Synchronization of Lucid Emotions
Chapter One:


Under the Pale Moon's Glow


Haruno Sakura couldn't help but fidget whilst standing under the gaze of the Yondaime Hokage. There was just something about the blond man's eyes that sent an uncontrollable shiver down her spine and set her blood aflame. Sapphire eyes brighter than the sky, soft and gentle, hardened but mournful, filled with both endless mirth and abyssal grief; he truly had the eyes of a veteran - one who had seen enemies falter and allies bleed and espied the epitome of humanity, both the good and the bad. He was a man that had watched his friends and family die around him as he forced himself forwards to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain.

Yes. She thought to herself. Lord Yondaime is a man that has the presence of a true shinobi, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he's downright fuckable, either. A small blush broke across her cheeks. Sakura had been nursing a crush on the man after all, though it was bordering on obsession, ever since her Jounin instructor had introduced them, her teammates, to the man personally. That was just over a year and one half ago, and she still couldn't count herself more lucky.

It was rare for anyone to ever meet their village leader, even more so considering that she was born and raised in a military village and society. Most of her peers could go their entire lives without having the opportunity to meet the man turned legend. There were notable exceptions of course - people that had grown close to the man in his younger years, before he had come to power. You could also find yourself in an advisory role, lending your wisdom to the Lord Yondaime had you proved yourself a political savant. Or, lastly, you could be a member of the Village Council, determining the day to day runnings of the many civilians, and be responsible for the public image of Konoha's mighty military.

So when Sakura's teacher, Hatake Kakashi, had brought his team over to the Yondaime's personal estates for an informal, just for friends and family dinner, and Sakura was personally introduced to the man for the first time there was just no stopping the budding crush that wriggled its way into her subconscious.

The way the man - no, the God amongst men - had ruffled Kakashi's hair in that father/son kind of way, the small chuckle that had escaped his throat at her teacher's protest, even the way his eyes crinkled as he laughed at some whispered joke shared between the two men. Yes, Minato, that is the Lord Yondaime Hokage, was an inspiring presence. When his presence combined with the raging hormones of a teenage girl struggling through puberty, a crush was sure to happen; a logical progression of events culminating in a romantic interest.

It didn't hurt that was as much of a pervert as the man that had been assigned to be her teacher through those troubling years; she simply wasn't as open about it as Kakashi was. Her porn, unlike his which he kept on his person at all times, was locked away, hidden in her room.

Still, here she was, standing side by side her surviving teammate, Uchiha Sasuke, the king of pricks, twirling her hair around her index finger like a schoolgirl all over again; she was a Chuunin rank shinobi for crying out loud! Her pink velvet strands curling and uncurling as they slid off of the tip of her finger, only to be seized and spun around again, and again, and again. Sakura let out a soft sigh at her own, seemingly, pathetic self. Her emerald eyes closing as she forced her breath to steady and her heart rate to slow; if only so she could get through this meeting with minimal embarrassment.

"You called for us, Lord Hokage?" Kakashi asked calmly as he surveyed the room around them. One mahogany desk, situated close to the panoramic window that gave anyone looking out through it an impressive view of the city of Konoha, stacks of paperwork littering the top of the desk, several shelves of books and scrolls along the far left wall of the room. In the corner behind the right side of the desk, a cabinet of liquor stood, tucked away shamefully out of sight for most supplicants. And two potted plants, one on the window seal, and one on the desk; accompanied by a small tree that seemed to be growing out of the flooring.

Sakura blinked. When did Kakashi get here? She hadn't seen the man slip in through the door frame, and she only noticed him for the first time when he spoke to the Hokage. She and Sasuke had been standing there, awkwardly waiting for their teacher to arrive so that they might begin their meeting with the Hokage.

"Yes." Minato responded quickly, his eyes never looking up from the paperwork he was skimming. "I'll speak with you in just a moment, I need to go over these forms quickly and I was positive that you'd be as late as you usually are when I call for your teams presence, Kakashi."

To her left side, Uchiha Sasuke scoffed. The raven haired teen was not one to take being dismissed so offhandedly lightly. He probably thinks he's better than that, Sakura thought as she heard the boy. How did I ever want him to love me?

"Of course, Lord Hokage." Kakashi spoke dully. "We'll be ready, whenever you are."

The minutes counted past as the sounds of silence reverberated off of the office walls. A page being flipped over, a quick scribble of a quill, the thud of a stamp; all of it, repeated several times over before the stack of paperwork the Hokage had been working on had migrated in full, from one side of his desk to the other.

The Hokage let out a sigh.

"This is about you last mission as a team." Minato spoke as he stood up and turned to face out the window. "I've been asked to reactivate your cell for Free Response category missions - pending a formal investigation to the death of Nomura Hideki."

Sakura closed her eyes at the memory, Kakashi stiffened and let out a depressed sigh, and Sasuke choked on the air in his lungs as the Hokage addressed them as a whole.

"So, we'll start by going over your after-action report."

"Very well, my Lord." Kakashi's voice was restrained, and anyone listening would be able to hear just how tired he was beginning to sound.

"Three months ago, Nomura Hideki was labelled KIA in your mission report. Due to the circumstances of his death, and your distance from Konoha proper, you deemed it an unnecessary risk to transport his remains home for proper declassification, and opted instead to dispose of them, as best you could, on the spot.

"Shortly thereafter, our intelligence department set out to exhume his remains and ensure proper disposal so that our enemies cannot gleam even the tiniest bit of intel from his corpse. But you didn't know that, did you?"

"No sir. We didn't." Kakashi responded for the group once again.

"Good, that means there are no leaks with intelligence at the time. Good…

"It was a routine border patrol mission, correct?"

"Yes, sir." Kakashi's voice was beginning to ring with venom.

"During your patrol, your team had encountered a pair of rogue shinobi, and though you couldn't see any clearly defined marks of allegiance, their co-ordinated attire alluded to an organization of sorts, correct?"

"It was rather strange, yes."

"For reasons yet unknown, these renegades decided to engage in combat, despite being within our borders. You, correctly, chose to retreat to the border house to report these findings - but didn't expect for them to pursue you."

"Yes."

"During this time, your medical soldier, Haruno Sakura, had begun to lag behind the rest of your cell. Hideki decided to fall back to the rear of your line to provide a temporary distraction so that Sakura may rejoin your ranks - at which time, Hideki planned to double back and also rejoin your ranks.

"Something went wrong though, and he was unable to hold them off long enough. One of them, you described as a primary Fuuton user, broke past Hideki and made for Sakura. From there, your team engaged in a skirmish with the unknowns until they retreated back beyond our borders."

"Yes."

"But not before Hideki had received fatal damage. Though it came from, not the enemies in question, but rather Uchiha Sasuke, whose Katon jutsu had caused the coup de grâce. Your report states that this is a direct result of Hideki sacrificing himself to hold the unknowns in place, ensuring that Sasuke's attack successfully hit the enemy."

"Yes."

"The council has their doubts."

Before the last syllable was out of his mouth, Minato found himself under the pressure of Sasuke's gaze; hot, heavy, full of the will to kill. It sent a chill down the Yondaime's spine and made his hairs stand on end, but did not cause him any concern.

"Calm yourself, Sasuke. All you're doing now is proving the council right." Minato raised a hand to try and settle the angered teen, though it was doing a poor job of it. "Did you know? For the last few years, ever since that first Chuunin exam your team participated in, I've been receiving requests from the council and my advisers that we should pull you from our active roster.

"They wish to place you under house arrest for the foreseeable future, and extract genetic material from you in attempt to reseed the Sharingan amongst our populace. You'd have no rights as a father to any of the resulting offspring, and once the population has a stable, and reliable enough bloodline to pass on the Sharingan…"

"You'd be killed, Sasuke." Kakashi finished the thought for his former teacher.

"Precisely. So far, I've managed to forestall that possibility, but you aren't doing yourself any favours at the moment. Neither is your teacher, though."

"What?!" Sasuke burst out in renewed anger, though it was more directed at Kakashi this time.

"So long as you and your cell remains off active duty for grievance, the idea of forcing your genetic line to propagate looks better and better to its advocates. I've done all I can to give you and your team the time you need to get over such a loss, but you've run out.

"As of this moment, Team Seven, under Jonin Hatake Kakashi, is hereby reinstated to active duty, and will once again be receiving missions from the roster. You have one weak to get back in shape, you'll be taking missions outside of our sphere of influence from here on. Should be rather nostalgic for you, eh Kakashi?"

"Unmistakably so, I'd imagine." The silver haired man replied after a moment of silence. "Though, I must protest! We don't have enough members in our cell to engage in those kinds of activities."

"I thought you might say that, Kakashi. You aren't getting a choice in the matter, and neither and I, unfortunately. My advisors have taken the liberty of recommending several of our forces that may augment your team for its required role, and I believe I have found the most promising candidate to fill Hideki's shoes."

"Oh?"

"Oh yes." The Hokage responded with a knowing smirk. "In fact, I think I'll leave you in the dark. I want to see your face when you find out who you'll be working with from now on. Perhaps I'll instruct them to take a photograph of all your faces when you meet them tomorrow. Training field seven.

"And Kakashi?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Don't be late. Dismissed."

"Yes, sir." Kakashi responded somewhat amused by his teacher's antics. "Come along then, kiddos. We've got some preparations to go through."

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei." Sakura replied, a small smile on her face.

"Hnn." Sasuke was less vocal.

"Oh, and Kakashi?" Minato called out just before the younger man closed the door behind him.

"Yes, sensei?"

"Something will happen in the next few days that may put you on edge. I'm going to need you to relax, and don't worry about it. Not many others in the village know what you do about this, and I don't want them working up a panic when they don't need to. It's safe, that's all I need you to know. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, sir!" Kakashi gave the man a lazy salute.

"He's safe. That's all you need to know about this."

This time, Kakashi didn't say anything. He just cast a puzzled gaze at the man that was once his teacher and walked out the door, taking care not to show the feeling of dread that was spreading through the core of his very being.

Behind him, the Hokage kept his gaze focused out the window, watching as the sun began to set over the western horizon.

"I'll see you soon," He whispered to himself as he began to turn away from the window. "Naruto…"


Several hours later, elsewhere;


Uzumaki Naruto silently thumbed the sealed letter that had arrived earlier. The courier-nin had made it perfectly clear that he only had a handful of hours to respond. The boy could easily make out the personal seal of the Yondaime Hokage, leader of Konohagakure no Sato, which meant that this was a letter of business, not pleasure.

That had been two days ago. He knew what his response was going to be two hours after receiving the letter, and though he had yet to open the letter, he knew beyond any shadow of reasonable doubt that he was being recalled. It seems that my sabbatical has come to an end, Mae. Do you think I'm, we're, ready to return?

His one red eye narrowed pensively at the full moon, streams of silver light dancing along the leaves, reflecting off of the water of the still pond before him like a mirror, casting the lunar light out through the clearing, illuminating the dark night. And though he could see the moon in all its glory, he could see no stars in the night sky.

But he knew why.

At the age of sixteen, already his problems had begun; already his perception of the world had begun to dim, fading to grey and vanishing into the background.

Tamano no Mae.

Time to wake up, sleepy head.

"Lord Uzumaki." A gentle voice called out from the other side of the clearing, a shadowy figure emerging from the forest path. "Time to go home, I think."

"In more ways than one." The teen replied, an eerie calm to his voice.

"My Lord?"

"Come, let us return to the temple. I'm sure the other monks are just as concerned about my absence as you are. And I think it's time to give that messanger an answer to take back to his lord, don't you."

"Of course, Lord Uzumaki."

"I'm going home, Talmes. I won't be darkening your monastary any longer, I should think."

"You don't darken anything, Lord Uzumaki. I shall rather miss your presence, I believe. You brought a certain, liveliness to this place that won't be replaced anytime soon. All of our brothers shall miss you."

"Your brothers, Talmes. Your brothers, my captors."

"We hardly held you captive, my Lord. You were free to come and go as you pleased, so long as we were aware of your location."

"An impressively large cage, with much room to stretch my legs. But a cage nonetheless."

"Yes well… before, the risk you presented was much too-"

"We're aware of the risk!" Naruto struggled out the shout, his voice cracking and shifting pitch all the while. "Once we've taken hold, you'll not be able to hold on to us much longer!" His voice rang with strange duality, a hollow tone under his.

"Perhaps you should calm yourself my Lord, your eye-"

"What about our eye, worm!"

The monk offered no reply with voice, he simply raised his hand slowly, and pointed at the shimmering water of the small pond that separated the two. Curious, Naruto rose from his position and walked to the edge of the water to peer at his reflection.

Once blond hair was now tipped in red, his left eye was now purple, aglow with an eerie light; and his right a deep scarlet, rippling as though it were a pool of blood waiting to teem over and pour down his face.

He paled.

Tamano no Mae

Time to wake up, sleepy head.

Time to lose control.

Time, to give in.

Give in.

Give in.

Give in. Give in. Give in.

"Enough!" Naruto shouted, his hands flying to hold the sides of his head. "I'll not give in, not yet!"

"Lord Uzumaki!" Talmes screamed as he rushed to Naruto's side, but before he could make it more than two steps, the teen commanded him to stop.

"I'm good."

"But Lord Uzumaki…"

"I said I'm good, Talmes."

"If you say so…"

"I do say, and I also say that it's time to go home."

"As you wish, My Lord."

As the duo began to fade into the shadows of the forest path away from the pond, Naruto stopped just on the edge of the darkness and turned to gaze back up at the moon. The wind stirred, howling through the branches grasping at the teens hair, dragging the yellow and red strands with it.

And from the shadows of the forest, from the opposite side, the silhouette of a man stood, watching the scene unfold with rapt attention. His eyes transfixed on the mystery that was the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. A boy no more than sixteen years of age, with a single purple eye that shone in the dark as though it could see everything.

He shivered.

"Soon enough." His whisper carried no further than the edge of the clearing closest to him. "Soon enough, young Naruto, we will be coming for you. Will you be ready for us, or shalt your death usher in the dawn of a new era, an era where all those who live under my rule understand what it means to feel pain?

"I can't wait."

And he too, faded into the shadows of that dark forest, hidden from the world around. A respite for those weary of life, or troubled souls lost in the depths of their own souls. His own pale purple eyes, rippled with waves of abyssal black vanishing into the black.


Two days later;


The southern gates of Konohagakure no Sato appeared in the distance as Uzumaki Naruto casually strolled up the well travelled road that lead to the great city. With his eyes closed and a content smile on his face – probably from the feeling of the wind – the teenager lazily ran a hand through his blond – though tipped in red – hair.

I should have tied my hair up. Naruto thought to himself, coming to a complete halt and fumbling into the small brown pouch tied at his left hip. After rummaging around for a few moments, he retrieved a black and gold hair tie. Pulling his hair out of his face and back over his head, the young boy quickly, and with the ease of years of practice, styled the loose strands of his hair in to a long tail that fell down to the small of his back. If only Mae would left me cut if off; I would go bald in a heartbeat, Naruto let out a small, wistful sigh, if only I could.

Resuming his trek at a more hurried pace Naruto's ears twitched as the noise of the bustling city reached him on the wind. The sound of many voices, shouting about this sale and that sale; the shouts of mothers calling after their errant child; the odd chime of a bell in the distant door frames; even the sounds of footsteps now reached his ears. What used to be shadows in the shape of people now held clear forms as the teenager walked up to the check station.

The two guards – if they could be called that – were discussing something among themselves animatedly, seemingly ignorant to the arrival of Naruto. One of them, a male of average height and muddy brown hair, waved his arms at his sides frantically while squirming his shoulders slightly. The other, a young girl with platinum blond hair hid a smile behind her left hand as a small giggle passed by her lips.

You should have seen it, Naruto's mouth mimed the male guard, reading the man's lips. I'd never seen anything quite like that. I could have sworn that the Inuzuka was going to lose his fight; I mean, his arms were bound and all he could seem to do was wiggle around desperately.

What happened then? If you were so sure he was going to lose.

I'm not one-hundred percent positive. One second, he could barely spin his wrists, the next? He cold-cocks his opponent in the face during some mid-fight banter.

Heh. Sounds like Uchiha-san bit off more than he could chew.

I wouldn't say that…

Oh?

Well, yeah! He did eventually win the fight. He did walk away with a broken nose though, and I'm sure his pride was plenty bruised as well.

I bet.

I did, that's for sure. Ten to one odds that Inuzuka wouldn't even scratch the Uchiha? I couldn't resist taking a bet at those odds. I mean, no matter how good someone is, the only have to get cocky and fuck up once. Right?

"Oi, language mister!" Naruto called out with both hands cupped to his mouth. "Don't swear in the presence of such beauty; it can only mar them if you aren't sensitive enough about their delicacies."

His sudden outburst startled both of the guards, almost humorously as it looked as though the young man was about to wet himself in fright. Satisfied with the results of his – impromptu – prank, Naruto walked calmly up to the check-in station to register his arrival.

"Name, rank and ID number if you are a part of the military force. Name, occupation and residential identification card if you're only a civilian. Name and purpose of visit if you aren't a citizen of Konoha." The woman's voice carried over to him with a hint of mirth mixed in with her authoritative tone.

"Uzumaki Naruto." He responded slowly, pulling out the sealed letter from the sleeve of his sanguine yukata. "As for the purpose of my visit... I'm sure this letter will explain everything." He held the letter out to the guards.

"This is..." The male's voice trailed off as he took in the sight of the Hokage's seal adorning the back of the letter. "A personal summons from the Yondaime Hokage?"

"Colour me impressed kid." Her voice drew his attention. Her cobalt eyes caught his mismatched pair of red and purple. "It's not everyday that someone with this kind of sway comes to Konoha from the southern gate."

"No?" Naruto asked, his curiosity getting the better of him once again. "And where, pray tell, do they normally come from then?"

"Usually? Western gate." The male handed the letter back after skimming the contents. "Capital of Hi no Kuni is that way; after all."

"I see..." Naruto trailed off. "Forgive me, but, I find myself without knowing the name of the beauty that is before my eyes. Would you grant me the privilege of knowing by what name a goddess made real, such as yourself goes by?"

He was laying it on rather thick, he knew that. Naruto couldn't do much about that though; once something – especially something (or someone in this case) – this beautiful caught his eye, there was little he could do about it. It was just part of who he was.

Something he was desperately trying to hold on to.

"Oh my." Her voiced hitched. Naruto found it rather cute. "I don't think anyone has ever called me a goddess before." She broke eye contact, and Naruto could feel her eyes roam over his body from top to bottom.

She took him in; from his golden blond hair fringed with red flowing gently in the wind – giving the illusion that his hair was made of flames – to his pair of mismatched eyes; one the colour of fresh blood, and the other a deep purple. Those eyes of his made an impression, if the widening of her eyes was anything to go by. A smile crawled dreamily across her face as she gazed down to his torso, partially exposed as it was, behind a sanguine yukata patterned with leaves of yellows, browns and reds.

"You're not all that bad yourself, Uzumaki Naruto." She declared with a predatory look to her eyes and with a smile to match. "Yamanaka Ino." She held out her hand to him, a look of expectancy on her face.

Reaching towards her hand with his own, Naruto ducked down slightly as though he were about to place a soft kiss upon her knuckles when he suddenly jerked her forward, pulling her towards him. Returning to his full height, he tipped his face down as he gently cupped her chin and pushed her face up to his. Within a heartbeat, Ino's face flushed crimson as she felt the pressure of his lips against hers in a forcefully chaste kiss. Her eyes fluttered open in shock, before she regained enough of her composure to pull herself back and slap him. Hard.

The sound of flesh on flesh echoed harshly in the mid-morning air.

Someone chuckled softly.

"I deserved that." Naruto chuckled as he tenderly rubbed his reddened cheek.

"Damn right you did!" Ino screamed. "You don't just kiss someone you don't even know. What the hell is wrong with you!?"

At this point, the male guard completely lost it. His giggles had turned into outright laughter. He doubled over, making a show of clutching his sides and slapping his knee in an exaggerated show of his mirth. He laughed and laughed for minutes as the two blonds could do nothing but stare at him; one with fire in her glare and the other with just as much laughter behind his eyes. Wiping the tears that had formed in his eyes, the man stood upright once more and took Naruto's hand in his own before shaking it vigorously.

"You are my hero, Uzumaki-sama." He declared rather cheerfully. "I have never, and I do mean never, seen Yamanaka-san here quite so livid. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she rather enjoyed the kiss, but wasn't overly fond of the circumstances behind it."

"Thank you..." Naruto started before trailing off. Glancing over at Ino, he took note of her growing ire. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I got your name."

"Kamizuki Izumo. It's fuckin' great to meet you." If anything, Izumo's smile widened as he gave his name to Naruto. "Though I think it's time you see yourself to the Hokage. I don't think Ino is going to be shell-shocked much longer." He pointed towards the blond girl that was being to tremble in fury. "I'd run before she lunges at you. She's going to rip either you balls off, or your clothes; either way, I don't want to see it."

"Sage like advice." Naruto said as he began to bound hurriedly into the village proper. "Nice meeting you Izumo-san! Ino-chan!" His jovial cry carried back to them over his shoulder.

"I'll kill you!" Ino lost it. "Get back here Uzumaki!"

Izumo just laughed some more.


One hour later;


Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously behind his golden strands of hair; their dead gaze taking in the sight of a distraught soul. What he had bore witness to that day could only be called an echo; a phantom made of the choices the man before him had made. To him – to Naruto – it resounded through eternity, a ripple in the pond of humanity. A wave of change that caused the downfall of nations and the rise in the passions of people.

What choice has he made here today?

What becomes of me? Where do we go from here?

The quickening of war?

The blood in the wave; a seductress shadowed by moonlight.

"You have your orders, Naruto." The blond man before him, Namikaze Minato, spoke with such a soft voice that Naruto wasn't sure he had even heard anything. "You have until next week to settle yourself within the village."

"Only a week, Chichi-ue?" Naruto asked, more than a little shocked at the hasty time frame set out by the Hokage. "Will that be enough time?"

"Regardless. I'm afraid we have use of some of your more – unique – talents out in the field. A week will have to be enough to get yourself rooted. You'll be given a modest sum to afford living quarters and whatever gear you may need." Tired blue eyes looked up from paperwork to take in the sight of the young man. Minato couldn't help but feel more than a little swell of pride within his being. His son had grown into a powerful shinobi in his own right; even if his future could be cut short at any moment.

"As you desire Chichi-ue." Naruto bowed slightly to the Hokage after rising to his feet. "Is there anything else you need of me at the moment?"

"Just..." Minato paused. What did he mean to say here? He hadn't spoken to his son in years, he barely felt himself a father even if he was proud of the boy; he barely felt as though he played his role. "No. It's nothing. You're free to go as you please."

"By your leave then, Hokage-sama. Chichi-ue." Turning away from the Hokage, Naruto began to leave the room, only to pause at the door hesitantly. "Haha-ue and Nabuki-chan, are they still in the village?"

"Yes, though you'll be hard pressed to find them if you went looking for them. Kushina is very good at hiding your sister away when she wants to." Minato spoke with a small chuckle at his wife's antics. "If you want to see them, just head to this location tomorrow." The older man quickly scribbled something on a small leaf of paper before flinging it to his son with a small burst of wind chakra.

"I'll..." It was Naruto's turn to pause for a moment here, the awkwardness of the conversation having caught up to him. "I'll see you later, Chichi-ue."

"Yeah." The Hokage let out a despondent sigh as his son closed the door to the office behind him. "I'll talk to you some other time, Naruto." He let his eyes linger on the large wooden doors for several moments before turning his attention back to the piles of paperwork before him.


Training Field #7;


Uchiha Sasuke was livid. To say he was anything less at this absurdity of this whole situation would be an example of litotes. Yesterday the Hokage, his superior officer and leader of Konohagakure, had insinuated that he purposefully killed – murdered – his teammate. His anger had the entire night to seeth; festering the the front of his conscious thoughts.

To question his loyalty in such a brazen manner. The nerve of that man. His family had been executed by the ANBU and his own brother before his very eyes for that very reason; their lack of loyalty to the village. Sasuke would never dare to show any signs of disloyalty to Konoha – if only to avoid that fate. He and his brother, Itachi, were the last loyal scions of the Uchiha family; and the last living.

Yet his brother hadn't shown himself in front of Sasuke in years, ever since the day of the execution. His last memory of Itachi is of the young man, his ANBU gear dripping in the blood of his kin; their kin.

To even consider that Sasuke would murder his best friend; his only friend. What point would that even serve?! They'd execute me before I even had the chance to consider using the Mangekyou Sharingan. It wasn't healthy, he knew that, but damned if it wasn't hard to dwell on this.

"Good morning Sasuke-teme." Sakura's voice called out through the clearing shaking Sasuke loose from his darkening thoughts. "I was sure I was going to be here before you this time."

"Hn." Great response, dumbass. "Better luck next time Haruno-san." Be polite, don't rise to her bait or sink to her level. Treat her with respect, that will do more to annoy her than if you were to respond in kind. "You should know by now that aside from that one time with Hideki, I'm always the first one here in the morning." Don't! Don't bring him up; it still hurts. It wasn't my fault. I didn't do it. He had his choice, he could have moved.

"Well..." Sakura chewed on her words as she narrowed her emerald eyes. "I see someone as least managed to eat his bowl of bitch-flakes this morning." Her tone was far too cheerful for the words that crawled from her mind.

"Now, now. There is no need for you to whip your dick out Haruno-san." Why? Why do I have to suffer this torment. "I'm aware that your," he paused to consider his words, "tool is larger than mine. No need to reaffirm your manhood."

"You. Are. Such. An ass Uchiha." Sakura's voice was laced with venom. If possible, her glare narrowed even further. "I can't believe they're making us try this again. We never showed any aptitude at the whole teamwork thing before, do they really think that we'll start now?"

"How the hell should I know?" You are the dumbest bitch that I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. "I don't even pretend to understand what runs through the minds of our esteemed leaders." God I want this to end; end it all before it can start up again.

"It's good to see that the two of you still get along so famously." Kakashi's voice drawled out as he slowly sauntered into the clearing. "Now, if you kiddies could be so kind as to hold your tongues for a moment I can let you know of the plans for the day."

I don't care what the plans for the day are! I just want this to end before it can begin. "Hn." Poignant.

"Now, now. No need to be so anti-social with me Sasuke-kun." Kakashi's eye crinkled in amusement at the site of the elite Uchiha withering in to himself. "As I was saying, we'll be waiting here for our new teammate to arrive."

"Do you know who it is Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked turning her attention away from the brooding Uchiha. "I forgot to ask the Hokage yesterday during the debriefing."

"No. No I do not." Kakashi responded, that hint of amusement still noticeable in his voice. "Sensei told me it would be a surprise; and I must say, I'm looking forward learning who it is myself."

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

"Well, let's hope that whomever it is isn't scared off by our bundle of joy here. Isn't that right Sasuke-teme?" Sarcasm and ridicule oozed through the sound of her voice.

Shut up and fuck me,"Sakura. Shut up." Too harsh, my voice was too harsh there. I should apologize – no! I will not. She deserves this. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you don't." She sung – sung – her response mockingly. "Maybe you aren't as smart as you think you are." She haughtily flipper her hair with her left hand dismissing him outright as she turned away from the boy and looked off into the distances. "Heads up. We've got incoming."

Off in the distance, the trio could just barely make out the form of a young – man? – walking towards them, almost teasingly slow. His – yes it was a he – was eerily similar to the taunting gait of a naked women leading a stuttering fool to the bedroom. As he got even closer, they could see his blond hair flowing in the breeze, trailing a good two feet off to his left side.

He wore a hakama, spring green in colour, with a pink and blue floral pattern at the base of the sleeves – both leg and arm sleeves – trimmed with crimson. He wore no visible weapons, but from the way he carried himself, the trio could tell that he felt confident in his ability to defend himself if such a need were to arise.

That's when they noticed he was close enough that they could make out the blood-red iris of his only visible eye; the other hidden by hair that remained untouched by the wind.

Eerie.

"Can you tell me," the boy's voice called out to the three of them, coming to a full stop ten feet away. "Can you tell me of the choices that brought you here today." His dulcet tones reverberating in the air.

To pursue a crush; her fleeting happiness.

In memory of fallen friends; to shoulder his burdens.

Fear of being left behind; a deep, burning regret.

"What an interesting question." Kakashi replied after a brief flash of – something. "Allow me to pose one of my own. What brings you to Konoha, Uzumaki-sama."

Sasuke's eyes flashed over to Kakashi in surprise. He knows this boy; and the way he refers to him. Respect. Something he usually reserves for the Hokage. Glancing back to the new arrival Sasuke couldn't help but feel confused.

"Ah Hatake-dono." The boy spoke, his voice still oddly melodious. "Chichi-ue requested I return after all these years. Apparently he has some use for me now; and the risk posed by my presence is negligible these days." That crimson eye locked on to Sasuke's own onyx eyes, tearing through his soul. "Though I must confess," he continued after a moment, "the risk is still there, it hasn't vanished completely."

Sasuke could practically see the emphasis on the word completely.

"I see." Kakashi's voice carried an edge of fear to it; it was subtle, but Sasuke could pick up on it. "That 'use of you' wouldn't happen to be our new teammate, would it?"

"Nothing of the sort Hatake-dono. I am simply to be sent somewhere and pointed in a direction. You can guess the rest."

Of course he can. His relief that this boy isn't going to be on our team is painfully obvious; even if he tries to hide it. Sasuke felt his body tense. If Kakashi wasn't completely comfortable around this boy, then he wouldn't be either. He would be ready to defend himself.

"Aren't you going to introduce us Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura spoke up for the first time in minutes. "It's rather rude of you not to."

"Forgive Hatake-dono little lady." The boy replied smoothly as he diverted his attention to the pink haired girl. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. Though you're more than welcome to simply call me Naruto."

Kakashi's breath hitched. Hitched!

"Uzumaki-sama, I must protest." The silver haired man's hands were at his side in worry. "It would be rude of either of my students to not call you as respectfully as possible." His single eye widened slightly.

"A compromise then, Hatake-dono. They may call me Naruto-sama if they wish. I will not force those of my age to cow to me for something they are not aware of." The boy, Naruto, his tone was no longer soft and enticing. It now carried a hard edge to it with a tone of authority that demanded to be obeyed. He spoke with the voice of the Hokage.

"If I may be so bold." No, no I may not. Shut up you idiot. "If you aren't to be on our team, then why are you bothering us today." Respect, respect him before he kills you. "Uzumaki-sama."

"You as well huh?" Naruto questioned to himself after Sasuke spoke. "Well no matter, I'm sure at least Ino-chan will treat me kindly while I'm here."

He knows Yamanaka-san? What is going on here?

"To answer your question, Uchiha-kun," he's mocking me, "I was told by Chichi-ue that if I desired to meet someone that I should wait for them here as they would no doubt be making an appearance some time this day." The smile on the blond's face was unnerving to say the least. "I'm sure you won't object to some company, ne?"

"We'll see..." Sasuke's voice trailed off in reply. I need to know what's going on here. Who will give me the answers?


Meanwhile;


Yamanaka Ino swore for the umpteenth time that morning as she wandered aimlessly through the market district. Izumo had teased her endlessly yesterday. For the duration of her shift as gate guard, the brunet assaulted her with question after question regarding the kiss she shared with Naruto. By the end of the day she was blushing so hard she was sure she was going to bruise.

Walking home that night she subconsciously placed her finger to her lips, as though trying to remember the exact taste of his lip. She had also lost count of the number of times she had sighed dreamily to herself before she pushed to the door to her parent's house open and stumbled in; still locked in the daze of imaginary romance.

To think that a kiss could have so much power over her. Even her mother had asked who the lucky boy was.

Oh, I'll show them lucky alright. Ino had thought to herself as she left the house that morning to begin her hunt of the blond boy. I'll show them so much lucky that no one will ever want to be lucky. Ever again.

So here she was, hours later and still with nothing to show for her work. The only person who may have any real idea of where he may be was the Hokage; and he certainly wouldn't be willing to meet with her just so that she could get her revenge.

First; he'll take me out to dinner, nothing cheap, but something fancy and expensive. Then; we'll go for a walk around the town until we get lost in a flurry of emotions. Next we'll... gah! Ino cut her thoughts off the moment she realized their nature. I can't afford to be thinking like that. He was just teasing me, I'm sure of it.

He'll learn to fear me soon enough.

"Hey beautiful." A rough voice pulled her from her thoughts. "What's got you so lost in thought."

Ino turned her head to the side, to the source of the voice; and she cursed. Inuzuka Kiba. "None of your business, mutt!"

"Why so hostile Blondie?" A look of hurt flashed across his face briefly. "I mean you no harm." The boy held his hands up at his side in a show of good will. "Just wondering what has your panties in a bunch."

"What does it matter to you? My business is just that; my business." She knew her voice was harsher than strictly necessary, but she couldn't help it. She was at her wits end. "I don't remember ever giving you permission to butt into my life like that."

"No?" He asked, almost mockingly. "What about that time we dated for a year. I'm pretty sure I was allowed to 'butt into' your life then." His voice carried a snappish tone. Flipping the hood of his sweater down, his wild brown mop of hair shuddered in the wind.

"We agreed that never happened, mutt." Her voice dripped with venom as her glare hardened. Her blue eyes narrowing in distaste. "Or at least, we agreed that I would castrate you with a rusty pen knife if you ever brought that back up in public."

Kiba winced at the threat, stumbling in his steps slightly before righting himself. "Well. I can see someone remember to eat her bitch-flakes this morning. Shall I leave you to your bleeding?"

"My bleeding?" Ino's voice carried a questioning tone as he stared quizzically at Kiba for a few moments. Once he lost control, and a feral grin spread across his face she snarled in disgust. "I'm not on my period you fuck." She spat out as she shook in rage. "You can fuck off now."

"Fine!" Kiba shouted as he turned around and began to walk away. "Do yourself a favour Ino. Go and get yourself a good fuck."

"What do you think I'm trying to do right now?" She shouted her question back to him before disappearing into the restaurant she found herself by in her wanderings. She laughed when she saw Kiba fall flat on his face from the corner of her eye.

"Welcome." The waitresses' chipper voice drew Ino's attention instantly. "How may I help you today."

"Do you know where there's a fuckable, blond teenage boy around my age around? He has one red and one purple eye and the tightest chest I've seen since Hyuuga Neji woke up drunk and naked in the gutter last year." She smiled at the blush that spread across the waitresses face; ignoring her own despite the feeling of warmth.

"Ah... no. Sorry."

Tch. "Too bad. If you see him; he's mine." Ino allowed the waitresses to lead her to a small booth to the side of the restaurant. "Though I may be tempted to share." The waitress left behind a menu and began to hurry away.

"Convince me." Ino mumbled to herself. "I don't want him..." Her voice dropped to a whisper.


Half a block and around the corner;


Two redheads casually walked through the village in the direction of the training grounds; the wind catching their crimson strands. Many, if not all, of the villagers they passed on their way waved to them; a gesture they returned with much vigour.

"Fine! Do yourself a favour Ino. Go and get yourself a good fuck." A voiced carried from the distance making both girls break out in small chuckles.

"What do you think I'm trying to do right now!" A feminine voice response causing both girls to break down in laughter in the middle of the street. It was absurd, talking about sex at those volumes so early in the day. Even Kushina, the older of the two girls, wasn't that crass.

"Mama." The young girl looked up the Kushina in confusion. "What does that mean? 'Go and find yourself a good fuck.'" Despite not knowing the question she was asking, the young girl managed a blush.

"Namikaze Nabiku!" Kushina's voice carried a tone harsher than she intended, and she winced a little at her own volume. "That is a question best saved for when you're a few years older still."

"How much older?" Nabiku answered, her voice laced with feigned innocence. "I'm mean, I'm not a virgin anymore. Hideki saw to that before..." Her voice trailed off. That wound was still too fresh for her liking.

"Nabiku!" Kushina was scandalized. "You're only fourteen. You shouldn't have even known what sex was for another year or two 'ttebane." Her face managed to turn the same shade as her hair. "We're done. No more talking about sex in public."

"Yes mama." Nabiku's shamed voice responded in a low tone. After a few moments of walking in silence, Nabuki spoke up once again. "Do you think we'll run into Naruto-nii?"

"Hmm." Kushina stopped to think for a moment. "That's right, Minato said that Naru-chan would be in town for the next week or so. Well, don't worry Nabiku. I'm sure he'll stop by and say hi sometime."

Kushina and Nabiku began to walk towards the training grounds again, both of them sporting a goofy grin at the thought of running into the estranged Uzumaki progeny again; Kushina for seeing her son again for the first time in years, and Nabiku for meeting her brother for the first time since she was three years old.

If the girls had their way, it would be a day to remember for a long, long time to come.

For all the wrong reasons.

Probably.


Training Field #7;


Naruto was having an impossibly hard time holding back his smile at the discomfort that his mere presences was putting Kakashi, and by extension his two students in. If he even so much as twitched it set Kakashi's danger senses off, and the man would ready himself for battle momentarily before remembering where he was, and what had set him off.

"You should probably relax, Hatake-dono." Naruto spoke, a drawl to his voice. "I hear stress can lead to premature greys." He cracked his purple eye open and peered at Kakashi. The man was clearly not amused with his little joke, but that pink haired girl…

"You look familiar." She spoke and Naruto was surprised. She didn't address him by name, not even with an honorific. She was acting just like he had requested, treating him as an equal. Though if that was simply through ignorance, or if it was just her natural disposition remained to be seen. "Eerily so."

"I've been told that I look very much like my father, though recent changes may prevent you from seeing it outright now."

"And I've met your father?"

"His father," Kakashi's voice clipped in, "is the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato." The clearing went quiet. Naruto seemed to pout, and Sakura and Sasuke were caught in a moment of shock.

Naruto saw his moment. Before the Uchiha could regain his composure, he suddenly found himself nose to nose with the fiery haired boy, one visible eye locked with Sasuke's own.

"Boo."

The Uchiha reacted purely on instinct. In an attempt to gain some distance from the other boy, Sasuke tipped himself backwards, placing his hands on the ground, and during his flip, kicked out at the blond. Naruto stopped Sasuke's right foot, and by extension, the Uchiha's retreat, with his left hand while sweeping his right foot out, clipping Sasuke's left wrist, knocking the other boys left arm

The Uchiha's back hit the ground with a thud, and a small cloud of dust was kicked up from the impact.

"I give you an F for readiness, Uchiha-san. You are going to be walked over by your new teammate if you can't even stop me from playing a small joke."

Sakura lost her composure and began to laugh out loud at Sasuke's predicament. "You just got your ass kicked, Sasuke-chan." She called out between laughs, gasping for air. When did he even move, though?

"You know who is going to take Hideki's spot on the team, don't you." Kakashi spoke up, his only visible eye showing the smile that his mask kept hidden. "Uzumaki-sama."

"I do. Though that would be telling if I ruined Chichi-ue's surprise. Let's just say, you'll be stepping lightly around them for quite some time if you're unable to stop little old me."

Sasuke stood up, looking at Naruto with a gaze full of anger, his hands moving in a flurry of seals. Before Kakashi and Sakura could react, the breathed out a massive ball of flames that would engulf Naruto in an instant.

Katon: Gokyaku no Jutsu!

The fireball moved quickly, covering the minor distance between the boys in less than a second, and as Sasuke lept back to escape the backlash of heat, the flames began to twirl.

"You know," Naruto began, his body still shrouded, hidden behind the flames, "if I was anyone else, you might have just killed me."

What was once a writhing mass of flame was now a single stream of flame that danced around Naruto at his command. His every move, from the twirl of his fingers, to the spinning of his wrist and the shuffling of his feet altered the way the fire danced around him.

"Lucky for me, my domain is fire. Lucky for you, it can't hurt me."

Moyasu no Hogo

"The question is, Sasuke-chan, can the same be said for you?" As Naruto leveled his gaze straight at Sasuke, his hand flew outward towards the raven haired youth and his mouth opened.

Hi no Kawa! His voice echoed out with duality, feminine and masculine. The flame rushed forward flowing over itself as water in a river; a torrent of heat and light surging with energy directed at Sasuke.

Bracing himself for the impact, Sasuke was confused when he felt neither the heat from the flames nor the force of the impact itself. Instead, when he opened his eyes to look around, he had noticed the last of the flames vanishing into the air at his sides.

Naruto just stood there, a vulpin smile on his face.

"On second thought, that'd be a bad idea. There is no way that you could have survived that."

Sasuke bristled at that. Given the boy's jab at Kakashi moments earlier, this was likely Naruto's idea of a prank. That didn't sit well with Sasuke, he was not accustomed to being pranked and thought it to be below his station.

"Do you know who I am?!" Sasuke shouted, his anger finally boiling over. "I am Uchiha Sasuke, the last scion of the Uchiha Clan!"

"The the youngest child of two, born to Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto. Shortly after your birth, your parents, and the elders of your clan began conspiring to depose the Yondaime Hokage through violent revolution.

"Your brother, Itachi, sided with Konoha rather than your family. He received his orders shortly before your seventh birthday, and one night when you were returning home you bore witness to the lawful execution of your family. They were put down."

The clearing was once again silent.

"You know this though. It took some time, mind you; for years you had thought that your brother had slaughtered your clan on a whim and it wasn't until after you graduated from the Academy that my father thought it was time you learned the truth.

And the truth, Sasuke, is grimmer than your fantasy. The truth is that your family sought to end Konoha as it was,to install themselves as the unlawful rulers over all. Your brother sacrificed himself so far as he could to put that path behind them, and his only price, the only thing that he asked in return for putting his family to the blade? All he had asked for was that you, Sasuke, be spared.

Out of all the other Uchiha, you were left alive. This isn't because you were weak, or that you were too young. You were spared because your life was the only thing that could possibly stem the tide of war at the time. Now? Now there is no longer any threat to the prosperity of Konoha as posed by the once might Uchiha Clan. Your family, save for your brother and yourself, are dead. You can't even stop me, so you remain weak. Your brother remains missing, branded a criminal by the council so that the general public never realise how close they came to being reigned over by what would have been tyranny.

All the while you, Sasuke, have been laboring under the delusion that the village is training you to kill your brother and avenge your clan. Want to know what the plan is? When the time comes, and the village finally feels you as ready, they'll contact your brother. He'll likely let you kill him, a form of atonement no doubt. But not before he pushes you, to see how far you've come, for both him and yourself. Then you'd return to Konoha labeled a hero. You'll take a wife or two and start producing little Uchiha babies.

And all the while the council will pray you never learn the truth. My father only told you part of it, I told you the rest. Well here it is, Sasuke. You know the truth. Now, what will you do?"

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Sasuke screamed, drawing his katana from its sheath, he began a slow, almost menacing walk towards Naruto, when a new voice called out and froze everyone in the clearing.

"Still winning over friends and foe alike with that smooth tone of voice you have, aren't you, Nii-sama?" Feminine tones called out as Naruto and Kakashi relaxed themselves.

"Hey there, Nabiku-chan. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" The blond turned to face the new voice. At far edge of the clearing, just within hearing range stood two red haired women.

Both of the women gave off the same air of casual dismissal and annoyance, holding themselves in eerily similar poses; arms crossed and right leg angled away from the body, foot tapping hastily.

Of the two of them, one stood nearly a foot taller than that other, with longer hair of a darker shade and chocolate eyes that swam with warmth at the site of the fiery haired male. A wistful smile played at her lips and she relaxed her stance. With a casual shrug and casting a lazy gaze at Kakashi, her attitude morphed as she gave the eldest male a playful wink and giggle.

The younger one, with red hair so light in colour that it bordered on pink, maintained her annoyance as her gaze leveled off into a glare at both of the teenage boys standing off to the side of the group, nearer to the surrounding forest than anyone else. She left off a small growl before stomping her way over to Sasuke and promptly slapping him in the face. Hard.

"I can't believe you, Sasuke-san!" Nabiku's voice came out in a shrill scream. "Falling to your anger and using an elemental release on my brother! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Off to the other side of the clearing, the older red-head strolled up to Kakashi and began to ruffle his hair affectionately.

"Little scarecrow feeling lost in the woods? Don't worry too much about it, I'm here to teach you how to dance to this particular tune." She said, her voice light and full of cheer.

"Kushina-sama." Kakashi replied with his usual lazy manner. "I see that motherhood hasn't really changed you at all. Though you are much better at containing yourself at social settings, you just fall right back into yourself the moment you are out of the public's eye, don't you?"

"Sticks and stone, Kakashi-chan, sticks and stones." Kushina sung. "You used to always insist that you were too old to have your teacher's girlfriend treat you like a child, even though you were barely in your teens. I'm just being that older sister figure that you never had."

"I never asked you to behave like that."

"Ouch. That hurt's you know." Her voice was dry, and full of sarcastic wit. "What ever is a girl to do? Her little brother doesn't like her, why can't he understand that all she wants is for him to be happy? Is that really too much to ask for?!" Kushina called out, raising her volume and changing to an overly dramatic drawl.

Kakashi didn't even bother with a verbal response. He simply gave the woman his best deadpan stare, and just sighed resignedly.

"It's nice to see you again, Kushina."

"Same to you, Kakashi-chan!" She replied with a decidedly vulpin smirk, the same one that Naruto had sported earlier.

"You must be Naruto's mother." Sakura spoke up once she overcame her surprise and shock. "My name is Sakura Haruno, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"She one of your's, Kakashi?" Kushina asked, not even turning to look at Sakura.

"She is one of my students, yes." He replied, pointedly looking at Sakura.

"Well then, that practically makes her family!" She had much more jubilance in her voice this time, and she turned her attention to the teenager in full for the first time. "Well aren't you just a beautiful young woman. No doubt you've already broken a few hearts by now."

"Well I-" Sakura started before she was cut off by Kushina.

"Just remember this piece of advice from Aunty Kushina, 'Never settle for less than what you need.', you are going to remember that. Aren't you?"

"I… um…"

"Come on girl, speak up. With all that beauty, you've got to have some wit about you or the boys will just walk all over you and leave you aching in all the wrong ways."

"That's… I… err?"

Kushina just held Sakura in a pitying gaze, sighing softly as she placed her hands on Sakura's shoulders, now standing front to front.

"Kakashi, what did you do to this poor girl? She's so awed by my sage like wisdom that she can't even bring herself to speak! If this is all it takes to render a Konoha shinobi witless, I fear for our future military endeavors."

"I don't think that it was something I've done, Kushina… more of…" Kakashi spoke evenly, though with a hint of trepidation in his voice.

"Well spit it out, Kakashi-chan! I don't have all day for you to form a coherent thought!"

"Well… You may have scared the girl a bit."

"Me? Scared the girl? That's impossible, there's nothing scary about me at all!"

"You are coming off rather strongly at the moment."

"I am?" Kushina's voice oozed bafflement. "Am I?" She turned her head to look at the young girl again, her question held no sincerity.

"Like a sugar-high Akimichi boy in a candy store." Sakura responded after taking a moment to collect herself.

"Of course I am girl, that was a rhetorical question. I prefer to scare away those with no spine before I have a chance to come to hate them. I like my friends with fire!"

"Friends?"

"Of course! You're a student of Kakashi, and that means you're as close to family as you can get right now. Although…."

"I'm close to being family?" Sakura's confusion echoed out in the clearing.

"That's right. But you could be so much more than almost family, you could be family."

"Thank you?"

"And all you'd have to do is marry my son."

"That's ni-wait, what?"

"Think about Sakura! You'd be marrying into wealth, power and politics!"

"Is she… is she always like this, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Sadly, yes." He responded without a moments hesitation.

"So?" Kushina eagerly asked.

"So, what?" Sakura asked back, more malice in her tone than she intended.

"Are you going to marry my son or not?"

"I'm going to say no, no I won't marry your son."

"Why the hell not?!"

"Get your hands off of my, you pervert!" Nabiku's voice shouted out, drowning out Kushina's question. Kakashi, Kushina and Sakura all turned their heads almost robotically to the young girl and her outburst, their eyes washing over the scene only ten feet away.

Naruto sat, cross-legged and with his back against the tree, with his head tipped forward as he failed to contain his laughter. As the sounds of his mirth called out, Sasuke was on his knees and face with his hands cupped over his pelvic area whimpering in pain.

Nabiku was the only one left upright, a look of absolute fury and disgust painted across her face. Her left leg was still raised in the kick that had struck Sasuke right in the crotch as she cried out in frustration.

"Why do all boys have to be so gross?"

"What's wrong dear?" Kushina asked, no real trace of concern in her voice.

"Pretty boy thought it'd be a good idea to place his hands on me. I taught him otherwise."

"He touched you did he?" Kushina's asked with little emotion in her tone.

"Well… He more of caught me by the wrist when I attempted to slap him again."

"Why did you try to slap Sasuke-chan?" Sakura asked confused.

"He implied that Nii-san is weak."

At her pronouncement, Naruto, who had just started struggling to get back to his feet, doubled over again, wheezing out laugh after laugh until he began coughing violently. Sasuke, in the meanwhile, had fallen over on to his side and started to shake in his whimpering.

"Sakura, Sasuke, Kakashi," Kushina spoke, her tone filled with limitless humor. "Allow me to introduce to you, the newest member of Squad Seven, and your newest teammate. Namikaze Nabiku."


END [Revised and Merged] CHAPTER ONE!


So, a bit of an explanation here. For those that are annoyed that you had to read some [if not most] of this again before coming across any new content; I decided that, instead of having more frequent updates, and splitting each chapter up into bit sized nuggets, I would simply upload one [larger] update at more infrequent times to suit the flow of my creativity.

It usually comes in rather large bursts, wherein I can pump out hundreds of pages of content within a matter of days [my record was 87 pages in a day], but comes in such short frequency that it usually only happens once or twice a year. But the good news is, that now that I have net access again, and I can access all of my rough drafts that I have saved onto my cloud [and that is the only place I have had them for a while now] I can actually revise all of that data and actually get it out to you guys. There should be a small burst [over a couple of weeks] of updates for my various stories, but following that, there probably won't be an update again until the next stirrings of creativity.