Hey all! Here is the beta'd version of chapter two - back and better than ever!

Feel free to ask questions, give critisisim, or make comments.

Rated PG-13 (T) for violence, drinking, smoking, and implied swearing.

If I write slang that offends you, feel free to tell me and I will try and edit it out in further works. Remember that all chapters are subject to change. You might read one thing, then come back and find something completely different. All changes will be announced in current chapter. Thanks!

Disclaimer - If it were mine would I be writing fanfiction? Probably, cause it's so fun to make alternate universes of your own work. :D


Chapter Two

By the time the rest of Team Kakashi arrived, the desolation was almost complete. Only two things remained untouched: the green and red clad bodies of the two loyal Sannins as Naruto had moved them into a safe location soon after the battle started.

"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura gasped, surging forward. Sai grabbed her before she could take three steps. The journey had given her time to recover and Kakashi had given her some food pills to refresh her chakra enough to heal her wounds. However, Sai knew she was at her wits end. Fighting with Youruchi always made her lose her common sense, and he didn't think she had ever fought someone for four hours straight before. Besides…

"It's too late, Sakura. She's gone."

Kakashi didn't have to see her face to know what it looked like. Her eyes would open wide. They'd blank out and become a very pale green. Her face would become sheet white. Her eyebrows would be raised in shock. Her mouth would fall open. And then…

Her eyes would darken to a dark green. A flush would rise from her neck to her face. Her teeth would grit. Eyebrows would furrow. Finally…

She would charge.

"Orochimaruuu!"


Naruto wasn't aware of time or space. His mind was completely focused on one thing. Orochimaru. He did this. He destroyed Konoha. He killed Sasuke. He killed Jiraiya and Tsunade. He was going to die.

The jounin wasn't even truly aware of his teammates when they joined him. However, his subconsious mind soon recognized their presences and began to react accordingly. He didn't even notice when he sprang onto one of Sai's ink monsters to gain leverage, or when Sakura gave him extra boosts of height. Patterns of combat, such as combo attacks with Kakashi by mixing the Chidori and the Rasengan, were hardly noticed. They were simply natural. Instinct.

Oh sure, somewhere in the back of his mind Naruto knew they were there. In fact, it was knowing that they had his back which kept him from going completely berserk.

All at once, Naruto became aware of another chakra signature. It was familiar; less familiar than Team Kakashi, which whom he had spent most of his time, but it was still familiar none the less. Keeping most of his attention on Orochimaru, Naruto attempted to identify the arriving people through his battle-clouded mind. Hinata and Kiba were the first he identified, just moments before they transported into the battle field. Hinata charged into the battle screaming, something that startled him. She was crying, tears running down in a constant, unceasing stream. Her eyes, pearl white and usually so calm and forgiving, were wide and furious. Chakra emitted from her in waves, and with hair unbound and flowing, and her usually white and pristine clothing stained with blood; the Hyuuga Head was terrifying.

Kiba, for a change, was silent. There was no brash talk, no proclamations of an easy victory, no bragging. Instead, his face was stoic, white. His eyes seemed almost dead, and he fought as if he were dreaming, his glazed eyes staring beyond the Snake-nin. His leather jacket was torn to shreds, and his tattoos were hidden behind the red liquid that streaked his face. Beside him, Akamaru shot worried glances at his master.

The next chakra signatures sensed were that of Neji, and as seen beside him, Lee. Lee had so little chakra it was impossible to sense him, something that was helpful on recon, and he surprised Orochimaru by popping out of the woods. Tenten provided Neji and Lee with cover fire from the trees with an archaic bow she had recovered, until she deemed it too useless and drew a scythe.

Chouji, with his samurai armor and long hair came running after her, a battle cry already roaring across the field. It would have been more intimidating if it hadn't been something to the extent of, "For Konoha, the food, and my friends. And for big-boned people everywhere!"

Chouji had become more eccentric after he reached Jounin.

Naruto wasn't sure when the actual acknowledgement of his allies entered his consciousness, but he soon stopped just realizing they were there, and started working with them instead of around them. It was probably when a very annoyed Shikamaru and a strangely passive Ino saved him from meeting his maker. Shikamaru leveled him with a glare and practically commanded him to order the rest of the shinobi around.

It was then that he realized he needed to start strategizing instead of just leaping around with his instincts. "Sai! Paint some chains! Shikamaru, try to catch him. You only need to hold him for a little bit. If you have a better idea, tell me! Sakura, I'm going to need that new technique you've been working on. Everybody else! We've got to occupy him!"

The plan was, frankly, easier said than done. Shikamaru approved of the basics, having a working knowledge of what was going through Naruto's head. He did refine it, such as ordering the ex-Root to hide on the outskirts, or having Tenten keep up a barrage of arrows and darts to the left, even though she had protested that she might hit one of their own. Shikamaru had calmly answered that the day Tenten missed was the day Naruto rejected Ramen.

Injuries were given. Wounds were received. The Konoha Twelve were knocked down, beaten up, and flung around, but they were never crushed. It seemed that for every step they took forward, and for every snap decision Shikamaru ordered they took three steps back. Nevertheless, the battle raged on.


She was in position. Orochimaru was distracted, his eyes on Lee who had dropped his weights early in the fight and was darting around like a depraved and sugar-high chipmunk. The only signs of Lee's passage were the trails of dust and the impacts on Orochimaru. Every once in a while, Orochimaru would reel back and stumble.

Now was her chance.

Sakura flew through the air, her eyes passing over Sasuke's face. Sorrow and heart-wrenching pain passed through her eyes but she didn't hesitate. "Aisu: Sakura Kangoku: Ice: Cherry Prison!"

Water sprang up from the ground, circling around Orochimaru. Even as he struggled helplessly, furious that he couldn't break out, the liquid, fortified by her chakra encompassed him and froze in the shape of a cherry blossom. Sakura whispered a soft, "Good bye, Sasuke." Before the ice sealed him in and glowed blue. No one, not even Tsunade could have broken through.

Coat billowing behind him, eyes red, and mouth pressed tightly shut, Naruto appeared from behind the ice, a Fuuton Rasengan in his hand. Forgive me, Sasuke. With a cry of rage and grief he slammed his hand into the glassy ice, shattering it and the figure inside. Pieces of Orochimaru flew in every direction, still frozen in the shards of ice. Naruto landed in a kneel.

The Battle was over.

Orochimaru and Sasuke were no more.


It was the coughing that caught their attention. Deep hacking coughs that had never come out of the mouth of any corpses echoed across the field. Tsunade!

Quickly, Naruto and Sakura rushed to her side. However, even as Sakura began to gather chakra to heal her, the Hokage waved her off. "It's… too late, Sakura." She smiled sadly even as blood trickled down her chin. "I guess… I knew," Tsunade coughed. "This would happen. My choice. Foolish choice, really. However… Konoha…" She turned to Naruto, her brown eyes glazed in pain, gazed up at him for a moment, before she slowly reached up and grabbed the necklace that hung down. "Gomenasai, Naruto. It seems that there is no village for you to become Rokudaime. I hope, some day, you can forgive me…"

Naruto shook his head a tremulous smile forcing its way to the corners of his lips. "There's nothing to forgive, baa-chan." His tanned hand brushed back some of the hair from her face.

Tsunade smiled. "Always so forgiving! Baka Gaki!" She sobered. "I'm a-afraid that i-it's over now." Brown eyes sharpened and she pulled his head so his ear was by her lips.

"Listen to me, Naruto." Her coughing became suddenly pronounced and her bleeding increased. "There… is a sc-scroll. Un-der my… desk. It has a…a jutsu which can stop this from happening. You can… go back in time… Jikou Tempus Rasen…" She swallowed thickly against the rising blood. "You can change all of this." Naruto nodded, his face serious and focused as his eyes scanned her face. Memorizing it. Tsunade smiled gently, her hand reaching up to brush her necklace, and then, the blood-stained hand moved to Naruto's face. She cupped his cheek. " You…would have been the best Hokage, Rokudaime." Dropping her hand, she struggled to sit up as Sakura moved behind to support her.

"Hear me now…" Tsunade's voice rang out. The rest of the Konoha shinobi crowded around, many of them already wet around the eyes as they watched their beloved Hokage slip away. "This is the last order of your Hokage. Take…c-care of each other. Protect each other." She gagged, blood cutting off her air. Hinata quickly joined Sakura in trying to help the Hokage. Tsunade smiled at her, before her eyes passed over the rest of the group. It isn't fair… I have so much I want to tell you, all of you. "You ar-are the elite generation… Y-yo…you are th-the be-est shinobi this village has ever produced. T-the kindest, brav-vest, and th-the most just. D-do not fail this final mission… Godspeed… all of you…"

Her body wracked with a coughing fit, and her face twisted in pain. Then, as if an angel had touched her, her face smoothed. Her voice trailed off and her eyes dimmed.

The only sound was the wind, soft and gentle blowing across the flattened village. It whistled over buildings and inserted its cold fingers through their clothes, causing them to shiver.

Slowly, Naruto reached out to close the lifeless eyes. "Hai… Hokage-sama."

"Hai! Hokage-sama." The group chorused.


The next four days were spent burying the dead and trying to pick up the shattered, scattered and utterly destroyed slivers of what remained of their lives. For four days after the attack, name after name after name was carved into the stone. After the marker was filled they started on the ground around it.

It was on this ground that Naruto now sat, tracing names of beloved friends and companions while contemplating the last few days.

After the burial of the Hokage, Naruto buried Jiraiya and Iruka. He also personally buried Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon – the Konohamaru Corps. Ino told him how Konohamaru had died - like a true Sarutobi - trying to protect Moegi. However, Naruto could have told her that himself from the positions of the two when they retrieved them. Konohamaru's body was so marked and mutilated that only his blue scarf, stained to nearly brown from blood, identified him. Naruto delayed their burial until he could find what remained of Udon and the three were buried in the same mound, together as always.

Iruka was reported to have taken the killing blow while protecting his students from a mad Sound-nin. He had delayed the sound-nin even as the other teachers made a dash for the Hokage mountain and presumed safety. Those who made it were soon slaughtered in an ambush inside the stronghold. Iruka's death had been in vain, but his image of courage had given the students the strength to fight. Naruto was proud of Iruka but he still spent four hours ranting and raving about how stupid he had been.

Naruto also buried Ichiraku and his daughter, Ayame. They were only two of the five hundred civilians, but they had been, at least to him, the most important.

Numbered among the slain were members of various cells and teams which he had joined. He found numerous friends and acquaintances in the ruins.

Naruto was sure that he had survived the battle only to die of grief. He had been with Sai when the painter closed Genma's eyes, or when they had found Raidou's body in the middle of several slain Sound-nin. Anko was found laying eagle spread with dull eyes staring straight into the sky by Ino, who had wept bitterly but proudly as they surveyed the damage the insane chick had meted out. As he looked around, Chouji thought that it was no wonder she had died with a smile on her face, and he reflected that in many ways, Anko had been a mentor to Ino, teaching her a lot about what it meant to be ruthless.

Members of the Konoha Twelve would never again walk among them.

There, on the Memorial Stone, lay the names of Aburame Shino, and Tenten.

Abruame Shino had died in the battle for the Gate in the last ditch effort to save it.

Naruto had gotten to know Shino well. Spending two weeks trapped in the same cave with only Shino as a companion had ensured their friendship (or their eternal hatred, but fortunately, it was friendship). In fact after they had begun talking, Shino and Naruto discovered they had a lot in common. Both were excluded for things that lived inside of them. Both were incredibly loyal to their companions. Both had similar precious people. Neither of them thought Uchiha Sasuke was the hottest thing to ever come along and thought that all girls who believed so were stupid. This also caused a shared respect for Hinata who had never thought that way. To be concise – Naruto liked him.

Team Eight was devastated. Shino had been a quiet guy. He had been reason in the flesh. Sometimes he didn't get a joke, and sometimes he was just too serious, and many times he didn't understand things such how it could rain cats and dogs when clearly, it was water falling from the sky, but he had been a friend, a companion, and a brother to Team Eight. He had boosted Hinata's confidence, toned down Kiba's arrogance, kept balance between the peace-seeking Hinata and the passion-filled Kiba. He was… well… he was their teammate.

Kiba was especially hit by his death. Apparently, Shino died only two feet away from him.

Naruto didn't know where Kiba was, but he would bet that he was still in training field six, sitting silently, watching the wreck with Hinata holding his hand.

Tenten had died in a similar way, leaping into Neji's blind spot and knowingly sacrificing her life to protect him from Orochimaru. Neji hadn't even realized what had happened until he had heard Lee cry out. When he had turned around she had already been dead, a contented smile already fading from her lips, the light gone from her brown eyes.

It had been painless. That was all the comfort Sakura could give them.

Both teams were… well…

You didn't spend years living together, fighting together, and sleeping in the same tent, without learning to live with each other. You didn't help each other with your problems, listen to their rants, and run laps together where there was nothing to do except learn about each other, without coming to feel like family. You didn't eat with their families and make friends with their families, listen to dreams and aspirations, and tell your own ambitions in return without getting to know each other at a deep level.

It wasn't possible to do these things and not learn how to tolerate and even like your teammate's quirks. Having a girl on your team meant going through terrible cycles of hormones which you had to learn how to tip toe around.

You didn't save each other's lives over and over again and create thousands of inside jokes and not feel as if a piece of you had been killed when your teammate was.

In a way, both teams envied the Konohamaru Corps. They, at least, had died together.


Naruto clenched at the scroll left in his hands. This will change that. All it takes is one jutsu and this will never have happened. He looked to the memorial stone. All those names…

He was ready. Falsified identification from that era, food, clothing, and medical supplies were all packed in the small case beside him. He had a basic time line of when Orochimaru went bad to guide him and an outline on a plan of how to stop him. Exhaling, he opened the scroll and spread it before him. His hands flashed – boar, horse, dragon—

He cringed as a fist slammed into his head.

"You self sacrificing, selfish, moronic, pea-brained idiot!" Ino roared, her voice ringing in his ears. This was soon seconded by Sakura's, "What were you thinking! Baka! Aho! Brainless idiot!"

The two girls began to lecture him, twin-talking like no other.

"You are,"

"The most,"

"Difficult,"

"Hard headed,"

"Block headed,"

"Idiot to have ever,"

"Walked this earth if you think,"

"That we are just gonna,"

"Let you leave us behind!"

"You -&-#-!" They chorused.

Naruto glanced between them, confused. How did they… Oh. Kiba's hearing.

"It seems you were correct, Shika." Sai quipped, ducking out of the trees. "He was going to try and leave us behind." The painter rapped Naruto over the head as Shikamaru appeared from the shadows. That is, he came up from a puddle of shadows. "Mendokuse!" He muttered, keeping waist deep to allow Chouji to follow him from the inky blackness.

"Oi! Naruto! Scatting are you?" Chouji opened a rare bag of chips and offered them to the group. Living two years with even hot water being regulated had curbed the last of any hoarding tendencies. You had to rely on others sharing with you to survive. "Good luck with that." He stomped over to the blond's side. "We aren't baggage that you can just leave around, got it? Want a chip?"

Good old Chouji. Compassionate, sensitive Chouji. For him to say something that acidic, Naruto knew he had screwed up.

He became aware of a figure in white kneeling before him as Hinata's silver eyes met his sadly. "Naruto… How could you…" She looked down and bit her lip. "Would you really abandon us? Would you truly," She met his eyes again. "Would you truly leave us in this desolate place with no hope, no chance of regaining our lives? Would you just leave without saying goodbye? Without giving us a choice?" Her pearl white eyes glared into his red-flecked blue. "Do we really mean so little to you, that you would do this?"

Naruto paused, his mouth open, "Hinata…" Her eyes, pained and betrayed, pierced him. He looked down. It had to be Hinata. Anyone else I could argue with! "Gomen. I… I guess I was pretty foolish." He scratched his head. "This burden… belongs to all of us." Hinata's eyes softened and, after hesitating for a moment, she reached out to hug him.

"Thank you…" She whispered into his ear.

"For what?" He whispered back.

"For trying."


After Kiba had punched him for trying something so Stupid with a capital S, the surviving Konoha ninja began preparing for their trip. Shikamaru and Kakashi spent hours going over the time lines of the war with Iwagakure and the things that happened afterwards. Chouji was put in charge of gathering enough food supplies to last them until they arrived at a restocking area. Sakura and Ino gathered all medical supplies and herbs that they could find, while Sai spent his time preparing as much ink as possible.

It was interesting to see how two years of war had changed people. Sai was not nearly the emotionless… jerk… that he had once been. Instead, sometimes it seemed that he was almost too full of emotion, especially in regard to his precious drawings.

When it came to gathering weapons, Kiba had naturally assigned that duty to Tenten, until he had remembered that Tenten was a face they would never again see among them. He had fallen silent, his face paling and his fist clenching the piece of parchment. Kiba's eyes stared straight ahead dully. Neji plucked the piece of paper out of his hand and quietly said that he would do it. He had been Tenten's fighting partner long enough to know which weapons were useful and which were not. Then, he had walked away silently with Lee and hadn't been seen for the rest of the day.

Naruto… well, Naruto spent the day talking to Kyuubi trying to figure out a way to keep it from attacking Konoha again. After all, they reasoned, if Kyuubi didn't attack, the Yondaime wouldn't die, Naruto wouldn't become a Jinchuriki, and they would all be saved a whole lot of trouble.


He sat Indian style on top of the water, the dark gloom of the sewer darkening his eyes. His chin rested on his fist and he leaned forwards. Kyuubi, his tall red figure calm and falsely sedate lay behind the bars. Unlike years ago there was no obvious animosity between the two of them. They were… not quite… well… friends, but not enemies either. In fact, if one had to put it into words, one would say that they were partners with a healthy respect and fear for each other.

Over time, as Naruto used more and more of the Fox's chakra during his younger years, Naruto and Kyuubi had started merging before he had figured out a way to stop it. With the merge had come memories from both parties. Thus, Naruto knew exactly why Kyuubi had attacked Konoha. It was because of this that the blond sat in the sewer listening to the quiet drip drip of water from the pipes hitting the floor below. Shadows flicked as the imaginary light wavered.

"Is there anyway to prevent it?" Naruto asked quietly. He didn't need to specify.

"Only if you can keep that -0-0- Uchiha from learning my name." Kyuubi growled out curses and Naruto smirked. Neither of them liked the Uchiha, arrogant brats that they were. "If not, I'm afraid my younger self will be trapped within you again. As Sasuke said, after Madara learned my name, I was a puppet to his every whim."

Naruto looked down. "Revenge sucks, huh. Madara did it to get back at the Shodaime and Sasuke killed him. Sasuke betrayed the -" Naruto's voice cracked. "Village to get revenge on Itachi. You got mixed up in this business trying to avenge your mate." He trailed a finger through the water. "And now look where you are…"Kyuubi growled.

"Watch it, brat."

Naruto glanced up at him innocently. "What?"

Kyuubi sighed and crossed his giant paws beneath his chin.

"The point is, Brat, the only way you will be able to convince my younger self is by meeting him before I sign the contract. You'll either have to convince him that revenge is not the way… or…" Kyuubi trailed off.

"Kill him."

"Aa."

Naruto stayed silent for a while. "What about after the contract is signed? Is there anyway? I mean, I know we've discussed this before but…"

Kyuubi stayed silent for a moment, peering suspiciously at the boy below him. Then the giant fox let out a shuddering sigh of resignation.

"There might just be…"

They didn't have a table, or chairs. In fact, they didn't even have a room in which to meet. Instead, they were camped around a large boulder with Sai's carefully drawn time line laid out before them. The neat black lines were filled with scrawled red marks showing what they planned to change. Kakashi, perpetually dressed in his blue mask and jounin uniform, looked around the "table" at his fellow "time travelers."

Naruto was the shortest guy of the Konoha Nine, being around five foot seven, built like a brawler and blond. Very, very blond. Blue eyes with flecks of red, and slitted iris's insured that he could never be mistaken as a "normal" person. Bronze skin made the blue of his eyes stand out. He wore the standard jounin vest over a black shirt with an orange strip down the right side. Black shinobi pants covered his legs and were rimmed in orange. However, his newest addition to his wardrobe was a black, long sleeved, Yondaime-style coat with orange flames on the rim.

Naruto was still the pranking, joking, lighthearted boy of years ago whenever he could be. However, Kakashi had noticed a gradual severity creeping into him over time as his subordinates were constantly placed in dangerous and deadly positions. He became solemn whenever he had to do paperwork, fight, or keep people calm. To put it simply, Naruto had become more responsible. At times it was a little bit nostalgic… that is, until Naruto decided that the kids needed a laugh and did the Sexy no Justu in front of a bunch of ANBU, promptly destroying any semblance of respect the elite faction retained.

Naruto carried a pouch with the pictures or memento of all the friends he had made. For Tsunade he wore the necklace. For Jiraiya, he wore his gloves. He had a dagger from Tenten, and a kunai from Shino. From Iruka he had his hiate. Konohamaru's scarf was also in the bag, as well as a few photos of the Konohamaru corps in various stages of their ninja lives. Chopsticks from the Ichiraku Ramen stand, and a senbon from Genma were also in his "treasure sack." From Sasuke… all Naruto had from his old teammate were worn out memories and an old ragged team picture.

Sakura, who sat to Naruto's right, was dressed in white and red. A white medical-looking trench coat with short sleeves and many pockets which often held supplies and medical tools was slung across the ground as a seat. She wore an outfit similar to her Genin days, except with a shorter skirt and longer pants with white stripes down the sides. The Haruno insignia was woven prominently into the back. A Jounin vest and a leather pouch held her fighting supplies. White gloves that went past her elbows completed the wardrobe.

Sakura had remained the same size, growing only one inch over the two years and that was due mostly to her shoes. Her hair tended to circulate between being long and short because it grew quickly. Right now, Sakura had it shoulder length and up in a messy bun by a senbon. One would think that she would keep it this way for a while, but Kakashi knew her well enough to know that she would soon chop it off, deeming it too much trouble. Long bangs hung down past her shoulders.

It was well known in Konoha that Sakura was equal to her Master in combat and healing. What was not known was that Sakura had surpassed Tsunade in genjutsu and in some ninjutsu. Sakura was no longer some little girl pretending to be a ninja. She had become deadly, earning her own page in the Bingo Books.

Sai was the member of Team Kakashi that was the most changed. He could actually smile now, a genuine smile. Emotions came more easily, as did compassion. Two and a half years had done much for his understanding of social skills. He could still insult you with the best of them though. Sai had become almost… temperamental. At times he was as pleasant as could be, and then out of nowhere he was suddenly raging about small things. Kakashi compared him to a P.M.S.ing woman, not that he would ever say that to Sakura.

Sai had become loyal – not to ROOT– but to Cell Seven. Sai thought of Sakura as his little sister who he just had to tease, Kakashi as the perverted uncle you had to tolerate, and Naruto as the younger brother which you didn't really want but were stuck with, so why not have fun yanking his chain? However, if you were 'skilled' as Kakashi was at reading the "underneath the underneath," you would see that Sai genuinely respected Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi. He was loyal most of all to the boy who showed him how to have emotions and bonds.

Sai wore leather nowadays along with a long, heel-length leather coat. His gloves remained the same, and his katana was always strapped to his back. He had his ear pierced though as it was, he said, "Something new."

The largest change was a great tattoo which covered his back, sides, climbed up his neck and rested on the top of his head, the snout covering the upper right side of his face. It was a dragon which he could activate whenever needed like a summon. Naruto thought it was hilarious and wanted one as well, but Sakura's less than subtle rejection of that idea stopped it from becoming a reality. Naruto had a healthy respect for her fists after all.

Kakashi's attention was abruptly drawn back to the conversation as a small dispute broke out over how many changes to make between Kiba and Neji. Kiba wanted to change as much as possible, while Neji wanted to let certain events run their course. Things were about to get touchy after Kiba stated that Neji just wanted to prove his theory about destiny right, and Neji responded that someone who lived in a dog pin couldn't possibly understand the finer workings of a genius. Or at least, that's how Kiba translated it.

"We have to be careful," Hinata broke in, firmly staring down both boys before reaching to point out a few drastic changes. "If we were to change too much, we will be unable to predict following events, which would disrupt any future plans."

Shikamaru nodded to her, acknowledging the point before changing things around. He glanced at her and she nodded. Better.

Team Eight sat to the left of Sakura. Of them all, Hinata was perhaps the most changed. She wore white now in the form of almost robe-like thick tunics and pants that looked like they would hamper her movement. However, one only had to watch her sparing to know that she was incredibly deadly at taijutsu. She was also the creator of a new Jyuuken technique, which she had designed after being unable to use the Kaiten. She had also added a chakra whip to her accessories. Her long, wide sleeves hid senbon and poison, while tall white boots hid a throwing knife.

Hinata, with her white eyes, soft mouth and curvy figure, had become beautiful. In fact, she was acknowledged as the most beautiful Kunoichi of Konoha. Tall and graceful, bangs framed her face while long dark hair spilled down her back when freed. It was usually put up in an elegant design at the nape of her neck.

The largest change was Hinata's opinion of herself. She was the Hyuuga Head and had been for a year and a half. In that time she had figured out how to disband the Caged Bird Seal, and made a law abolishing it from the clan. Reforms, such as teaching the Hyuuga other ways of fighting than the Jyuuken were also mandatory. Over years of having friends who valued her, Hinata had bloomed into her natural wisdom and leadership. She was still incredibly loyal to Naruto, but she had become the Hyuuga Head in every way shape and form. She was quite able to take down someone a few pegs, and wasn't ashamed of it.

Kiba sat beside her, their hands still clasped. Tall and clad in leather, he hadn't changed much. He was the third tallest of the Konoha group, under Neji and Lee, who had grown like a weed after hitting eighteen.

Even then, there was only an inch difference between Neji and Kiba.

No one was even close to Lee. No one really wanted to be.

Following this train of thought brought Kakashi's attention to the two boys of Team Gai, who were in the middle of a serious discussion about the advantages of tea over coffee. Lee, apparently, was following Gai's path of coffee addiction, claiming that it was capable of growing barbwire on your chest or some such nonsense. Neji calmly shot down that argument with the question, "Who wants hair like that anyway? Gai doesn't count."

Lee and Neji were, as stated before, tall. Both of jounin rank, they had become quite a fighting force. Neji was dressed in white in the tradition of his clan. His forehead was clear now that he was free of the seal and it seemed that with the disappearance of that curse what bitterness remained in Neji had likewise vanished. He was more carefree now, if incredibly protective of Hinata. Or rather, overprotective. Many boys and men had complained that they couldn't get within ten feet of Hinata-sama without being on the receiving end of a death glare.

Neji and Lee had become friends instead of just rivals. In fact, they were more like brothers with a sibling rivalry. That didn't mean that Neji didn't hit Lee over the head whenever he felt Lee's behavior merited it or that Lee didn't see it as his personal duty to warm the frozen ice burg that was Neji.

Neji had been the chosen replacement for the ANBU Commander to replace the one under Tsunade after Naruto became Hokage. Unfortunately, now he would no longer have that chance as there simply was no ANBU.

Neji's slow yet steadily melting ice mask around those he trusted caused a deepening in his friendships with most of the Konoha Twelve. Neji never got along with Sai, but that may have been because of some… exchanged words when they first met. However, Neji and Shikamaru managed to get along alright.

That is to say, they never had any arguments, and both sides of the party greatly appreciated that the other side of the party was logical and reasonable. They never had any problems, except that Shikamaru was the most laid back man you would ever meet and Neji had the award for Most Uptight four years running.

That being said, it was unsurprising that Neji and Kiba got along… terribly. They just rubbed each other wrong. Neji thought Kiba was an uncouth, loudmouthed idiot and Kiba never managed to forgive Neji for beating up his teammate. However, whenever there was a fight they knew how to put aside their differences.

Kind of. Sort of. Not really.

The most surprising friendship Neji made was with Naruto of all people. To everyone's undying shock, Neji openly stated that when Naruto became Hokage he would have a loyal supporter in Neji, and that when that happened, no one should even think of disrespecting the man in front of the Hyuuga ex-branch member. Naruto had laughed it off, but later told Iruka that it had warmed him to his toes to hear one of his friends saying that.

Lee no longer dressed in spandex. He couldn't now that all the kunoichi had gotten together and banned all spandex from being sold before burning the entirety of Lee's wardrobe. Still, that was as far as Lee would let their makeover attempts go. He still had large eyebrows, still wore green, and still loudly and passionately proclaimed the beauty of the Fires of Youth to any willing and unwilling ear in Fire Country.

Ah Gai… I think you would be proud of him. Kakashi grinned from under his mask. Tch, who am I kidding.

You were always proud of him.


A finger tapping on Kakashi's wrist brought him out of his contemplation. He sighed. It seemed it was his turn to lay down the ground rules. He lazily sat up from his slouched position.

"Well, now that we have the bothersome time line sorted out, I guess we'd better get down to infiltration rules. One thing that we need to do is leave behind all signs of affiliation. No vests, no signs of rank. I won't make you leave behind your hiate, because that's something that even I wouldn't, couldn't, shouldn't part with. However, those must never be worn, not even in places that feel safe." His eyes met theirs firmly. "Rule number two: We have to leave our names behind. I will no longer be Kakashi. Rule number three: Leave all distinguished techniques from Konoha behind. I will no longer be able to use the chidori. I will have to abandon the traditional dress of my family." Naruto and Sakura perked up.

"Oi, does that mean we'll get to see your face?" Naruto broke in, leaning forwards with a grin that crinkled his eyes.

Kakashi stared at him blankly. Naruto's grin turned sheepish and he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry."

Kakashi turned to the snickering group. "As I was saying. If you are a Hyuuga, get used to putting genjutsu or a Henge on your eyes. Maybe we should spend some money to pick up contacts. Neji, you may want to devote some time to learning other ways of combat as I know you still depend strongly on Jyuuken. Kiba… well… Find someway to disguise you blood bond with Akamaru, alright?"

"Shikamaru, try and find reasonable explanations for your abilities. That goes for you too Chouji. I'll teach you both a few things that are common knowledge to help you out. Ino, I'm afraid that you will only be able to use techniques that you've invented, and not something you've been taught. Actually, if you can do that, this goes for all of you." The Konoha nins nodded in response. "Try and invent names for yourself, or nicknames which you can be called. Make them something you and we can remember. If your name is common, keep it. However, family names have to be changed. Understood?"

"Hai!"

Kakashi smiled behind his mask. "Good. Naruto's clones and Kiba have built a temporary wagon. It probably won't hold long, so pack everything on it as soon as possible." Naruto snapped out an, "Oi!" which Kakashi ignored. "We leave tomorrow. Don't be late." With a grin and a, "Ja ne!" he poofed to his tent.

"Hmph!" Kiba snorted, standing up. He frowned in annoyance. "He's one to talk!" He walked over to Ino. "I don't suppose that you could, you know, threaten to play with him if he didn't behave… could you?" Ino grinned.

"Heh. That'd be fun. I haven't gotten to anyone for three weeks. Mendokuse."

Ino with her slick blond hair, high yuro manicure, and styled clothing was the last person you'd expect to do the dirty work. However, that was what she specialized in – dirty work. She was the 2IC of the Torture and Interrogation Department of ANBU – T&N for short. At the age of eighteen she was a well-known terror, known for her ruthless interrogation methods, and when she felt like it, her ability to become friends with someone only to stab them in the back when she was done with them. When at her job Shikamaru said she was the cruelest, most ruthless person he knew discounting Anko, who he doubted was even human. Outside work, Sakura stated that Ino was her best friend and anyone who slandered her would have an intimate encounter with the dirt floor.

Shikamaru and Chouji had hardly changed at all, except for becoming lazier and bigger respectively. Shikamaru had been the acknowledged Strategist (and thus his nickname) who had often provided the Hokage with her major plans, and had been kept at ANBU level security even after he had finished his term. Chouji wore red armor and had become known for his variants of family techniques and his continued aggravation over the F-word. Oh, and the L-word. And the H-word, and of course we can't forget the B-word. Or any words that were synonyms for bulky.


The next day, they all gathered at the memorial stone. Sai had been awake most of the night making the seal necessary to transport them so he was exempt from packing the wagon due to exhaustion. All he really needed was his paintbrushes, ink and paper anyway. His precious paintings had been destroyed in the attack. Fortunately, his brother's book had been with him, so that, at least, had been spared. As the ex-shinobi began to put salvaged pots, pans, bed sheets, food and other such things into the wagon and tried to fit it all in, Sai walked over to sit beside Naruto (who was banned from helping). He took off his coat and spread it out to make a bed. With a sigh he flopped down beside his blond teammate. "Are you nervous?"

Naruto exhaled. He was sitting with his back to the tree, his knees bent up in front of him, his elbows resting on them. "Yeah, you better believe I am." He glanced down. "Do you realize what this will mean, Sai?" Naruto twisted a piece of grass around his finger. "If we play our cards right we can keep you out of ROOT, and save your brother."

Sai smiled. "That's true. If we play our cards right… and then you can save Sasuke." The painter smiled albeit crookedly. "I guess there'll be no need for me to be the replacement anymore!" Naruto glanced at him. "We don't think of you as a 'replacement,' Sai." At the dark-haired boy's skeptical and pointed look, he hastily amended, "Well, we did. But you're our teammate now as much as Sasuke ever was!" Naruto frowned. "Technically, we've spent more time with you than with Sasuke!" Naruto looked confused. "When did that happen?" He muttered under his breath.

"But Sasuke is very special to you," Sai pointed out. "Because he was your first bond."

Naruto looked down, his eyes dark. "Yeah… Bonds."

"That's excellent." Sai smiled brightly. "It's outstanding to know that if any of us did something like the thing that that thing did, you would do the same thing you're doing now."

"Huh?" Naruto looked confused, but the ex-ROOT just smiled and put his hands behind his head.

"Nothing."


"Chouji! Checklist! Rice?" Sakura called out, her check board held in front of her.

"Check!"

"Noodles?"

"Check!"

"Dried meat?"

"Check!"

"Corn?"

"Check!"

"Wheat?"

"Check!"

"Rations?"

"Check!"

"Ino! Medical supplies! Bandages?"

"Check?"

"Herbs?"

"All ready and complete!"

"A simple check will suffice, Ino."

"Oh, sorry!"

"No problem. Burn salves?"

"Check!"

"Ramen??"

"Chec… Naruto!"

"Don't say random things, baka!"

"Itaaiii! That hurt Sakura-chaan! And it wasn't random! What about the Ramen?"

"What about Icha Icha Paradise! They aren't written in the future… past! Are they packed! Are they safe! Do we have them? Oh no! We can't leave yet until they are all packed! Sak—"

Whump!

"Kakashiiiii!!"

"Sakura-chan is scaarry!"

"But what about the Ramen!"

"Naruto! We can buy Ramen in town! Calm down!"

"Oh… But what about my sleeping cap, Mr. Mooshie! We can't leave him behind!"

"Mr. Mooshie?" Echoed Neji, Ino and Chouji. And this guy was eighteen?


The cart was finally packed, the seal was ready, and all, even Kakashi, were gathered and prepared.

The seal was large. Actually, it was humongous. It stretched thirty feet in diameter and was shaped like a gigantic star with eleven points – one for every shinobi. Kanji and strange designs filled the interior. In the center was a circle where they placed their belongings and the wagon.

As one they moved to the points of the seal where they turned facing inwards.

"On the count of three," Naruto called out. "One, two… this is the last chance for anyone to back out!... Three."

The group rapidly began making seals, each one responsible for their own. Their movements were synchronized, every movement in perfect tune with the others. As they formed seals, the wind began to rise, kicking up dirt and debris. It swirled around them like a tornado. It spun faster and faster, the whistling becoming a roar. Their hair began to spin and wave as the wind blew threw it. Clothes whipped around their bodies, and the ropes on the wagon began to strain against the tarp. However, none of the ninja even broke a stride in their seal-making. They didn't even seem to notice.

They formed the last seal and at once the wind stopped. Not even a breeze remained.

Kiba shifted.

And suddenly, everything went to Hades.


Shikamaru groaned. What a rush. Time traveling was so troublesome! Why did all these bothersome things happen? If the world decided just to live in peace and harmony and watch the clouds twenty-four seven that would be great. Of course, then he would be out of a job… Troublesome.

He grunted and rolled onto his side. Well… now he knew why no one ever did something like that twice. The adrenaline rush could kill you. Cracking his back, he stood up. It was night, and the moon hung like a gigantic silver medallion while stars shone above him silently. The only sound was the wind which brushed through the trees which surrounded the circular clearing. He glanced down and frowned. Shikamaru knelt silently.

Burned into the ground were the lines and runes of the seal. It was as if someone had taken a blow torch and cut into the ground. Shikamaru sighed. And of course this is going to be hard to hide. You know, if everyone would just be peaceful, and keep their noses in their own businesses we wouldn't have to worry about this troublesome stuff! Dang it!

He walked over to the nearest of the shapes on the ground and recognized it as Kiba. Of course, Kiba had been beside him… interesting. He could have sworn they had gotten thrown around when… whatever it was happened.

It had been terrifying, adrenaline rushing, thrilling, and mysterious. It had picked them up like grains of chaft and tossed them around as if they were nothing. It had carried them along in a blue, whirlpool-like tunnel as the landscape changed and mutated before them.

Shikamaru muttered under his breath as he shook Kiba's shoulder.

"Oi! Kiba! We're here. Get up." Kiba groaned and buried his head under his arms. "Go 'way, Sh'no. Too e'ly t' train." He rolled over. Shikamaru twitched and kicked him. "Kiba! Up! Sit! Roll over!"

Kiba sprang up, surprised. "Shikamaru? What are you…"

He looked around, face brightening in comprehension. "Oh…" Kiba's face fell. "Oh." By this time, Shikamaru was already by Sakura's side. Kiba got up and made his way over to Naruto. Next was Sai. Naruto and Kiba paused a foot away and Naruto picked up a stick. Gingerly he tapped Sai.

"Er, Sai! We're here… wake up now… Sai?" The stick was abruptly snatched and snapped. Sai sprang to his feet, his eyes dark, while Naruto quickly backtracked with hands held high. "Whoa! Calm down, painter boy! No enemies here!"

A crunch and a whump behind them showed that Sai wasn't the only one high strung. Kiba winced in sympathy for Shikamaru as the lazy boy groaned and writhed on the floor. The good part was that the racket managed to wake up the rest of the band, if make them a little edgy. Yes, no nosebleed for me!

"Ohhh," Ino groaned, holding her head gingerly. "What a rush. I have a headache the size of the Hokage Mountain in an earthquake!" She staggered to her feet, hissing as pain exploded in her frontal lobe. "Kami! Sakura, you up?"

"Uhn."

"Feel like giving a quick fix?"

"Ugh…" Sakura sat up slowly. "Did you get the license of the ninja that ran me over?"

Kakashi sighed. It's good to know they've still got a sense of humor. Though, you'd think they'd be more aware…

Neji picked up Hinata and placed her on the cart. She accepted the seat gratefully. Her hair was a mess, she noted absently. She yawned tiredly and rubbed her eyes. The trip had taken a lot out of her, as opposed to Naruto, who had jumped on the cart beside her and was talking at four miles a minute.

"Wasn't that so cool, Hinata-chan! It was like, whoo, and then it when Whoosh! And Kiba whet, AAAAh! And you went, Kiba! And then the ground went Grooooo, an' the seal was like, Foosh! And Fire! And then the big phoenix went zoom and eeeekkk and then Kyuubi was like – it's Garakax! And then Garakax went phsooo, and then the gigantic whirlpool!" Naruto grinned. "That was soo cool."

Hinata smiled at him. That was Naruto. What the others would see as a terrifying death trap going into the unknown, Naruto would see as a fun ride to adventure. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was grinning brightly, his face even more fox like than usual. His rough and tanned hands were firm as they hooked Akamaru up to the wagon (the dog was the only one strong enough to pull it), unlike the hands of everyone else which were shaking with chakra exhaustion. Ino looked ready to faint and she was leaning against Chouji. Chouji didn't really look affected, unless you saw how his feet were dragging. Naruto, on the other hand, looked ready to jump out of his skin.

However, despite his hyperactive exterior, Naruto was well aware of how the other ninja were holding up. They're tired. Chakra exhaustion most likely. They won't make it much farther but we have to get to the caves today… He jumped off of the wagon. "Okay, let's take shifts. Who's on the edge of exhaustion… no need for valor here! Come on!"

With a resigned look Ino raised her hand. While she might be great while inside the Interrogation office, and her fighting skills were jounin level, her stamina was terrible. Naruto helped her up onto the wagon where she collapsed gratefully. Sai raised his hand as well, but was quickly glared down when it became obvious he wasn't tired. In the end, Kakashi, who had used his Sharingan too much during The Battle and was still worn out even before the jutsu, Kiba who had to share chakra to help Akamaru come along, and Shikamaru, whose chakra resources were terrible, got onto the cart. Every thirty minutes the people riding would switch out.

Every two hours they paused so Akamaru could take a break and eat. These breaks were the longest and most welcome, as the shinobi quickly collapsed on the ground in exhaustion. Time traveling had taken a lot out of them.

By the end of the third break even Naruto was getting tired. It could be a study, he sullenly reflected, about how one got so much more tired the slower the journey was.

Shikamaru, who had flopped down beside him, sighed. "This is troublesome business. We do know where we're going, right? After all, the terrain's changed a lot…"

Naruto froze.

"Er…" He scratched his head. "I-I think…"

Shikamaru glanced at him. "You do realize that if they think we've been going in circles we'll have a mutiny on our hands, right?"

Naruto laughed nervously. "Ah, don't worry! I know where we're going!"

Shikamaru looked skeptical.

"Yo!" Kakashi landed in front of them, his hand up in greeting. "We're almost there."

"Huh?" Naruto asked while Kakashi grinned.

"Unlike you, I actually know my way around here. Thirty years hasn't changed much." He stood up. "Okay, ladies! We have only another mile to go and we're there! Break's over!"

A chorus of groans filled the air.

"Kakashi, have a heart!" Kiba groaned. He gingerly picked himself off of the spot where he had fallen. "We've traveled eighteen miles in three hours. By walking. With chakra exhaustion."

"Now, dog boy, are you a shinobi or not?" Kakashi asked.

"Not!" Kiba responded petulantly.

Kakashi's eyes turned into the upside down 'U's. "Well then," he said cheerfully, "You can stay here while we go ahead."


When they finally reached the caves, everyone, even Naruto fell to the ground in exhaustion. Chouji crawled over to a wall and fell asleep immediately while Ino used him as a pillow to put her aching feet. Lee wasn't really tired, but he did everything with his fire of youth, so he fell asleep where he stood. Neji carried Hinata over to another wall and then fainted in a 'dignified' fashion. He had refused any and all carriage rides – heaven knows why.

Naruto sighed as he set up a campfire. He would take the first watch as he had the most stamina. Quite frankly, he was amazed at how much that jutsu had taken out of them. Having the most chakra reserves meant he wasn't as tired, but the rest of the shinobi only had the "normal" chakra levels. This meant that they were effectively drained. Add a several mile trek with still-unhealed injuries and mental and emotional wounds and… He was impressed.

Naruto sighed as he sat down by the newly made fire. Five days, and he still couldn't grasp it. His world was gone.

He picked up a stick and idly traced designs on the ground. It felt so weird to know that he didn't have to expect an attack at any moment. Orochimaru… had he betrayed the village yet? No, or at least, not officially. Thus, he didn't have to worry about that pervert attacking them. No one knew about the Kyuubi except for the ten people behind him, so no random people wanting to get rid of the "Demon" would be attacking him.

However… so many friends had died and so many friends had been left behind. Naruto drew a line through his drawings. The sand parted like water, quickly falling back into itself.

Sand.

Gaara.

Naruto's face was thoughtful and subdued. Gaara. The Kazekage. His friend. His fellow jinchuriki. His brother in arms…

He sighed and put his head on his knees. Gaara… gomenasai. It seems I won't be able to help you with the political battle you're in now. But, they love you so you'll be okay. He glanced behind him. I have to protect my precious people now.

He felt tired so he got up to pace. It was already time for Sai to take the next watch but Naruto knew the short-haired youth needed his rest so Naruto resigned himself to a long night. They had better appreciate this.

Behind him, Chouji shifted, his face creasing as he muttered. Soon his voice escalated, and his movements jerked Ino, waking her. The blond girl froze as she woke, her hand flying to the blades in her pouch, before glancing up to meet Naruto's eyes. Jaw tight, she gently brushed the hair back from Chouji's tear-streaked face and began singing soothingly to quiet him. Her fingers which had so often been rough with prisoners were soothing and gentle as they ran through his brown hair. As Naruto watched, Chouji's face relaxed and his chest slowed its heaving. When she judged that Chouji was in peace again, Ino turned her haunted gaze to Naruto.

Lips tight, he nodded to her. He wouldn't mention it. Ever. Nodding back, the girl lay back down, falling quickly back into dreamland. Naruto returned to his watch as if nothing had happened.


"You didn't wake me up."

Naruto glared up at the painter. "Yes, yes, I'm sorry! Next time I want to be friendly, I'll restrain my impulse!"

"You didn't wake me up." Sai was not happy. At all. "That was stupid. Did you think I wasn't up to it? Did you think I was too weak?"

Sakura stood beside Sai with her arms crossed and a scowl twisting her face. "That had better not be it, Na-ru-to."

"Alright, alright already! Hmph!" Naruto sulked. "Do someone a favor and they return it negative ten!"

To Naruto's dismay, only four people were impressed with his favor. The other six were insulted and they took pleasure at reminding him in all hours of the day.

Actually, Naruto had noticed that people had been giving him a lot of grief today over various things.

Subtle resistance in Kiba to gathering firewood, a sudden hearing defect in Lee, and frozen gazes from Neji; Chouji cooking even when Naruto asked him to help with the bedding, and Sai's blunt refusal to help, choosing to paint instead. Ino ignoring him in favor of complaining about no plugs to plug in her hair straightener, and how her i-pod wasn't working, only to be met by Sakura's incredulous, "You brought that thing?"

Naruto knew what it was. He was their new leader and they were testing him, perhaps even subconsciously. Not only this, but he knew that some part of them blamed Naruto for getting them into this mess. Not to sound arrogant but Naruto knew that they had all trusted him to get them and Konoha out of the War alive and whole.

He didn't. Hadn't. Naruto's fist clenched until his nails drew blood. Couldn't.

But he didn't blame them for it. Naruto had studied human behavior too long for that. Too long not to expect it. Life on the streets, where you survived another week depending on the goodwill of strangers and by reading reactions to judge whether or not it was safe to approach had taught him this. Time leading troops out of a defeat had taught him this. Life itself had taught him this.

Shikamaru grunted and stood up from where he was basking in the sun, a cigarette drooping from his mouth unlit. "Break it up," He drawled lazily. "We have stuff to do."

Sending a final glare over their shoulders, Sai and Sakura marched off, leaving the bemused blond behind.

Naruto glanced over at the Nara, an eyebrow raised. The lazy nin met his eyes for a second before casually glancing over at Chouji and Ino. Naruto's eyes softened. Shikamaru nodded at him before walking over to arrange the remaining bed, calling for Chouji to help him. While there was no way Shikamaru was going to undermine Naruto's authority and cause conflict, giving their companions a little nudge every once in a while wasn't bad.

Naruto smiled gratefully even as he shoved himself into Lee's way in order to get his attention.

You could always count on a Nara to be dependable.

Leaving the suddenly sound sensitive Lee behind and rapidly approaching a sullen Neji, Naruto decided that he would let them have their rebellion for one day. One day to get their feet, one day to get it out of their system. After that, the law was going down.


Sai unrolled the time chart on the sandy ground where it was illuminated by the light streaming in from the doorway. The scroll stretched thirty feet and was three feet wide. Scribblings and handwriting dotted the paper along with lines and smiley faces. With a sigh Kakashi knelt beside it. "We went back a little further than we thought. We are approximately twenty three years in the past – So! We have three years until the Yondaime is appointed Hokage and four years until Kyuubi attacks. Orochimaru abandons Konoha halfway between those two. That means we have two years extra. That's a blessing. We can use those years to establish our identities and make connections. When planning our identities, Shikamaru, Ino and Hinata came up with a cover and Naruto approved it." He nodded to Naruto who pushed himself off of the wall.

"Here's the deal, gang. We can't just show up at Konoha and proclaim ourselves ninja. Right now Konoha's in the middle of the Third Shinobi war – thus, no trust. And even if we somehow magically got their trust, this would annul our contact in other villages which would cause several of our other planned changes to fall through. Therefore, we have to have an identity which allows us to remain independent to any village yet still have the freedom to roam. Hence, we came up with…" He paused dramatically, "Shinobi Merchants!"

"Huh?" Kiba's eloquent statement summed up the question on everyone's faces.

Naruto's face fell. "Don't you get it? Shinobi… merchant? Merchant shinobi?" He sighed, shoulders drooping.

"Basically, we pose as civilians selling things to shinobi villages. Tapestries, food, paintings, pet care… essentially we become a caravan that sells and performs in shinobi and civilian villages. This way we eventually avoid suspicion. Not only that but we invent tragic pasts," He struck a dramatic pose. "So that if anyone recognizes that we've had ninja training we have an alibi. Such as we say we came from a hidden village that was destroyed before it could make its name known. Sadly, this isn't that uncommon."

He saw their faces clearing. Now they got it.

"I see!" Sakura exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "This way our movements won't be monitored as closely by the time we're ready to make our moves!"

"Right!" Kiba exclaimed. "Plus it will give us something to do."

"Yosh!" Lee cried, jumping up and striking the good guy pose. "And we shall also use this opportunity to refurnish our flames of youth so that our departed friends can look down on us with the tears of pride! We shall become stronger by the blood of our hands and the sweat of our brow! And if this doesn't work, I shall run around Kono… er, the mountain four times on my thumbs! No, seven times! Make that twenty! Gai-sensei, I shall make you proud!" Flames shone from his eyes while Neji groaned, cradling his head in his hands while the rest of the Konoha Survivors looked on in sympathy.

This is why we need Tenten. She could always calm him down without resorting to violence!

He reached over and slammed his fist into the back of the Gai clone's knee. "Urusai, Lee! You'll do no such thing. You're going to sit down and rest because you have the least chakra of any of us, and I'm amazed you weren't killed by that whirlpool thing!"

Lee's eyes welled up with tears. "Gai-sensei, Neji-kun's heart is finally defrosting! Perhaps he is embracing the warmth of the flames of yooouuth!"

Neji groaned. "Hopeless."

Hinata couldn't help herself and fell over giggling and laughing.


"Hinata."

The girl turned around, her long hair floating around her. Silver and kind eyes lit upon her role model as he walked out of the cave into the sun. "How soon can you start making tapestries?"

"I can start immediately. The loom you made for me works wonderfully." She smiled. "I'm glad it can be used for something other than just for me. I always felt a little selfish having so much fun with it back in Konoha."

Naruto looked at her. "I made it for you, Hinata. Actually, I'm the one who should apologize for you having to sell the things you've made." He glared at her. "And you have no reason to feel selfish! Did you even keep one of the tapestries you made?"

Hinata smiled. "Ah, I always kept my favorite one."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Really, which one was that?"

To his bemusement she blushed darkly. "No..nothing! Besides, it was destroyed in the ransack of the Hyuuga House…" The Hyuuga Clan Head, now head of only one person, lowered her eyes. She had been trying to forget that.

Naruto, his blond locks tossed by the wind, frowned as he hadn't wanted to remind her either. Hinata had taken the Hyuuga massacre hard, and had been inconsolable for two weeks afterwards. The elected leader of the Konoha survivors and thus the Rokudaime still remembered Hinata's face when they had come upon the burning compound. Though they searched for hours the only survivors were those who had been away – Hinata and Neji. In that one moment the strongest doujutsu in Konoha was nearly wiped out because the clan elders had been to stubborn to move away from the walls.

No comfort could be given, so Naruto turned to the next best option. Distraction.

"Hey, Hinata, did you know that the faster we get things to sell the sooner we'll have ramen? Of course, we're gonna send a team in first to make sure it's secure, just like civilian travelers would do," Naruto mimicked, "But hey! We'll have ramen to eat! What should we get first? Miso ramen? Or, maybe… pork! Pork ramen is good!"


They were sitting around eating the meat from the deer that Neji had killed when Sai sighed. "Have any of you realized yet that we've shrunk?"

There was silence before Sakura admitted. "Yes, I've noticed, but I hoped it was my imagination." She glanced over at Kakashi. "However, Kakashi seemed taller, so…"

Naruto exhaled and flung his bone into the corner. "It's not that we've gotten smaller, it's that we've gotten younger." He glanced around the room. "You guys really haven't figured it out yet?" Sakura looked a bit embarrassed.

However, some of them, such as Shikamaru and Kakashi didn't look surprised.

"I would say," Shikamaru stated. "That we are around two to three years younger. The scroll mentioned that we would decrease in age and grow slower until our goals were complete."

"Until the time when we left." Kakashi elaborated.

Kiba snorted. "Tch, if feels as if we're in a mixture of Back to the Future and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves."

Slowly, the rest of the shinobi turned to Naruto.

"Anything else you want to tell us?" Neji growled, annoyed. He had been rather proud of his height.

"Why are you blaming this on me?" Naruto exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "You were the ones who wanted to come along!"


Hinata frowned in concentration as she formed another knot. Three tapestries had already been finished. Two more and they would have enough to sell. She sighed and cracked her back. Several crashes, bangs and swearing erupted from the outside but Hinata ignored them with a practiced ear. After two weeks it no longer startled or amused her. She selected another color, a vibrant emerald hue of green and set about making the leaves of the tree. It was one of her finest works yet, even if she did have to say so herself…

It was a tapestry of one of the Hyuuga courtyards where Hinata had played when she was younger. White stones paving the ground while clear, blue water sprouted from a silver fountain, and abundant bushes sprouting from garden plots – a childhood wonderland. She remembered when she was a child she would go to the courtyard and wander through the tall reeds that grew on the edge of the indoor pond. She would sing quietly the nursery rhymes that her mother once sang to her, drawing comfort from her childish voice. When she grew tired of her singing she would lay down in the flower bed, something she was often reprimanded for, and watch the clouds above her as the flowers swung with the breeze.

After Hinata's kidnapping she had been restricted to the compound and hardly ever left except for in the company of her guards. However, in this enclosed court yard that was filled with greenery and life, she could lay on her back and pretend that there were no white walls sealing her in. Out of sight, out of mind, and the only thing she could see was the deep blue of the sky with white fluffy clouds reflecting the setting sun. Often she fell asleep there only to wake up in her bed the next morning wondering how she had gotten here. Once she had woken up to see the face of her father as he picked her up. His face had been the softest she had ever seen it.

She had felt so safe and secure in his arms, feeling the gentle rumble of his voice deep in his chest as he spoke to the guards at his side. She wondered if this was the first time he had done this, and decided to believe it wasn't. It made her feel so safe to have him find her and take her to her bed. It was one of her treasured memories.

After the war had started, the Hokage had asked the clan to move away from the compound. The small courtyard had been the only thing that drew Hinata to that place which she could hardly call a home. However the elders and family members were less than willing, and despite her appeals they had voted to remain there. Hinata couldn't deny that perhaps she was a little bit happy to still have her safe haven to turn to when the war got bad. It had been one of the things that had kept her going after her father's abrupt and violent death, and after the loss of her body guard and friend, Sato-san. It was the place she could go to cry and remember. She could go to the courtyard and feel safe from the world, like a fragile egg which was wrapped in cotton and velvet.

If Hinata could have had her way, she would have never left there. Day in and day out after the guerrilla war went straight to hell, she could be found lying on the side of the enclosed pool, her long, white finger trailing through the water slowly. It had been four weeks after her father's death, a week since the death of her guard, and three weeks since her sister had been found in the forest with fatal injuries. Hinata had managed to say goodbye before Hanabi slipped away. Hanabi's death had never seemed appropriate to Hinata. Somehow, the elder Hyuuga heir had always though that Hanabi would die with a lot of fanfare and explosions at the end of a great battle.

Everybody breaks, Hinata knew. It was during that time when Hinata had reached her breaking point. She had been willing to cast away all hope and strength to huddle in that little courtyard with the memory of her deceased family as her only companion.

Fortunately, Hinata mused as she pulled a scarlet thread to make the petal of an up-close flower, Naruto hadn't been willing to allow her to remain there. She still remembered him coming in and sitting beside her, silent and steady, waiting for her to speak. Stubborn and knowing what he wanted to say but not prepared to hear it, she had ignored him in favor of braiding her long hair. She remembered trying to pin it up, but her hands shook so hard that she couldn't get to get a senbon to go through the dark tresses. Naruto had moved behind her, his rough hands gently sorting through the tangles and rat nests until he was able to twist it up. He didn't use a clasp, she recalled with a smile, preferring to keep it up with chakra. When he had finished, Hinata had turned away, brushing back tears roughly.

"You can't hide here forever, Hinata. You're stronger than that." His words echoed in her mind even after he had left. Later she sensed the familiar brush of Shino's chakra as he entered the room to pull her out to eat, promising that he and Kiba would split the bill. Hinata looked around the courtyard and silently thanked it for its comfort, before turning away and following Shino out while listening to his report on the happenings in the village.

Two months later she saw the courtyard again, but it had been a smoldering heap of charcoal and ash. The fountain had been smashed, the pond poisoned. Instead of clear blue water it was filled with murky black sludge and the bodies of her clansmen. Instead of the scent of flowers and grass the air reeked of burnt flesh. Instead of a soothing breeze the air was the hot burning of fire. Instead of peace and comfort she was in the middle of a nightmare.

Hinata started, shocked to realize that she had been caught up in memories, her hands folded in her lap. Shaking and giving herself a firm reprimand, she picked up her thread again.

The swearing was still going on? What was happening out there?


Naruto was ready to kill someone painfully. And he would enjoy doing it to – painfully. "Where are they?"

Kakashi was late, which wasn't that surprising. What was surprising was that Lee was late too, as was Chouji. Lee was never late, something that he prided himself for, and Chouji didn't like to keep others waiting.

Naruto sighed and put down the hammer. Trying to build wagons was… well, not tiring but taxing even with the Kage Bunshin. And he could use someone else's input on how to build it. After all, how was he supposed to know where Chouji's food corner was supposed to come out, and how was he supposed to know where Ino and Sakura wanted the puppet show, and how was he supposed to know where Sai wanted his paintings to be displayed. Naruto groaned as he sat down.

Things had sort of gotten into a routine. Everyone had their jobs, everyone had their place. Naruto smiled a little as his sharp ears picked up the sound of Lee and Neji, before he groaned and felt like kicking himself. Of course! Lee got moved to work with Neji because Ino didn't trust him with a hammer!

The two boys were responsible for building the outhouse or an inside bathroom… whichever they agreed on. Apparently, Lee was convinced the outhouse would be more "youthfull" but Naruto definitely agreed with Neji that it would be uncomfortable to get to in times of… great need. As Naruto listened to their argument and retorts, feeling the brotherhood between them, he smiled. Neji, stoic as he was, really was a good guy. He had warmed up quite a bit since the first Chuunin exam all that time ago… was it really five years?

Naruto exhaled. It felt weird to only have to worry about ten people. In the last year and a half he had gotten used to commanding half of the shinobi forces plus the several sections of the village that were under his sole supervision. Naruto grinned as he put his hands behind his back and kicked his feet up, remembering. Tsunade had said it was Hokage training, but Naruto suspected that she was just lazy. However, before Naruto knew it he was recognized as second in command. Even ANBU answered to him. He was respected, looked up to, even (dare he think it) loved.

It felt…

Intimidating.

Daunting and humbling. There were so many people trusting him to make the right decisions at the right moments. So many people were counting on him seeing the solutions. So many friends looked to him for leadership. So many people were counting on him getting them out alive. Humbling… that was the right word. And Naruto had made a promise – in the big things and in the little things he would do his best not to fail them or he would die trying.

And he wouldn't go back on that. After all, that was his nindo.

He picked up his hammer again and started pounding. He had a wagon to finish.


Three weeks later…

Feet landed on the hillside.

The girl gazed down at the village below, her face filled with longing. Blond hair swayed down her back. She glanced behind her. "Are you ready for this?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Her pink-haired companion quipped.

"Yosh!" The other companion said. "Let us show Konoha our flames of youth!"


TBC…

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