Well, I said to look for this first chapter by the end of May, and here it is the First of June. (Shrugs) I suppose those of you who know me already will not be surprised that my time-estimating skill is still batting a big fat zero. Oh well.

Now then, IMPORTANT NOTE for you new readers: this story takes place after my other fic, Trial by Leaves, which itself takes place after my two oneshots, Years of Blindness and My One and Only Star. You don't have to read those stories first to enjoy this one, but Trial was written specifically to set up Full Circle, so... (shrugs) You can get to them through my profile, if you want.

Oh yeah, Disclaimer: What? Me own Naruto? That's preposterous --next you'll be suggesting the world is ROUND! ...wait... o.O

That everything? Good. Let's begin. Enjoy!

The rays of the morning sun danced across the vast expanse of trees sprawling out toward the horizon. Vibrant reds, earthy browns, and green-tinted blues stood out among the forest at the base of the mountain; the Village Hidden in the Leaves, painted with a serene light. Sitting upon the mountain's crest was Naruto Uzumaki, Sixth Hokage, a smile on his face and the sunrise at his back.

He sat alone on the carved head of the Fourth Hokage, his father. Naruto supposed he could choose to perch atop his own image, but he decided he liked the view better where he was. On some mornings Konohamaru would join him, standing atop the Third's grand head, but today Naruto enjoyed his silent vigil by himself.

As he watched over his home, a gust of wind carried the sound of countless stirring leaves up to him, as if the whole forest sighed in contentment. Naruto found himself echoing the sentiment. In the tower below him waited the duties of his office, the routine and the rigmarole of being a responsible leader, but that was later, that was the future; for now he allowed himself a moment of peace, watching a day full of promise begin.

Naruto took one step into his office, took one look around--

"There you are, sensei!"

--and grimaced. He threw a glance over his shoulder at the clock over the door. "Udon," he sighed, "have you been here over night?"

His logistics officer poked his bespectacled face over the clutter of reports, graphs and books piled high at his desk, looking all too much like a gopher peeking out of his burrow. "No, sensei. I came in at 5:02 this morning," Udon replied before dipping out of view again. "There's just so much to get done today! I've almost finished balancing the accounts in preparation for the trade convoys, and then of course there's the audit of the treasury to complete, the ANBU rosters to arrange, the Academy supplies to supplement, the public maintenance budget to finalize…" A hand appeared groping at the top of one of the columns of paper. It dislodged a precarious book and deftly caught it before it fell. Before retreating into the nest of numbers the hand used the book to gesture toward the center of the office. "I need your signature on the recent completed mission summaries before I can approve funds transfer. The annual individual shinobi evaluations have come in, too; I left them on your desk for your review. Oh, and then there's…"

Udon kept speaking but the Hokage let his voice fade out as he looked again where his desk should be and saw an amalgamation that was more paper than wood. Naruto breathed a long sigh, silently grateful that at least the desk was built thick and sturdy enough to support the weight.

His eyes slid past the waiting paperwork and he suppressed a smirk. "Well, better get started, I guess…" He strode forward, but when he drew even with his chair he turned suddenly and hopped up on the windowsill. "…in an hour or three."

There was a thump and an avalanche behind him. "W-what?! But-but-but sensei! We have so much to do!"

Naruto spun as he hopped out onto the small ledge outside the window. His eye twinkled as he called, "Have to make my rounds first, Udon. See ya!"

The clumsy scrambling sounds fell away as Naruto dropped. A moment later he landed on the roof of the first-story lobby, very pleased with himself. "Okay," he began, half-turning to his right, "what should I know about?"

"Good morning to you too," quipped Shikamaru Nara, lounging nonchalantly against the tower wall.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "So sorry. 'How are you?' Now what have you got?"

The lazy man flashed a smirk, then shrugged. "Not much today. Patrols spotted another dozen or so separate shinobi near the Village, and at least as many foreign agents have been ID'ed here in town."

Naruto nodded; that was not unexpected. It wasn't that long ago that he had officially taken his place as the Sixth Hokage. Before retiring the Old Lady had warned him that the other Villages would be paying close attention to the Leaf for a while --assessing the new leader's strength and temperament. It would be the same for any of the other leading Villages. Speaking of which… "How are things in the Land of Earth?"

Shikamaru's expression soured a little. "Getting more troublesome all the time. We know there's some internal power struggle going on in their Village, but we can't get much more than that. Those Stone ninja may be ready to tear each other apart, but they're determined to do it in private --our scouts can't get near the place, and even communications with their daimyo have broken down big time. We've gotten in touch with the Kazekage but the Sand folks aren't doing any better." He breathed a long sigh. "It's a drag, but all we've got to go on is what Shino came back with yesterday --the source of a lot of the stink being raised is our old pal Bateo Ryosai."

"Ryosai…" Naruto knew the name, of course. The Ryosai clan was a prominent and powerful family in the Stone Village, not unlike the Hyuuga or the late Uchiha for the Leaf. Bateo was widely credited as the best shinobi fielded by the clan, and the likeliest candidate for the next Tsuchikage --a considerable testament to his skill, since he was still in his mid-teens. Initial reports had depicted him as a good, honest shinobi, dedicated and loyal to his Village. Recently, however… "…Keep trying to gather information, but tell our spies not to try anything crazy --we don't need to know bad enough to risk lives yet." Naruto turned and approached the edge of the roof. "As for our 'guests', keep a close eye on them. Drop the hammer on them if they try anything funny, but otherwise keep your distance and let them see what they came to see."

Behind him, Shikamaru twitched his shoulders in a shrug. "Got it. I'll let ANBU know right away." He yawned, staying right where he was.

The Hokage grinned and dropped to street level, jogging the first few steps and slowing to a brisk walk. Shikamaru was just as apparently lazy as always, but Naruto knew his tactical advisor would get things done with his customary efficiency. He was sure some of the Council members would prefer a harsher stance with the spies, too, but he also knew the difference between displaying strength and hostility.

He shook his head and put the issue aside as he headed into the shopping district; the area ought to be coming alive right about now.

"Good morning, Lord Hokage!"

"Hail, Sixth!"

"You're looking well, sir."

"Pleasant day, isn't it Lord Uzumaki?"

The sun well on its way upward, Naruto traded smiles and cheery salutations with shinobi and villagers alike as he strode down the busy streets. Not every face was overly pleased to see him; a few grunted a curt acknowledgement or merely huffed! before returning to their business. Naruto didn't let these sour greetings bother him, however; it had been a long uphill road, but he contented himself with the fact that he was making progress. After all, expressions of open hate had disappeared years ago.

He was looking through the window of a jewelry store and contemplating picking something out when a very familiar voice rang out with a very different greeting:

"Daddy!"

A joyful smile lighting up his face like a flame, Naruto turned, glided three steps and plucked the approaching toddler out of her run. He twirled her once as he tossed her up in the air. Hizumi Uzumaki squealed in delight, short little limbs flailing and spiky midnight-blue hair floating as if in water. The wild excitement in her pearly eyes made her father laugh out loud, and a moment later when he caught her in a hug her bubbly giggle joined his laughter.

Naruto pulled back far enough to rub the tips of their noses. "Hey there, Princess!" She made a happy noise and kissed his cheek. He chuckled, then glanced around and quirked an eyebrow. "Where's your mother, Zumi? You're not wandering around by yourself, are you?"

Hizumi shook her head vigorously, whipping her bangs around. "Nuh-uh!"

Before she could say anything further he caught sight of her escort. "Sai? What are you doing babysitting Zumi? I thought Hinata was taking her today."

In full ANBU combat garb, his mask hanging down around his neck, Naruto's old teammate approached and stood at rigid attention. "I accompanied Lady Uzumaki and your daughter on their errands this morning. No erroneous activity. Approximately twenty minutes ago, the Lady instructed me to convey that she would meet you at your 'secret place', and assigned me to guard Hizumi until the two of you return."

Naruto gave him a skeptical look. "And was my wife aware you have a Black Ops mission today?"

"The matter did not come up," said Sai evasively. The corners of his eyes softened --only a little, but noticeable-- and Naruto realized that he was looking at Hizumi, who was happily playing with her hair. "It was no imposition. I still have time to prepare."

"Uh-huh. Sai, you leave in--" Naruto glanced at the clock in a nearby window "--an hour. I appreciate your help, but you need to get moving. I'll figure something out for Zumi, just don't keep your team waiting."

Sai gave him a crisp nod. "Understood." He leapt up to the rooftops and vanished.

At the sudden motion, Hizumi squirmed in Naruto's arms and craned her neck to look around. Her face scrunched up adorably, she turned a confused look on him and asked, "Daddy, where Uncle Sai go?"

He kissed her forehead. "He had a mission to go to, sweetie." Satisfied, she caught sight of the jewelry store and was promptly absorbed with the pretty things in the window. Smiling, he brought her closer so she could press her face and hands against the glass. Now, what to do with you, little one… If he was going to meet Hinata at their secret place he couldn't take Hizumi with him --by his own order she was not to leave the Village gates without at least three shinobi escorting her.

He was just settling on dropping her off with the servants back at the clan house when a chorus of excited children's voices interrupted his thoughts. He barely had time to turn before he was mobbed by a crowd of eager young kids around the age of five or six --first-year Academy students on a field trip.

Naruto found he had to laugh as every face tried to get his attention and all their hyper little voices competed so that he couldn't understand a word. Eventually, though, someone said the words 'Fire Cape' and that immediately captured the kids' attention; "Oh yeah, show us that trick!" and "Yeah, show us again, Fire Cape!" and "Please, Fire Cape, pleeeease?"

Unprepared for the barrage of puppy-dog eyes, Naruto chuckled "Okay, okay," raising a cheer from his young fan club. "Up you go, Princess."

"Whee!" squealed Hizumi as he shifted her up onto his shoulders. His hands now free, Naruto assumed a focus position. Welling up chakra in his body, he sent it sliding down the length of his coat. It was a long white coat with flames rendered at his feet, nearly identical to the one his father used to wear; when the chakra reached the flames it activated the genjutsu-producing threads Hinata had woven into the fabric. Seeming to glow with its own light, the design came alive for the children in a captivating dance of fluid reds and golds, accompanied by a general murmur of wonder.

A moment later when he released the illusion, at least a couple voices cried, "Again, again!" among the confessions of crushes from the girls and declarations of idol-worship from the boys, all to a disjointed chant of "Fire Cape, Fire Cape!"

Up on his shoulders, Naruto felt Hizumi grab a big fist-full of his hair and pat his head a little harder than she meant to. "He's my Daddy!" she proclaimed jealously, and he could picture her pouting face glaring down at the other kids.

Their sensei, a petite, dark-haired young woman who had been waiting patiently nearby, stepped forward. Trying hard to keep an even face, she said, "I'm sorry for the intrusion, sir, but" --She lost her grip on her professionalism and her grin slipped through-- "as soon as they saw the Lord Kage they just had to come and see you."

He shook his head. "Nah, no problem. It's my pleasure."

Her smile widened and she gave a hasty bow. "I know you're a busy man, so I'll get them out of your way now." Her words prompted a group groan.

Putting on a big, warm smile, Naruto knelt down. "Hey, you know I'd love to play with you all," he said soothingly, "and maybe I can later, but now it's time to listen to your sensei, okay?"

The class mumbled their collective assent and he straightened, eliciting another gleeful noise from his temporary hair ornament. As the teacher started to herd her charges away he had an idea and gestured for her to stop. "Hey, you're heading back to the Academy, aren't you?" The woman nodded, looking curious. Naruto reached up and pulled Hizumi from his shoulders. "Could I ask you to take my daughter along?"

The woman brightened and said, "Certainly," but Hizumi looked heartbroken and clung to his coat. "Noooooo, Daaaaaaaddyyyy!" she whined, burying her face.

The Hokage rolled his eyes and patted her head. "Hey, you know what, Zumi?" he began patiently. "It'll be noontime soon. That means your big brother will have a break from class."

Her face popped up instantly. "Really?!"

Her cute little pearly whites had gone from waterworks to twinkling excitement so fast Naruto had to chuckle. "Yeah," he said, "and I'm sure he'd love to eat lunch with you. Mommy will pick you up afterward, and if you were good for the teachers you can come play in my office, okay?"

"O-kay!" she burbled cheerfully. He handed her over to the teacher and she easily settled in on the woman's shoulder.

"Her brother's in Iruka-sensei's third-year class," he instructed. "Sorry for the inconvenience."

"It's my pleasure, sir," she responded coyly. Then she inclined her head respectfully and departed, her class falling into line behind her.

"See you later, Princess!" he called after his daughter.

"Bye-bye Daddy, I love you!" The other kids yelled back their own goodbyes as well.

The Hokage grinned, turned to his right, thought for only a moment longer, and headed into the jewelry store. After all, if he was going to spoil his daughter it was only fair that he spoiled her mother, right?

On his way to the northern gates, Naruto was strolling down a quiet lane when suddenly a short blond blur came flying around a corner and slammed into him. Naruto himself barely rocked on his heels, but the other body rebounded and landed solidly on the ground.

"Guh! Ow…" The boy grimaced, rubbing his sore backside. "Hey! Why don't you watch where you're going, you big jerk!" he griped.

The Hokage crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Funny. That's kind of like what I was thinking."

The younger blond did a double-take and paled. "D-Dad?!"

"Only my thought was more like, 'what are you doing here when you should be in school?' --Again."

"Ah, well, um…" Stammering nervously, Keidyan Uzumaki stood, brushed off his seat, and wiped his nose on his sleeve. His pants and jacket had begun the day blue with black and orange patches, but now dirt smudges and grass stains obscured much of the color. Twigs and leaves of some bush or hedge were tangled in his wild blond hair, and he'd been sweating long before bumping into exactly the wrong person. His pearly eyes twitched back and forth and he bit his lip as he always did unwittingly when he was making up a story.

"…Stink bombs," he said finally. He almost grimaced at his choice, but he tried to muster enthusiasm. "Yeah, somebody put a whole bunch of stink bombs in a piñata and pranked the whole Academy with it! The smell was so bad the teachers put on masks and a couple kids passed out and class let out and… and I… I was…" His father's stern, motionless stare made him waver. He bit his lip again. "Actually… it's… lunchtime, and I told Iruka-sensei I wanted to eat ramen with my Dad! 'Cuz my Dad is the coolest dad in the whole Village --in the whole world!"

Naruto snorted but couldn't resist smirking. "Nice try, you little suck-up, but I saw the time less than ten minutes ago. Your lunch break isn't for half an hour yet at least." Keidyan wilted at these words. The older blond sighed, uncrossed his arms and softened his expression. "Come on, Kei, tell me what really happened."

Keidyan drooped his head and fidgeted. Naruto said nothing and waited. Eventually his son took a deep breath, and exploded: "It's just not fair! The lessons are dumb and the questions are hard and Iruka-sensei always calls on me and I just --I just --ugh!"

"Hey, hey now…" Naruto knelt down and squeezed the boy's shoulder gently. "I understand. I know school is hard --believe it. I've been there too. It's okay. Just tell me what happened today, alright?"

Keidyan wouldn't meet his eye, but he nodded slowly. "…Sensei called me to the front of the class again. I used… 'a trick' to get out of the room. Iruka-sensei an' the guest speaker chased me in the streets, but I used my Byakugan to get away. I hid in the…"

Naruto was going to ask about the guest speaker, but the point about the Byakugan captured his attention. As Keidyan continued his story he started making wild motions with his hands and more importantly quit drooping his head. Naruto half-listened, but focused on his son's eyes. …No change; they still looked just like a Hyuuga's. A familiar frustration arose, but he managed to keep it from his face. Naruto's father-in-law had managed to prevent the Hyuuga from placing the Caged Bird Seal on Hinata and their children on the condition that a new bloodline trait, a new kekke-genkai, would emerge. So far, however, it appeared that Keidyan and Hizumi had merely inherited their mother's eyes, and Hiashi was beginning to catch a lot of heat for it; most of his clan had been extremely displeased with his bargain in the first place.

Keidyan was just wrapping up with their recent encounter when a new voice rang out: "A-ha! I have found you, Uzumaki!"

The older quickly rose to his feet, senses alert. The younger merely groaned. When a familiar-looking bowl cut came jogging into view around the corner, however, Naruto let himself go slack. "Lee?"

Rock Lee jerked to a stop, surprise evident on his face as well. "Naruto? I did not expect to see you here!"

The Hokage snorted. "That makes two of us." Then he frowned. "Wait, didn't expect me? What do you want then?"

"Iruka-sensei asked for my assistance detaining a certain rambunctious escapee." He pointed at Keidyan, who was peering out from behind his father's legs just far enough to smile weakly.

Naruto put his hand on the boy's head. "Oh, I see. You were the guest speaker, huh?" His frown deepened. "Hang on. We're a good long way from the Academy, Lee. How exactly did my seven-year-old son manage to get away from you?"

Lee hesitated, then clapped his hand on the other man's shoulder and pulled him into a huddle a few steps away. He spoke conspiratorially, as if what he had to say was top secret. "As you know, with the eyes that he possesses Keidyan is one slippery young shinobi already."

The Hokage nodded. "Speaking of which…" He raised his voice and turned his head a fraction of a degree. "Don't even think about it, Kei! You've never beaten me at hide-and-seek." A noise of disgust sounded over their shoulders followed by a small thump as Keidyan dropped off the fence. Naruto motioned for Lee to continue.

"Of course, with my superior speed and experience I was easily able to catch up with him almost immediately. But then! I lowered my guard at a crucial moment and allowed myself to be taken in by one of your favorite taijutsu techniques and temporarily incapacitated!"

"Incapacitated! By taijutsu? You?" exclaimed Naruto aloud. He threw a shocked look back at his son; what technique could the boy have possibly imitated to best Bushy Brows? Guessing what they were talking about, Keidyan sheepishly clasped his hands together and pantomimed a jabbing motion with the first two fingers of each hand extended.

Naruto tilted his head in confusion. At the moment realization struck him he nearly burst out laughing, but didn't because the idea was just too absurd. As it was, he turned a barely controlled expression of sheer amusement on the other ninja. "That jutsu. You're telling me that you fell for the--"

"Yes!" shouted Lee, breaking the huddle. "It is my shame to admit that I, Rock Lee, Handsome Devil of the Hidden Leaf Village, was defeated by the Secret Finger Jutsu: Thousand Years of Pain once again!" He raised a trembling fist up at the sun, and fire blazed in his eyes. "This was the third such occurrence, so I will make it my solemn promise that there will not be a fourth!" He whirled on Naruto and leveled a pointing finger. "Fortune dictated that we should meet here today! As my eternal rival, you are aware that it is my turn to challenge you to a contest of my choice."

Naruto put a hand to his face tiredly. "Ugh… Lee, now?"

The taijutsu master spun about again and continued as though he hadn't heard. (And he probably hadn't.) "However! If even the son of my glorious rival can defeat me, clearly I am not worthy to make that challenge! I must redouble my training, refine my exercises, and become even stronger! Ten-thousand push-ups! Twenty-thousand jump ropes! Four thousand laps around…"

As Lee continued shadow boxing and spouting absurd training regimen, the Hokage inched away to stand next to his son. His proximity made Keidyan uncertain and a little uncomfortable at first, but then Naruto surreptitiously held out his hand, palm up. A sly smirk and a wink were all the boy needed to see to grin and slap it. Father cracked first, and immediately both were clutching their sides with laughter. The older blond tussled the younger's hair, causing him to squirm and shove the hand away, laughing harder all the while. As they died down to weak chuckles father and son regarded each other and shared a warm smile.

"Well, well. I should have guessed I'd find the Uzumaki men together."

Keidyan jumped a foot or two, but Naruto merely wiped his eye, turned and extended his hand. "Good to see you, Iruka-sensei."

His old mentor smiled and took the shake. "You too, Naruto --I mean, Lord Hokage." Iruka nudged the other man's shoulder, then turned a tight-lipped look downward. "Of course, I wish this meeting was under better circumstances…" Keidyan shrank under the instructor's gaze, looking away and muttering something under his breath.

"Yeah, so I've heard," said Naruto wryly. "Was it all right for you to leave your class for this?"

"Well, when Lee didn't come back right away, I thought our little prankster here might've pulled something." He glanced over at the taijutsu master and shook his head; Lee was occupied doing push-ups while standing on his hands. "Since I'm familiar with all your old tricks, I figured I better come take a look. There isn't much left before the break, so my student teacher agreed to take over until then." Iruka diverted his attention to his wayward student. "That means we're all set to have a little talk that will carry into lunchtime if it has to," he said firmly.

Keidyan said nothing but stared at his feet and scuffed the dirt a little. Deciding to put a little more spring in the boy's step, Naruto knelt down next to him and said, "You know, Kei, just before you bumped into me I sent your sister over to the Academy to see you."

Keidyan's face snapped up, eyes wide with horror. "What?! B-but, if she's there and I'm not and she doesn't find me, then she'll-- then she'll--"

"She'll cry," agreed his father grimly. "She'll bawl her little pearly whites out."

"I gotta get back there, and fast!" He shoved his way past them and turned about frantically, trying to pick out the direction. "Oh man, oh man…"

"Keidyan, wait!" Lee appeared beside the boy so swiftly he seemed to shimmer into existence. He flashed his nice guy smile. "Climb on my shoulders, and I will get you to the Academy in no time!"

Relieved, the young Uzumaki leapt onto his back. "Thank you thank you thank you, sensei! And, um, sorry about the ambush, a-and all… Are you okay?"

Lee flashed another smile and a thumbs-up over his shoulder. "Do not worry about it --I am certain that lamppost sustained more damage than my head. Ready? Hold on ti--" The rest of the word cut off because Lee was instantly out of earshot.

The two remaining men watched pedestrians dive out of the way in the distance (they needn't have bothered, Lee was better than that) and chuckled. Naruto turned a quirked eyebrow on his mentor and asked, "Guest speaker, huh?"

Iruka nodded. "There was another lesson on genjutsu today. We've taught the kids about the standard ways to dispel illusions, but we've also made it clear that not all of them will be skilled at those methods. Lee volunteered to come and speak about how someone like him deals with genjutsu."

"Genjutsu, huh? No wonder Kei felt like bolting."

"Like father, like son," agreed Iruka. This time it was his turn to glower at his former pupil. "Speaking of which, remember when I mentioned your old tricks? He tried to use your favorite nose-bleeder to escape today."

Naruto paled. "Wh-what? I never taught him that!"

"…No, I believe you didn't. He's young enough that his transformations are still sloppy, but even then the image was wrong --it was clear that he was guessing. I don't think he's ever seen one of those magazines or the like. He wound up using a smoke pellet to make his getaway."

The younger man shook his head earnestly. "Sensei, I haven't even mentioned that jutsu since Hinata and I started dating all those years back. I don't know where he would've…" Suddenly he closed his eyes and let his head tip back. "…Konohamaru," he hissed.

Iruka nodded sagely. "It's what you get for teaching it to him in the first place."

"Yeah, yeah…" Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just, please, don't tell Hinata? I've never had the guts to bring up that particular prank." His wife very seldom got upset with him, but when she did she had a wickedly unbearable Silent Treatment.

"As long as he never does the real thing I'll let you deal with it. I trust you'll speak with Konohamaru as well?"

The Hokage waved dismissively. "I'll put him on the list of Suspect Baby-Sitters."

The instructor smiled and turned to go. "All right then. I'd better be getting back for that talk."

"Sensei, wait." Iruka turned back to see Naruto wearing a serious expression. "…How's he doing? Really?"

Iruka could see the concern in his old pupil's eyes, so he took a step closer and thought hard for a moment. The corner of his lip turned down in frustration and he shook his head slowly. "…I just don't understand it," he sighed. "When Keidyan first came to the Academy two years ago he was full of promise and eager attitude. He tackled every new lesson like he didn't know how to give less than his best. He didn't always succeed at first, but he just kept trying until he got it right. He really was the heart of the class, in short a perfect student --he told me his dream was to be a great ninja like his father." Naruto's features softened.

Iruka grimaced. "But then this year… It's like he's a completely different boy. This was his third escape attempt this week. He sleeps in class, ignores his assignments, goofs off during lessons and practice…"

"Just like me," murmured the Hokage.

But Iruka shook his head. "No, it's more than that. You at least were eager to try. You threw your best effort at things when I asked you to, which is why you turned it into a prank when you failed. Your shortcomings were all conceptual." He focused intently on a hand he held up, fingers flexing as if grasping at something elusive. "Kei can learn the material, I know he can. And he's got the talent to make it work --I've seen it. He just…" The teacher blew out a frustrated breath and dropped his hand to his side. "He's so reluctant to attempt anything. Every time I ask him to do an exercise or demonstration I can see in his face he's convinced he will fail. He's lost his confidence somehow, and I can't figure out how to help him reclaim it."

Naruto blinked twice and nodded slowly, mirroring his sensei's sour expression. Both men sank into thought. A strong breeze sliced through the silence and stirred the leaves at their feet. As that sound died away a mockingbird began to sing from a branch overhead, drawing the Hokage's attention.

He listened to the song for a handful of seconds before sighing aloud. "All right, well, thanks for telling me, sensei." Iruka likewise shook himself out of his musings and nodded. "One last thing: his Byakugan. Has it…?"

The instructor shook his head again. "No new developments. He's got the near-360 vision, but no piercing sight or ability to see chakra networks. Neji worked with him individually last week and reported he doesn't think it likely Keidyan will ever develop those abilities."

"Well, that's something, I guess. The Hyuuga are practically chomping at the bit with their Caged Bird nonsense. Hiashi's keeping them in check, but he's told me pretty much the only card he's got left is that our Byakugan is incomplete. Expanded vision isn't that unique, so as long as the kids don't get the Hyuuga's rarer stuff we should be fine…"

"…but a new kekke genkai would still be ideal," finished Iruka, nodding agreeably. "I understand." He gave a small shrug. "I'm still holding out for a late bloom."

Naruto put on a chagrined smirk. "We all are." He threw a glance up at the sun and grinned. "I need to get going. Thanks for the talk, Iruka-sensei."

Somewhere north of the Hidden Leaf Village a little ways there was an isolated clearing. It was not that far off the beaten path, just far enough to be out of the way. It was not impossible to find, just hard enough to be private: turn off the road at the tree with the curious double-knotted trunk; climb up the massive log fallen against the ridge; find your way to the creek bed and follow it.

This private clearing was not all that different from any other open patch in the forest, except that this particular patch was a patchwork of countless flowers: purple pansies and pink-white laurels; red clover and vivid violets; a sunburst of orange poppies and goldenrod; wild roses of every hue.

And in the midst of all the splendor, humming softly to herself, sat the most beautiful flower of all. Naruto stayed where he was for a while and fed his eyes with her image. Her robes were blue and white with an orange belt and fire-patterned hems, and they pooled like water where she knelt. The spiral symbol --their family crest-- sat at the center of a stylized sun between her shoulders, resembling the sunflower she was planting. Her hands were pale and delicate, and he envied the dirt she worked with her fingers. Finished with her work, she stood and brushed a lock of her long velvet hair back behind her ear, affording him a glimpse at her cheek.

Unable to stay away any longer, Naruto waded into the flowers and called softly, "Hey there, Lady."

Hinata Uzumaki turned toward him, and he felt a jolt of electricity at her smile. "Hey," she called back just as softly. For several shared heartbeats they were still, staring and smiling in silence.

Back when they had first returned from their honeymoon, the first villager to see them had greeted them as 'Lord and Lady Uzumaki'. Hinata had blushed profusely; they had been under aliases on that blissful trip, so it was her first time hearing her new title. Naruto had of course picked up on her reaction and laughed. It amused him so much that 'Lady' was her nickname from that day on. She still blushed a little every time he used it, but Hinata didn't mind in the least. The name was a wonderful reminder; every time she heard 'The Lady' or 'Lady Uzumaki' --or her favorite, 'My Lady'-- it was a confirmation that she was his, and he was hers.

Some invisible force pulled him toward her, and when he reached her it attracted their lips. Several seconds later they pulled apart far enough to share breath as they murmured to each other. Sorry he was late. Yes, she'd known he was there. She liked letting him watch. Did she know she was making the flowers jealous. Did he enjoy making her blush.

Undoubtedly. Another kiss.

Two gleaming yellow eyes watched the meeting with mixed reactions. Half of him held the couple in quiet admiration one moment, then reviled their affection in disgust the next moment. The other half maintained a collective detached indifference, unable to comprehend the emotions it saw and unwilling to care.

Regardless, now that the Fox was here, it was time to begin. The targets turned their backs and bent to examine the sunflower.

Heeeeeheee… Smelling the flowers, Uzumaki? He-heh, heh-hee… We'd be careful if we were you…

…You never know when they are going to be… unpleasant.

Neither of them saw the root creeping toward the lady's ankle…

(End)

So. Have I hooked you yet? ;P

Obviously, I'll get my first chance to do another battle scene next update. I learned a lot from Trial by Leaves, and I'm going to try and put it all to good use. There's an important poll on my profile concerning update length and frequency, so please give me some feedback before you go. (Feel free to, y'know, drop me a review as well. Kinda need those and stuff.)

See you all next time!

~ArcTheJedi