. He’s also certain that there’s an asshole
prince from the moon out to steal her and another guy named Menma that’ll make her mean
if she eat too much menma toppings in her ramen. He’s been going on and on about naruto
making a better ramen topping because he’s named Naruto but sometimes referred to himself
in an archaic way. He was just talking about his deaths for some reason when she came in.

Tsunade was just glad he didn’t refer to himself as Hashirama or his other, more ancient
name.

In the end she let Hinata stay because Naruto has started to wrap her up in vines of purple
morning glories, saying purple suite her and make her eyes pop out. He also complained
about not getting his O-baa-sama’s eyes like Hinata’s, confusing the girl to no end. In the
end, he slept after Tsunade successfully dealt with his swelling. She sighed, “Well, he can rest
now. There’re no more swelling and he’s out of danger,”

She looked at Hinata still trapped in blooming royal purple morning glories. She huffed as
she recalled the symbolism of the flower; beauty being one of them, the other was nobility.
Morning glories were also given to encourage someone to chase their dream. She patted the
blushing girl’s head, “He’s telling you to chase your dream,”

Hinata’s cheeks glowed like apples, “Oh…”

“And that you’re beautiful,”

She started to steam from embarrassment.

Tsunade decided to stop teasing the girl and helped her out. Hinata actually picked the
morning glories, the biggest she had ever seen, and took them with her after throwing the
vines into the wastebasket. Indra shook his head, “And here I thought she will have to do
something drastic like kiss him in front of everyone like Kanna or drag him into the ocean
like Mito,”

Tsunade frowned, “Drag him into the ocean? I thought Baa-chan was already engaged to Jii-
chan since childhood?”

Indra took a while before answering, “Chopstick was denser than the rock of Iwa,”

Tobirama appeared, “What happened?”

Toneri answered him, “Tool box to the head. He got concussion but Tsunade-sama dealt with
that,”

Tobirama eyed the snoring Naruto and shook his head, “I am not surprised that the worse he
get was a concussion and not a split skull. Not that I want him to have it,”

The next week or so Naruto was stuck in the hospital. Even if Tsunade did resolved the worst
of his concussion, he’s still confused and sometimes speak in archaic language that only
Indra can understand. In the end, Indra became his translator.

Oddly enough, whenever Hinata visited…

Naruto started flirting, “Hi there, gorgeous…”

Or he will become delirious, “Are you my wife?”

He even pulled a tantrum once, “Don’t leave me! You can’t marry Toneri, dattebayo!!”

Toneri flustered, “I won’t! I won’t marry her, Aniki!”

Once he became even more confused, “How’s the Kyuubi? Is your tummy okay?”

Another time; “Please don’t slap me. I don’t know what I did but I think you’re mad for some
reason but I have no idea why,”

Hinata wasn’t mad but her face was red due to all his unintentional flirting.

During the second week, her team received an out of village mission and Naruto was busy
asking about her. He fretted that she’s leaving him, running away with Toneri or Menma, or
about to divorce him. Wondering why his confusion was taking so long to resolve, Minato
finally found the answer when he visited Kurama.

Kurama huffed, “There’s a cluster of chakra coils on the top of the skull in charge of
memories. It was still injured but luckily in the healing process. In the meantime, he will
remain confused,”

Minato asked, “But why does he think that Toneri’s going to destroy the planet or why Hinata
will end up marrying the boy? Toneri’s no longer on the Moon and he didn’t show any more
interest in Hinata beside familial interest. If anything, Toneri shipped the two hard,”

Kurama shrugged, “I might be made of chakra and I might understand chakra but even I
don’t get the true depth of chakra,” He grinned, “My guess is that Naruto, the confusing
little shit, somehow touch the essence of time and space in his confusion. He can be
considered schizophrenic at the moment, not really grounded in this time and reality,”

When his confusion resolved, Hinata and her team finally back in Konoha. Naruto didn’t
really remember all he said when he was confused but he accidentally blurted when he saw
her, “My wife!”
There was silence on the street and somehow his misfortune doubled when Hiashi appeared
behind him. Of course he found her in front of the Hyuuga Compound, of course he just
handed an important scroll to Hiashi, of course he just had to blurt out the first thing that
came to mind when he saw Hinata and summoned the Hyuuga Head from where he had
turned to leave, of course.

Hiashi glared down on the sweating blond, “What did you just call my daughter?”

Naruto gulped, “Uh…sorry…I’m still confused…”

It made the matter worse when Hinata fainted after she processed what he had called her and
it even escalated when Naruto panicked, blooming a bed of thornless roses under her as she
fell while calling her “Darling!”.

Kiba smacked his face with his palm, “Aho,”

Hiashi nodded at a barely gawking clan member manning the gate to pick her up and bring
her in. He then breathed in to glare down on the already shaking blond whose eyes were so
wide he could see the full circle of his pupils. Naruto chuckled nervously at the elder Hyuuga
before mumbling a random excuse, “Tobi-chan’s calling!”

He ran off.

Hiashi chased after the blond.

Tobirama had just finished inspecting the Senju Compound when Naruto, his current
brother’s incarnation, grabbed him and decided to use him as a human shield against a
furious father. Hiashi barely hesitated before the Nidaime, “You are not touching my
daughter!”

Naruto screamed behind Tobirama, “It was a mistake, dattebayo!”

“Are you playing with her feelings then?!”

“That’s not it!”

“Face my judgement!”

Tobirama Shunshin to the side when Hiashi opened his Juuken stance, he has heard the
strength of the current Hyuuga Clan Head and he does not want to relive the experience of
being at the mercy of their deceptive tender pokes of death. Naruto screamed as he was poked
to the edge of his life, finally falling to the ground and twitching miserably when Hiashi has
had enough of dealing his fatherly fury for his dearest daughter, even if he was cold to her, on
the pitiful blond.

He then stared at the shaking blond on the ground in front the Nidaime and sniffed, “Come to
dinner tomorrow. I refuse to leave my daughter a dishonest girl,”

Naruto confusedly looked up painfully from his place on the ground, “Wait, what?”
Hiashi sneered at him, “You will make her an honest woman or I will bring out my Twin Lion
Fists on you, you hear me?!”

Naruto paled, hazy memory of the chakra eating lions flared in his mind, nodding like a hob
head toy, “Yes, sir!”

Hiashi snorted with unfair dignity, “At least you have honour,” He bowed to the resurrected
Nidaime, “Nidaime-sama,”

After a while, Naruto sat back up, “What…just happened? This feels like a serious déjà vu,”

Tobirama rolled his eyes, “If you take in the fact that you called Mito a sexy beast when she
was training with her clan member in front of her father and being chased all over Uzushio to
be proposed to as her future husband, then yes…yes it is a déjà vu,”

Later Indra who heard the event shook his head in fond exasperation, “Otouto, what is it
about you and making women’s fathers chase you to make you make their daughters your
wife? Even though Kanna was the one who followed you, her father chased you to make her
an honest women despite the only thing that happened was a kiss from her to you,”

Naruto thought about it and blushed, “Wait! Are you saying that Hiashi is setting up an Omiai
for me and Hinata?!”

Kakashi snorted, “What else can it be?”

Toneri tilted his head at Naruto, “You don’t want to? You have been flirting with her every
time she appeared when you were still confused,”

Naruto barely recalled the moments but he felt that he had dug this hole deep enough. If he
refused, then as a daughter of nobility he would stain her reputation. Not to mention, it wasn’t
like it was a secret that he flirted with her. Team 10’s Ino have been teasing him endlessly
whenever they crossed path. If he turned down the invitation, cruel tongues and mindless
mouth will spread nasty rumours about Hinata. He has seen the worse of humanity especially
when they’re idle.

But the main question remained; can he do right by her?

An arranged marriage was like a gamble for the woman. Men can easily move on but not so
much for the woman. Though he lived in a more liberal time about all this, he didn’t want to
hurt Hinata like that. Not to mention, he supposed in his dense way, he do liked her in that
manner. He can’t just avoid it because he gets cold feet at the mere mention of engagements.

He sighed, rubbing his head and looked at his garden. Love, like a garden, needed to be
tended to. He needed to give it time and patience to grow but also tend to all its needs and all
its flaws. If he didn’t, if he ignored it, it will wither away or evolve into something ugly.
Knowing Hinata, it will wither along with her.

He only needed to give this a chance.

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