A/N: This is just an idea I've been toying with lately. There are a few alternate universes which already exist in the Naruto franchise and I would love to explore them further, and maybe make up a few of my own along the way. If it works out, I might decide to continue it.

Chapter 1:

The Strife

It was not the first time Naruto talked to his parents in the past. And it was not a dream.

Naruto had grown strong, strong enough to send his thoughts back in time using the natural energy of his sennin mode. Yesterday, he was even able to send himself back in time to hear Hinata confess to him. And what he had done after the battle against Pain? Oh, that's right. He ignored her and conveniently forgot about her confession.

Naruto walked out of his shady apartment, breathing in the musty air, his nose cold from the chill. Today is the day. Today's the day he'll finally confess to Hinata.

Having Sakura shun him all these years and simply making a mockery out of him, he had grown tired of her shit. Hearing her whine about Sasuke even more than Naruto, if that was even possible, got him to rethink his actions and actually ponder how better to utilize his time.

"Oi, Naruto!" He heard Kiba call out. Naruto turned around and a blush threatened to creep up his face. There was Kiba, with his arm around Hinata, keeping her close. And Hinata was actually smiling!

Fate apparently liked to play games with him. Oh, please don't tell me they're together now, Naruto prayed under his breath.

"Hi Kiba, Hinata-chan," he said politely, turning to Hinata and bowing his head a little. Hinata blushed. Naruto smiled at that. Oh, so maybe they're not together, after all, he thought as Kiba extricated his arm from around Hinata to shake Naruto's hand.

"So, Naruto, Hinata and I were thinking" – here he took Hinata's arm and slid his arm around hers – "to arrange a memorial for Neji. It'd be either at the Hyuga compound or at my place. We'll order pizza and sneak in some sake! Do you know Hinata whips up a mean Curry Siri Paye? We're going to be staying overnight together to prepare it at Hinata's place and bring it over to mine."

Naruto's heart sank, but looking at Hinata's tightly forced smile which did not hide the remorse stretching across her eyes, he didn't comment. Naruto was also still not over it.

"Oh, I think that's a great idea," Naruto said. "Is Lee coming?"

"Actually," Kiba's voice dropped, "I was hoping you would do that. Tenten said something about him to Lee yesterday and he hadn't stopped crying since. And," his voice dropped further and his leaned in close, "Hinata would just be hurt more if she saw him."

Definitely not a good time to make a confession, Naruto thought as he adjusted the scarf around his neck. He noticed that Hinata had yet to speak a word, and was actually avoiding eye contact. When he looked at her curiously, she blushed a little more and turned to him.

"See you tomorrow, Naruto-kun", Hinata said softly as Kiba put his arm around her again and she leaned in for support. Kiba nodded goodbye and Naruto watched them leave. How he wished that he had prayed for Hinata to be on his team and not Sakura.

"Pizza's here guys!" Kiba exclaimed, as he picked up the empty snack bowls from the table and snatched a bowl of Cheetos from Choji.

"Pass me another bottle," Tenten demanded, her eyes hazy.

"How much have you had to drink?" Kiba asked curiously.

"I don't care."

Shikamaru was leaning against a bolster, arms behind his head and eyes closed. As there was nothing else to lean against, Ino was lying on Shikamaru's lap, tapping away at her cell phone. She looked up from her phone at Tenten's reply. She looked at Lee's crestfallen face to Tenten, adamantly looking away from him.

"Tenten, are you feeling alright?" Ino asked.

"I'm fine," she replied flatly.

"Wow, what a fun party," Naruto thought.

"Isn't Sai going to be making an appearance?" Shino asked Ino.

"I'm not sure," Ino said. "You see, he doesn't really understand."

"What doesn't he understand?" Sakura asked.

"He…" - she glanced to make sure that Hinata was still in the kitchen. She sat up and turned to Sakura and spoke softly. "He doesn't understand why everyone's still so sad, and why we're holding a party to commemorate our remorse."

"Excuse me?" Tenten also sat up, her eyes hazier. "What do you mean he doesn't understand why we're broken?" Tenten's voice got louder, and Ino started to panic.

"What? Who doesn't understand what?" Hinata asked, carrying a dinner bowl to put on the table.

"Ah, there's the beef," Kiba said loudly, rushing to help Hinata taking the bowl away from Hinata and laying it on the table. He grabbed her arm. "Let's go back to the kitchen and make the salad."

"It's already done," Hinata told Kiba, as she shook his arm off gently. She turned to the girls stricken faces. "Who does not understand why we're sad?" She asked, her white eyes filling with tears.

"Oh, it's not like that," Ino rushed to cover. "You know how he was taught to be strong and not to feel anything when he loses his comrades since a young age at the Root. He's lost a lot of his friends in battle, so he's used to controlling his feelings by now."

Oh, this is not going to end well, Naruto thought, as Hinata held back a sob. Naruto was just about to speak up when Lee interrupted.

"What? Does Sai not understand how close we were? How Neji worked so hard to break through his prisons and get better to protect those around him?"

Ino regretted having said anything. "Well," she guarded, "We all do that, it's nothing new. In our line of work, there's no telling when anyone can die."

"So what you are saying is, just because we are all going to die someday, we are not allowed to feel sad?"

"Maybe we shouldn't. Maybe we should learn to move on."

"Ino," Shikamaru said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Stop it."

"No," she shrugged him off. "Why should I feel bad about it? Lee is being very shallow."

"Don't you dare talk to Lee like that," Tenten said loudly, her bottle swishing. "Lee is a hell lot smarter than you, you dumb blonde."

Ino's mouth fell. "Tenten!" Sakura said, shocked.

Tenten ignored her. "Tell me, if Shikamaru or Choji had died, would you be just sitting there and saying the same things?"

"In case you're not aware, my father also died in this war," Ino yelled back. "So did Shikamaru's! Do you see us crying around making it obvious and forcing other people to sympathize with us? That's because we're ninja! Our duty is to our village!"

Tenten stood up shakily. "You know, in other cases, I would have agreed with you, but you should respect Lee-kun's feelings instead of calling him shallow! Many of us fight to make sure we can stay with our loved ones even a bit longer."

Ino got up as well. "You know, we can't change the past. My father, and Shikamaru's father, and Neji, all died honourable deaths, so let's leave it at that."

Naruto looked, helpless. He wished he could avoid the turn this conversation was taking. "Hey, let's eat! Hinata worked hard on this meal."

"Hey, I helped!" Kiba put in, coming to Naruto's aid. "Come on, I'm hungry, let's eat."

"Yeah me too," Choji said. "I can eat a whole cow."

Hinata sobbed louder, and Tenten turned around. "What are you crying for? You're not allowed to because Neji died because of you!"

"W-What?" Hinata's voice broke and everyone went silent.

Tenten looked at her. "Do you mean to tell me you're not even remotely sorry for it? Why the hell were you even there when you knew you couldn't even do anything? You just got in the way, and Neji had to sacrifice himself to save you! If it weren't for you, Neji would still be here."

"N-Neji-n-niisan did what he did because he wanted to! He d-did not do it because h-he felt it was his d-duty!"

"Are you blind as well as stupid? I thought nothing escaped the Byakugan of you Hyugas. Neji loved you, and he did not want to see you foolishly risk yourself any further!"

Lee pulled back Tenten. "Tenten, that's enough."

"But," Tenten turned to Lee. "Why does she get to act like the victim? Why does she have to act all high and might and depressed like she honestly cared about him? We are the ones who cared about him! He was on our team."

"He was also m-my cousin!" Hinata's voice rose.

Tenten turned back to face Hinata and looked her dead in the eye. "He was your cousin, but you're far away from knowing him as the moon is to the sun. We spent more time with him than you did in your entire lifetime. We know more about him than you ever will."

Hinata cried louder and covered her face before turning around and running away to Kiba's room.

"Hinata!" Kiba yelled, running after her. Naruto yelled and ran after her too. Hinata had already locked the door, but Kiba turned around with Akamaru and ran outside to climb in through the window.

There was complete silence after their departure. Naruto walked back in slowly and looked at Ino and Tenten. Ino had the grace to look ashamed but Tenten was stubborn. Lee was angry at her.

"You should not have said all the mean things you just said," Lee said angrily.

"Why? Should I've just sat there and listened to them hammer you?"

"Tenten, how many times have I told you do not need to come to my aid all the time?"

"Why shouldn't I? We've already lost Neji. I don't want to lose you too Lee! I won't be able to handle it. You're the only one I've got left! I told you yesterday as well. I love you! But you don't listen!"

"B-but," Lee said, his eyes filling with tears. "It would be an insult to our comrade's memory. He just passed and all we think about are ourselves!"

"We're allowed to be happy Lee! Neji would have wanted us to be happy! You don't have to be loving me to be happy either. As long as we value him forever, we're ok."

"Guys," Naruto said. "We're all hurt. But Tenten, you should go apologise to Hinata. What you said was very mean."

Tenten said nothing. She just turned around and picked back her bottle. Ino looked at Sakura and she looked back helplessly.

"Man, what a drag," Shikamaru sighed.

"Naruto," Shino said. "I sent one of my bugs to check on Hinata. She should not be disturbed right now."

"Where's Kiba?" Naruto wanted to know.

Shino sighed. "My bug friend tells me she Jyuken-ed him and he's lying unconscious, with his tenketsus closed."

Naruto had a pang in his heart. They did not win this war to have them fight against themselves. How he wished he could go back and change time, just so this war could be avoided, or at least to have Neji alive. If he was here right now, he would've shut them all up.

Be careful, Naruto, a voice whispered.

What was that? Naruto asked Kurama.

I'm saying that you actually can go back in time with your new power, as we know. You can run your thoughts fast enough to jump at any time you wish. But there are repercussions.

But, Naruto said. I've never managed to physically visit the past before. So how will that change anything?

And you'd be wise not to. Naruto, if you really want to go back and change something, be very careful. It will affect the future and change everything you have managed to build up.

Kurama, it can't be that bad. I can only send my essence back to the past to guide me. It won't affect me physically will it?

Actually, it could. And yes, that's true. Only you would be able to see and understand the situations. Do you know your mother also visited you in the future to see how her family would look like?

Yes, I met her when I was training under Octo-pops. You were there too.

Yes Naruto. But be mindful. Once you come back, your timeline will have differences. It's the classic "what-if" scenario. Think about it.

Yes I will. Naruto said. What I do know, I can't stand to see Hinata hurt like this.

As you wish then.

Naruto sighed deeply. He would go back in time to prevent the meaningless war which was to follow. He would go back to a point in time where he can guide himself to be sure to prevent the pointless deaths. He would save Sasuke. And more importantly, he would also answer to Hinata's confession.