Chapter 11: Of Reflections

"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love." -Carl Sagan

Hinata

"So this is something Naruto must face alone?" Hinata questions, peering back towards the waterfall in the distance to which Motoi nods.

To the ordinary observer nothing in particular stands out about the Falls as water cascades down into the mini lake below. From the overgrowth of vines settled against the rocks to the fauna that shrouds it on all sides, this isn't what she or Naruto pictured how Tailed Beast training would begin.

"The Falls of Truth is how jinchūrukis connect with their Tailed Beast, it is the first step needed towards mastering control of their beast and harnessing their power." He explains.

'Mastering control.' Hinata considers, recalling the nightmares that off and on plague Naruto. While they aren't as frequent as before based on what she's seen since spending nights at his apartment, when they do come on Naruto is listless and quiet the following morning for hours.

But at the end of this Naruto would have not only control over Kurama's influence, but the immense power that came from him as well.

In spite of this closeness between them, she can tell he never gives her the full details of said dreams or darker memories.

"For now, all you can do is wait." Motoi points out at seeing Hinata move to get closer to said Falls.

Naruto plants himself at the base of the Falls in a meditative pose, entering his mindscape.

Hinata watches him for a long minute before turning back to Motoi, there's no reason for her to just stand around while Naruto begins his own training in a sense.

"Where is a good place to study and practice with my own chakra natures without harming the environment or disturbing the creatures here too much?" She asks and Motoi blinks before gesturing for her to follow him a few ways into another clearing.

"Killer B likes to often practice here at these rock formations and trees. They're dense and sturdy enough to take a few hits to them." He reasons, running his index finger along the scratches littering the sides of the branches and rocks to emphasis his point.

'I can practice against these then without worrying they'll crumble or break apart.' Hinata smiles, nodding her thanks.

First she would test the basics of lightning releases combined with the Gentle Fist.

Motoi lingers around, dark eyes moving been her and the greenery surrounding them. "You came here for more than just training I presume? Even if you're a jinchuriki's lover people rarely set foot on Turtle Island unless it's for the strict purposes of keeping watch over them or escorting said person to their confinement for fear of being killed by their Tailed Beast."

The bluntness of his words startle her and Hinata pauses, weighing how much to tell him.

He is still for all intents and purposes a stranger, one from a land with lingering tense relations with her own home nation to boot.

But answers aren't going to come keeping silent forever.

"You're right, this trip is more for me than just getting stronger or observing Naruto's interactions with the Nine Tails or Kurama I should say. I want to know more about a man who holds the eye of one of my fallen clan members from years ago: Ao."

Motoi looks thoughtful at the name before he snaps his fingers. "Oh, you mean one of the Mizukage's bodyguards! It's a mystery to me where he got that eye so I won't be of help to you there on that front."

His expression gains a mix of curiosity and a tinge of concern. "What are your plans once you come face to face with him?"

Beneath those words is a wondering how she'll take him on she imagines, that a man who has so much more experience in battle and even war won't be an easy opponent for her to face simply out of revenge.

Anger flares in her chest at his doubt of her abilities, jabbing at a falling leaf right by his neck piercing a hole straight through. Motoi steps back in alarm, studying the now cracking leaf as it falls gently to join the foliage below.

"Return back what he stole of course."

-X-

Naruto

"It's pathetic how much you've tried to bury me."

This warped, bitter version of him chuckles, obsidian-red eyes contrasting to his own blue. It's his first time hearing aloud how truly vile his thoughts have been at least from a version of himself, the anger and hatred he always refused to keep giving into.

"Have you forgotten how these same villagers that are praising us treated us like utter shit just a few short years ago? They're the reason behind our loneliness and suffering, even when they knew who our Father was." His Dark version sneers on at his silence.

Naruto lets out a breath, weary to even try and have a conversation.

But the lure of power shines back at him, crimson eyes cold and vicious digging exactly where it will hurt.

"I'm not going to hold a grudge against the villagers for how they treated us when we were younger. I proved they don't need to be afraid of me; us." He asserts.

His Dark version arches a brow, chuckling lowly.

"Did you?" He echoes back, moving to stand.

And there it is then, a flash of a memory. That incident. The one of the old man who lost his son during the Nine Tails Attack years ago.

He stiffens and his dark side smirks.

"Starting to come back to you now, isn't it?" He taunts.

The memory clings, the harshness of steel eyes upon him, of lips twisted in a deep scowl as his face turned a reddish-purple in rage.

He was a retired shinobi, Taishi Nakagawa.

Really, he should've just let his behavior go knowing he was inebriated. His breath had smelled of cheap liquors and smoke from a night out of drinking when he had gotten up close to him. From experiences watching the fellow residents of his apartment he learned some drunks become sleepy and giddy while others like him become hostile. All he wanted to do at the time was get to his bed after the exhaustion of training since dawn trying to perfect the basic jutsus all his classmates can do with such ease compared to him.

But then their paths had crossed...

"You! It's because of that monster within you I lost my oldest son. My grandchild is without a father because of you." Taishi calls out to him. His blinks away spots from his eyes, words slurring together as he trudges into view out of the shadows seemingly having waited for this moment all day.

Naruto pauses, arching a brow. The streets are empty except for them and he clenches his teeth to stay silent. 'For once I won't open my mouth like Iruka-sensei has told me to do when people whisper behind my back or yell directly at me.' He decides.

He refuses to let him pass though when he attempts to move around him. He reveals a kunai from his jacket pocket, shining in the buzz of the streetlights making his eyes widen a fraction. Still, Naruto pushes him back gently only igniting his rage that he won't take him on seriously.

"I don't want to fight you, sir-" Naruto begins."

No, I won't let Shigero's death be in vain!" He cuts him off sharply.

So his words have fallen into the air. Taishi steps forward with the blade pointed, hands shaking just slightly at seeing Naruto's pitying stare.

"Don't look down on me you brat! You're lucky Lord Third's orders prevent you from being fully confined." He hisses.

Naruto purses his lips, there's much he wants to ask on what exactly said orders are though he already knows he won't get an answer. It'd be better if this man like so many others would've just ignored him or pretended he was invisible.

Because now added to his tiredness, his grumpiness is the rush of annoyance that this man truly won't leave him alone until he at least has hurt him in a way whether it be physically, through reminders of his loneliness, or bitterness over unresolved questions.

And out of those frustrations, anger blooms.

"I'm sure that man didn't forget what we did." His dark version croons, at least not replaying the memory fully out.

He doesn't have to though, everything he's said is enough to bring up the recollections of the encompassing heat that overtook him, the flash of scarlet he saw mirrored back at him in his gray eyes before he slashed into his clothes.

"If talking isn't going to get through to you then we'll solve this by fighting." Naruto interrupts him before he can bring up more images of their past actions he thought would stay locked in the back of his mind forever.

It would never be that easy though, not when people like Nakagawa reminded him of that.

His mirror image chuckles, blocking each round of his kicks and punches.

"You and I are evenly matched, we're one in the same after all." He points out.

He leans close to his ear just before Naruto can swing his kunai into his side, tone sharp and cold.

"The only difference between us is I keep those secrets you buried alive."

-X-

Sasuke

"Are you hiding something from me?" Sasuke repeats.

Even with choking her, watching as vermilion eyes dull Karin gives another weak shake of her head. Her stare towards him is still filled with pure adoration when he finally lets her go with a scoff, letting her tumble to the ground like a puppet.

"You're worried about me, that makes me so happy Sasuke!" She squeaks out in delight, voice too raspy to speak any higher.

Sasuke doesn't respond, turning out of her room.

Searching through her booklets and bedspread didn't provide anything, but he can't shake the feeling that something with Karin is off.

Karin follows after him out of his room, fingers pressing into his back. "I'm glad you're so concerned that I may run away again but trust me I'm with you in this for the long haul!"

'Then why do I sense you're keeping a secret?' He wants to ask in return, though his search so far has proven fruitless.

The sharingan and all it's forms, no matter how strong can't detect whether a person is lying or not.

And Karin who is well versed in understanding chakra and emotions can turn her feelings and behavior off and on like a switch if need be. Nothing in her smile gives away she's done anything out of the ordinary, it seems more so like he is the one acting overly cautious for no reason.

"You want to go practice out your new eyes on a living creature, right? It would be best to go now before nightfall truly hits." Karin notes, gaze turning towards outside.

The sky is tinged an amber-violet moon brightening as cold air of the night seeps in through the open windows. They both know the best animals to test Itachi's eyes out on are only around during the daylight hours. Leaves and dirt crunch beneath their feet as they head out into a trail not too far from this hideout, Karin following in his footsteps to help lessen the noise.

"I have to get some herbs for dinner. As much as we typically pass over them, a lot of the plants that grow around here have secondary medicinal purposes and are nutritious for keeping up health and strength." She points out at his stare.

"Right." Sasuke answers in a clipped tone, focusing his attention towards a pair of wild boars eyeing them carefully as they close in on their territory. He cracks his hands, they would do for now for the simple testing of his vision.

Neither one notices the trail of black flames approaching until it is far too late.

'A boar isn't going to be enough, I need to try this against a bear or a pack of wolves before moving to an actual person.' Sasuke considers, watching as ash and blood mix into a puddle at his feet. A low whine escapes the smaller of the swine not yet fully dead when he moves his hand down to check it's pulse, squirming and wiggling to no avail.

'Weak.' Sasuke sighs.

Dark eyes look into his own, breathing heavy and uneven. It's eyes trail from it's dead loved one back to him, fidgeting when Sasuke's kunai comes into view readying at the neck.

He cuts off it's squeal before it can echo out into the forests.

When he looks back Karin's way she is entangled in a thicket of grass and bush, red hair sticking out amongst the green. Her hands are filled to the brim with more than enough herbs and plants to last them until the end of the week. He follows her gaze then towards the valleys below, the mishmash of sloping green and copper hills shining faintly in the last bits of sun.

'That's the direction of the Konoha.' Sasuke realizes.

For a flicker of a moment he pictures the glow of the night markets and festivities, couples and families mingling or running about to try and get their final meals of the day and catch up on the latest news.

"They sell tomatoes half-off on Wednesdays at this one stall Sasuke, I can take you there if you want?" Sakura suggests, stopping in place.

Naruto has already moved on ahead to Ichiraku's at his scoff they're 'moving too slow' for him.

Never mind that he was the idiot that caused them to be late in the first place in returning back to the village after taking too long to capture a stupid lost dog that went into the woods.

"I have enough at home." Sasuke replies, slipping out of reach from her hold before she can grip at him.

The fridge he's sure has at least one left, one that may or may not be spoiled by now after the string of missions they've been on.

To his surprise Sakura doesn't push it, nodding as jade orbs cast their way down the rows. Even with all the commotion, his stomach noticeably gurgles reminding him he hasn't ate anything proper since before dawn.

"You're not a very good liar when you're hungry." She muses before slipping into the crowds away from him.

But then his thoughts trail to the Uchiha district, the cracks of crumbling foundations and the glitter of glass and corpses paving the streets and he buries the grisly images back down.

"We need to get going; now." Sasuke orders more harshly than he intended.

Just looking at the small town below creates unwanted memories.

Karin twists her head slightly towards him as if noticing his presence here for the first time. A haze rests under her eyes before clearing with a nod as she straightens up.

"What were you doing?" Sasuke questions, suspicion burning back at him. He digs his fingers into her wrist before she can lift herself up, only breaking his hold when her hand takes on a bluish-purple hue and she winces from the pressure.

Karin only gestures with her head to the bundle of plants, seeds, stems now scattered around them. An easygoing grin rests upon her face as if not a care in the world at all.

"Nothing! Honestly maybe I should get injured more often if I get to see you worry about me this much." She chirps, rocking her bruised hand slowly and sighing in relief once blood flow properly returns back to it.

She glimpses one last time to the tiny community maybe thinking of her mother or old home below before turning away, briskly moving ahead of him back to the hideout to help prepare in dinner.

There is a remnant of glassiness in her eyes though as her smile fades slowly, enough for him to be certain these niggling thoughts aren't completely unwarranted.

Maybe what Sakura said back then years ago is true, people lie when things like hunger or fear get in the way.

-X-

Naruto & Hinata

"You're not fine. You don't have to lie to me Naruto." Hinata musters up.

The words ignite this restless uneasiness that's been pouring off of him, Naruto stiffening up and twisting away from her again.

Naruto has hardly said anything since returning from the Waterfall of Truth, if anything he's shut down even more than all the times before they left for Kumo.

"I've told you already over and over; I'm fine!" He snaps back, clenching his teeth at how loud his voice bounces across the room. Hinata is more stubborn than he's given her credit for, maybe from his influence on her.

His stomach abruptly tilts, queasy and knotted recalling their kiss. If he's truly influencing Hinata then she mustn't mind considering she kissed him back, leaned into his touch wanting more...

"Things just aren't going to be as easy as I would've hoped you know." He finally admits, meeting her gaze properly when she presses into his side. He takes in a slow breath, reminding his thoughts not to wander in spite of a growing urge to kiss and nip at the parts of her body he never got to wander to last time as a form of distraction.

Hinata pauses, considering her next words. "You mean in dealing with Kurama, right? I'm sure nobody is expecting you to master control of decades of negativity and hate in just one day; you didn't even learn his name until recently if not for us pouring through all those old books. That's why we came here in the first place."

'No, it's more than just that. It's these ugly reminders of the things I've done when Kurama took over. I lose control of myself and hurt the ones I love.' Naruto clicks his tongue.

"How are things going with your search for Ao?" Naruto questions, changing the subject off of himself.

Hinata frowns at his clear avoidance of the topic before shrugging out the tension in her shoulders. "Not as easy as I hoped either you could say. There isn't much information on him even from database records or family history after doing a basic search through what Kumo's facilities have."

"He's one of the Mizukage's bodyguards and he keeps to a low profile." Naruto thinks aloud, vague details coming to mind when trying to picture the man. He and the other Kage were the furthest things from his mind once he saw Hinata injured.

Hinata bumps their shoulders, smile returning back. "I've heard from Motoi that there is a woman within the village who was a resident from Kiri many decades ago, but escaped with her children sometime around the Second Shinobi World War to family she had here on her mother's side. They call her Madam Yua or Lady Kojima from the Mists. He said her memory is beginning to fade now with age, though it's possible Ao's name might bring up a recollection."

"Ah, hopefully she'll be willing to talk with me being an outsider! I'm sure as well she probably doesn't want to dredge up the past by having a complete stranger bombard her with such questions." Hinata abruptly considers, pursing her lips.

Her mind pops up with images of being pushed out her door as soon as they confess they are Leaf shinobi or being caught in a lie and coldly told to leave. The worst case scenario is that perhaps this Madam Yua will know about Ao, but her memories will be too fragmented and disjointed to make sense of.

Naruto grabs at her hands before she can further doubt how good of an idea it is to even talk to his supposed wise old woman, pressing the tips of her fingers to his lips watching as her cheeks flush pink.

"Hey now, weren't you just telling me a minute ago not to let negativity crap and stuff weigh me down?!" He teases. He rubs at each of her fingers slowly, tracing at fading cuts new and old from her training by the rocks.

"When people see the byakugan the first thing they think of is the Gentle Fist, not our nature types. That is one way to take advantage of and surprise an enemy in battle." Hinata notes before concentrating electricity into the tips of each finger.

"You can practice on me if you'd like!" Naruto suggests, chuckling when Hinata seems to weigh the idea.

"Only once you finish your jinchuriki training." She eventually decides.

"This is different and you know it!" Hinata huffs back bringing Naruto back to this current situation, slipping her hands away from his to fall back into their sheets. Naruto tumbles after her, hovering above her and her breath quickens watching as cobalt orbs roam her figure.

She squirms under the heat of his gaze, undressing her with his eyes.

"I want you Hinata...I know I shouldn't, but I do." He murmurs in the curve of her neck, pressing his body into hers. Her body instantly reacts all over again from his touch, warming in anticipation as whispers to turn to light kisses at her cheeks.

This time though she wants to feel him if only briefly, drawing lines along his chest and downward before his hands can trail any further. Naruto shivers, grunting out her name and she stops at the edge of his pants, face aflame as realization seeps in that she is no better at controlling her lust than him.

"Tomorrow, come with me to see her? It will take your mind off of training for a bit." She suggests suddenly, drawing her fingers back.

Naruto doesn't answer at first, considering the option. Maybe a temporary distraction will help him better understand how to face his bottled hatred.

"Tomorrow." Naruto repeats slowly after her eventually, fingers pressed at her sides squeezing before letting go.

-X-

Sakura

On her first actual real night off in perhaps weeks, her scarlet mole's delivery arrives a quarter past midnight.

It isn't like Karin to be late, even with all her griping and cursing throughout her short notes.

'The raven is getting suspicious. Brother's eyes working well, planning to go after Eight Tails again soon.'

Shit, this isn't good.

While it's inevitable Sasuke and Naruto are going to face each other again, she can't be sure Naruto's ready for these new improvements Sasuke has literally implanted into himself.

On top of that there is Anko's report of bodies found scattered throughout Konoha's neighboring forests, all apparent victims of Kabuto's experiments that delve beyond anything she and Lady Tsunade have witnessed before upon studying their cadavers.

Sleep eludes her in a game of chase trying to put all of these circling thoughts to rest. She could make a herbal tea perhaps, however it would waken her parents already exhausted over her workaholic behavior and question how couldn't she be sleepy after such long hours on her feet?

So before she even opens her eyes she feels the distinct thrum of a headache coming on, left side of her head pulsing.

Blearily her vision adjusts to soft pastel pinks and reds settled behind her curtains, gaze shifting to her alarm clock.

'6:03 am'. She reads.

Good, that meant her favorite café was already open for the day.

"Deep in thought and not even on the job!" Kakashi greets her just as she's getting out of line to find a table outside to sit. The coffee she's already had turns to sludge in her stomach, Kakashi-sensei wouldn't come here so early in the morning unless it was a matter too important to leave alone.

He plops down beside as if they're about to enjoy a simple breakfast together for old times sake that would look like to any passerby something normal; ordinary.

'He doesn't know about Karin or the poison; relax.' She reminds herself before her features can give away any telltale signs of tension or worry. A waitress comes by to get his order and he takes her up on her offer of trying the scrambled eggs with toast and coffee on the side.

"My body has adjusted to being up early with the way my hours typically are. Unlike some people I know constantly late for missions, a hospital never sleeps." Sakura huffs back semi-teasingly.

Kakashi arches a brow, looking away from the growing long line out the door. "Speaking of the hospital, anything new to report regarding the patient populations and symptoms they're coming in for? You said before it's mainly just been geriatric patients with a few younger ones interspersed between them."

Sakura leans back in her chair coolly, it's too early and her migraine still looms to play into Kakashi-sensei's game.

"Rather than that, you're more curious about my own projects; aren't you? You have no reason to worry." She jumps straight the point.

Onyx eyes don't relax though, only sharpening in concern. "Of course it worries me that my own student is engaging in risky behavior. It was one thing to poison her, but what happens if you abruptly stop hearing from your mole? Sasuke will come after you as soon as he makes the connection."

The waitress appears again with her simple omelet and bagel before she can respond, no longer so appetizing with this new churning straight to her gut.

'He knows.'

Damn it, the tiny holes she ignored in this plan have now become gaping fissures.

"I want to help you, don't be alarmed." Kakashi mutters once the waitress returns back inside to take another slew of orders from arriving customers. The buzz of their surroundings nearly drowns him out, that along with the drumming of her pounding heart and headache mixing together.

"How? You can help by never asking about it again." Sakura hisses too harshly after a minute of thinking before pursing her lips shut at her coldness.

Kakashi arches a brow, maybe expecting her bitter response.

"Sakura...you don't know exactly what you're getting into or doing. These allies Sasuke has on his side aren't like any others you or even I have ever faced." He remarks.

Sakura scoffs, moving to cut into her omelet before it becomes cold. Rather as well have a full stomach to deal with the rest of this conversation.

"I know that already, it's not like I'm still a genin fresh out of the Academy. Besides, what makes you think I have just one Mole in the works?" She replies smoothly.

It pleases her to see the flicker of surprise in his expression, that all her cards so to speak haven't been revealed or realized by him just yet.

The silence gives her a moment to take in the peppers and spice mixed into the egg, no wonder it's one of their most popular menu items. When she finishes her bite she looks up at Kakashi properly, hardening her gaze to prove her seriousness.

"If I didn't say it to you before Sensei, I'll say it you now. I've already seeped into the cracks in the foundation of Sasuke's team and there is no turning back now even if it is a slow process. I have fallback upon fallback measures for worst case scenarios. On top of that, there's more than one way to get to his so called loyal teammates. Trust, like most anything can be broken under the right circumstances." She smiles.

Kakashi doesn't move even as his plate and coffee are set in front of him, gesturing with his hand to continue when they're both sure none of the patrons close by are listening.

"How?" He asks.

Sakura's grin widens, there's only one word to explain it as she lowers her voice an octave.

"Bargaining."

-X-

Naruto & Hinata

"You know, are we even sure this old hag can help us?" Naruto questions midway in their walk towards Madam Yua's apparent home. The morning air is particularly sticky and humid, sun blotted in and out by rolling waves of gray.

Hinata nudges him in his side, fixing him with a look that makes him wrinkle just slightly. "We haven't even met her yet Naruto! Besides, it's our best lead, no our only lead to go off of on Ao's history."

Her home like many of the other houses and buildings scattered throughout Kumo seems to tower towards the sky, windows reflecting a patch of sunlight that manages to break through the clouds.

And both freeze upon her seeing her figure appear at said window, auburn eyes observing their approach with neither a frown or a smile.

"That's creepy, how long was she standing there just looking at us?" Naruto hisses lowly, grabbing Hinata's hand to pull her back should this old woman try anything.

"It's just her alone in terms of chakra signatures I'm picking up." Hinata murmurs back, deactivating her byakugan.

Madam Yua shifts away from the window the closer they get, appearing before them at the door a minute later without them needing to knock. "I remember all the talk and rumors I heard about you two when you came here so many weeks ago. A mysterious young couple who never fit the bill for anyone from the Yotsuki clan even with their transformation jutsu."

Naruto and Hinata look to each other before quickly back to her, Hinata speaking first.

"Ah, we're sorry to trouble you Madam Yua so early in the day! I'm Hinata-"

"Missy, I know who you are so don't waste your breath; I did my own research after hearing all that gossip. Motoi and some of the younger village folk may think I'm going senile for whatever new damn reason they came up with just because I like to be left alone. I have no reason to interact with them or even you two for that matter." Yua cuts her off with a snort dripped with derision over their presence.

Hazel orbs sharpen at their silence and lack of turning away, scoffing before stretching out a crick in her neck.

"So, what does the heiress or really former heiress of the Hyuga clan I should say and the jinchuriki of the Nine Tails want with me?"

-x-

Guys, I think my best writing ideas come to me when I'm half asleep and it's the middle of night because yeah it looks to be 1:41 am at the time of completing this! I don't know if you guys fully realize who Sakura is alluding to during her discussion with Kakashi. I didn't want to make it too obvious the other facets of her plan, though I would like to see your guesses! Let me know your thoughts!

Almost to 100 reviews as well; glad so many of you are enjoying the story!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!