Hello readers and welcome to the first chapter of Discovering Sunny Skies! So, this is the start of a project that I've been working on quite a bit for the last few weeks. Not everything is planned, but most of it is. Anways, I own neither the Naruto Franchise or the Katekyo Hitman Reborn Series. If I did, well, a lot of stuff would have been different. But onwards!

Chapter 1: Obscure Skies

Italian springs were the hardest seasons for Timoteo, for the man always wanted to be elsewhere. The large office was silent as Nono slowly worked through the hours upon hours of paperwork stacked on his old mahogany desk. The man's old hand shook from such extensive use. With a sigh of defeat, he read over yet another invitation to some gaudy celebration. There were times like this when he would want to simply pass all of this to his heir and enjoy the last decade or so he had to just relax. But, that was where his most persistent issue took root. Timoteo was without an heir.

Now, it wasn't the fact that no one wanted to take the position- no, it was quite the opposite. Too many people were interested in taking his place, and very few had the right credentials to lead this famiglia right.

His meandering thoughts went to his deceased children. All of which had been slaughtered in his youngest son's pursuit for the title. The elderly man's face hardened at the thought. If things had been simpler, maybe Xanxus would have been Decimo. However, the Vongola rings had rejected him time and time again. And, despite all of that, the boy still struggled and clawed his way up even with the knowledge that he would never become Decimo. It pained him to think about his son. For pride mixed with disgust all too often when his youngest adopted son came to mind.

But, alas he could deal with his heartbreak later. He felt a presence in the room, one he had grown accustomed to years before. Standing, Nono gazed at the man who slipped into the room. The lanky man strode into the room confidently, nodding to Nono as he stood before his desk in expectation.

"Ciao, Reborn" The elderly man smiled as he slowly sank back into the soft leather chair. "I take that you have considered my request."

"Yes, Nono." Reborn took the seat in front of his desk nonchalantly, even folding his legs as he leaned back in the chair. The folder in his hands looking pristine as the day he received it. "You want me to fashion Iemitsu's son into your next heir."

Timoteo nodded. "Yes, I do." Old eyes searched over the younger man in mild curiosity. Timoteo was certain that Reborn would refuse, even when he had looked over the reports the first time he almost instantaneously wrote the boy off. The old man only hoped that he wouldn't have to resort to his backup plan. "I understand that you have doubts however, just try to imagine what he could become-"

"I'll do it, Nono." The man stared at him for a long moment. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the small smirk pull at the hitman's lips.

"Good." Timoteo leaned back in his leather chair with a calming sigh. "You could have let me finish. You know I don't like being interrupted." He sighed again, "Tell me, what do you think of the boy?"

Reborn politely inclined his head before his expression mellowed out. The hitman's posture became straighter as onyx met brown calmly. "The boy is pathetic. If these reports are anything to go by... then the child will not last. He will be dead before Xanxus ever reached him."

Timoteo sighed softly as his eyes darkened, self-doubt clearly shining behind his brown irises. "It will take a long time to fashion him into anything akin to a mafia boss... However, it is not impossible. I will make him into a leader capable of making this famiglia great."

The corners of his lips quirked up slightly as Reborn adjusted the yellow banded fedora on his head. Timoteo almost felt sorry for the boy, if he didn't have another matter on his mind.

And, with a low hum another pair suddenly appeared in his spacious office. An amused smirk pulled at his lips as he watched Reborn tense in confusion before recognition came over his tense frame, relaxing his contracting muscles.

Turning, the old man looked up into two expressionless masks. The grey armor sitting upon their kevlar body suits was foreign to him, such armor appeared too thin to be protective. However, he had yet to see them return with damaged armor.

The two faceless figures stood tall before him, as if a string had been pulled on their spines. Even in his old age he felt himself straightening in their presence. Their arms remained at their sides, but one could still see their muscles tense; as if an attack could happen at any moment. It was pity that even his most seasoned family members lacked the alertness that these two young unaffiliated youths possessed.

"Ah, Kitsune, Shika." Timoteo smiled, "We've been expecting you."

Kurama stifled a yawn as he looked about his host's current containing arrangements. They were different since the last time he saw them, but then again, he had been slumbering for the last... six years? So, he really wasn't one to talk. But, looking around they were an improvement to what he had years prior.

The cold hard cement he once laid upon was replaced with an endless plane of soft green grass. The stone bars that had locked him into a confined space were ditched instead of the large red gates that sat at each of the directional poles as beautiful sakura trees lined the large areas in between. A calm, gentle breeze combed through his fur softly which was definitely an improvement to the old constant stench of sulfur that he had once been stuck smelling. And finally, the sky above him glowed a soft blue, it was a nice addition. The Kyuubi preferred it over the tall cement ceilings and cramped spaces.

However, something was missing. He couldn't quite put his paw on what it was, but he knew that something was off. He just needed to figure out what.

Lifting his head up, he listened to soft sounds of his host breathing. Kurama considered waiting until she came to him. But, they both knew he wasn't one to wait for such things. So, he summoned the girl, he dragged her consciousness to the patch of grass inches before him.

The fox howled in laughter as his container looked almost startled to be suddenly before him. The Kyuubi tilted his head as he looked the woman over. Naru was thinner, taller, her face had filled itself out well compared to the rounded cheeks she possessed as a little girl. Her form lacked the flashy orange jacket, instead she stood before him in civilian clothes..

"Kurama, you've woken up-"

"Did you get married?"

"What?!"

"You're wearing civilian clothes! Why would you be standing before me in civilian clothes if you aren't married-?"

"There is no point in wearing them anymore." Kyuubi's eyes narrowed, watching as his host's light blue eyes grew cloudy.

"The Earthlands are no more. The- The war took everything... it took everyone." The tears began to roll down her cheeks as her eyes became blank. "Six years ago... There were only three of us left-"

"I know" The fox spoke softly, his head lowering to Naru's level as the woman gently touched his nuzzle. "But, what happened after that? My memory is still hazy from sleep."

Kyuubi tried to ignore the sting in his chest as the blonde's face scrunched up, causing the tears to continue rolling down her cheeks. "Lee died soon after Madara was defeated. After that it was just the two of us... We had nowhere else to go. I was prepared to die, when-"

Kurama sided as he looked at the kunoichi long and hard. His tail flicked occasionally before he sighed. "When I offered up that dimension transfer jutsu."

The girl nodded as her grip on his fur tightened. "W-We came here. Here, as in 'Earth'. With Seven Continents, and ninjas were just a figment of a time that no longer exists."

"Then, why do you have that ANBU mask sealed to your hip?"

Naru looked down as she fiddled with her fingers, "We use them during a part time... job of sorts."

Kyuubi narrowed his eyes, "What is your main job?"

"I'm a teacher. Shikamaru is too-" Naru jumped when Kyuubi's boisterously obnoxious laugh filled the air as the fox hit his fist against the grass. Naru felt her cheeks heat as she glared at the fox "S-SHUT UP!"

Kyuubi's laughter would continue on for the next ten minutes. When the large fox finally calmed down he wiped a tear from his eyes as he grinned, ear to ear. "Who'd you have to kill to get that position?"

"YOU DAMN FOX-" Kyuubi howled a new as another fit of laugh wracked his frame. It was good to see that even in this new world, Naru was still his kit.

Light poured into the apartment in small delicate rays of yellow. Namimori was always his favorite city to wake up in. A gentle breeze caressed Shikamaru's cheek as he leaned against the pale counter. A small scroll sat in his calloused hands, unrolled as the contents stared up at him in black hurried ink.

"Sasuke Uchiha has been engaged, a scrimmage occurred. One medical nin has been mortally wounded. Find the target and dispose of him. Recover the medical nin's body if able." The Nara allowed his eyes to ghost over the hokage's seal before he rolled up the scroll with a low sigh. It had been years since he felt anything whilst gazing upon the beaten parchment. It had been the last mission he received from his village.

As morbid as it sounded, the man had already said his goodbyes on the battlefield six years ago. The Nara bid his village and everything that their ninja code stood for his final words as he dragged a sobbing Naru away from the steaming rubble. There was nothing left of Konoha or the other villages for that matter. The war against Madara had been won, but at what cost? With nearly every resource either wasted or too damaged to consider repair, those few who survived had to move on or die of grief.

Shikamaru refused to just die. He had seen too many friends do so; held too many limp forms in his grasp to just give up. So, he continued onward, dragging Naru Uzumaki-Namikaze along every single step of the way. It was ironic when Shikamaru thought about it. Naru had lost the will to live, yet he had not. He held Choji in his arms, comforted him until he finally choked on the remaining blood in his system... Yet, he was able to get up and continue fighting the war. Had it been 6 years prior to the war, he would have just walked away. He would have done exactly what Naru did: his system would become stone, his blood cold like ice freezing its way from the inside out. To be honest, he was surprised that hadn't happened. But, maybe by then, the cynical side of his mind hissed, he had gotten used to it. Shikamaru snorted. One couldn't just get used to losing a friend, it's humanly impossible.

But, something in him had shut down; something he was unable to grasp through blood stained fingers. Whatever it was, Shikamaru preferred that it stayed obnubilate. He might not be happy with his current life, but he for now he was content. And that was enough for now.

With a sigh of long suffering he sealed the scroll onto his neck. He needed to remember to thank Naru for teaching him how to place containment seals on one's body. But, that was a matter for another time.

Shikamaru looked up as he heard a door close, he listened for footsteps, but they suddenly stopped. Quirking an eyebrow Shikamaru slinked his way out of the kitchen and into the hall before he reached Naru's bedroom. The shinobi pressed his ear to the door, he heard nothing but the soft sounds of Naru's breathing. The dark brunette made a face. Naru had fallen asleep, again. With a growl, Shikamaru swung the door open; only to run into a blank faced Naru standing in the doorway. Shika jumped in fright as he ushered a curse until he realized that Naru wasn't responding. In alarm he grasped her shoulders. Nothing, then he proceeded to pat her face to see if she would respond to that; still nothing. As the bile rose in his throat he began to shake the woman, but his fellow ninja still remained in a daze. Stifling a side of worry he dragged his friend to the bed, laying her down on the bed with the utmost care.

Suddenly, he felt the phone in his pocket vibrate, meaning he was late. Or rather that they were both late. His tongue clicked in annoyance as he looked back at Naru's seemingly peaceful face. Shika couldn't just leave her there, for fear of some medical ailment. However, Shikamaru couldn't afford to miss another day of work, especially not after having to miss two days for their "trip" to Italy.

The two misplaced nin had only been teaching at Namimori for 3 years, and he wanted to make sure that this school year did not end like the last one.

Meaning he would not miss a day almost every other week. So, with a strangled growl he turned away from Naru. He would have to hurry. If he took the roofs at full speed he could probably make it to the school before any of the louder students or teachers arrived or even noticed his actions.

Shikamaru only hoped that Naru would awaken before he returned.

And Scene! I hoped you liked the first chapter and hopefully you'll stick around to continue reading. I understand that certain things are rather vague, but they will be explained in later chapters. So, please be patient!

Also, if there is anything that comes across as weird, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Anyways, please review, favorite or follow! Or do all three! Reviews, follows and favorites motivate writers, so if you like what you've seen so far make sure to show your support!