I make it no secret that the layout of canon is getting shifted around quite a bit. Between ambiance, character/cast creation, and abilities, Don't expect much out of a gradient. This is not an AU, (Apart from the SI crew) but you're likely to see things from a perspective generally removed from canon.

I do not own naruto. The development being done in parallel on the other hand, I don't speak of ownership there (especially here)

Now, barring any extra/unforeseen notices, Enjoy the story.

(Extra extra!) This is a big 'feelings' chapter. A special event for anyone who is tired of the dark conspiracy moods.

===Chapter 15: Serenity===

The last of the season's flourish were in bloom. Between the climbing warmth and gentle breeze, you could not mistake the season for the winter before. As a sign of good will, The Yamanaka clan began to host events for the children and youth. For the third time this year, a gathering of kids were provided lessons and trade insight in respect to local and general flora.

Among those in attendance were Hinata Hyuga and the Yamanaka princess herself, and they spent a fair amount of their time roaming the hills together. It was a unique bond they shared. Far removed from Ino's normal circles, Hinata was quiet, reclusive, and terribly shy when pressured, but beneath that Ino discovered a natural tendency toward undersought facets, and it leant well to exploring topics of interest.

Despite her underwhelming demeanor, it secured Hinata a spot in Ino's favored counsel.

The sound of an outcry tripped her senses, and a budding thirst for gossip drew her attention away from their quiet ridge. At the trace sound of jeering, Ino furrowed her brow and turned to Hinata, "I'm gonna go check that out. Back in a few, alright?"

Nervous in the face of trouble, Hinata put on a brave face and nodded, "Be careful, Ino."

Ino smiled as she turned to go. With a brief jog through the woods, she came upon the source and soured. Sure enough, it was part of their group, and worse still they were picking on one of their own. A brighter color vanished behind the trio and at the same time, someone crumbled to the ground with a weep.

Already set on intervening, Ino's temper spiked as she picked a few more rigid stems. With a deft toss she lodged the stem into the arm of one, and the neck of another. Jabbing the last one as their reactions drew their concern.

The first one hit cried, "H-hey! Who do you think you're messing with?" "Yeah, what's your problem?"

Ino waved a finger warningly, "You know, you should hurry up and get some medical help. Those flowers are poisonous, and could kill you in the right hands." Ino shifted another two stems in her palm and raised them menacingly.

Two of them balked outright, and the last joined their flight, adding a spectacular display of screaming.

The bright haired girl frowned in worry, and flinched when the blond drew closer.

Ino smiled, "Those three are idiots. These only make you sick if they eat the root, and it's only really dangerous with some work done on that."

"You didn't come to pick on me…" The girl seemed unsure of where to take that thought, "They were making fun of my forehead." tiny tears winked along her eyelids.

Ino stretched a hand out, "Well then they're bigger idiots. You've got something no one else does. That makes you special." Shrugging she added for good measure, "Maybe they're just jealous."

The pinkette took her hand and cleared her eyes, a look of disbelief, "M-My name's Sakura. Sakura Haruno."

Ino smiled and nodded enthusiastically, "And I'm Ino Yamanaka. It's nice to meet you." Helping Sakura to her feet, "Even your name is cool. Cherry blossoms, and the tree itself is super tough."

Sakura reddened at the praise, tucking a lock behind her ear, "Umm, Thank you. For helping me too…"

Ino shrugged, "It's what friends do, I suppose." Turning to return, "You're welcome to hang around or come with. If I notice someone harassing around here, I'll be on them like a hawk."

Sakura nodded, but checked herself when her stride to follow came a little too readily, "Thank you, erm, Ino."

-Cut-

When Iruka came around again, Naruto had almost gotten caught up in a growing concern of his own. His surprise at finding the teen milling around again was buffeted with his enthusiasm, "You're back! How'd it go?" He bounced on the balls of his feet before pausing in thought, "You said you were gonna be busy for a month?"

Iruka rubbed the back of his head, "For my first time, I'd say we did pretty well." 'Those cloud teams were no joke. If it weren't for the team that allied with sand during the second round, we probably wouldn't have gotten through to the tournament.' "I'll just have to try harder next year."

Naruto sobered quickly, a silent remorse as he glanced to the side.

Iruka wasn't so broken up about it, "Why the long face? There's still the tournament to look forward to. I may not be in the running this time, but a lot of interesting people made it through?"

Naruto perked up, "Really?"

"Yeah!"

The blond was ecstatic. At the thought of seeing real life ninja in action, he was practically chopping at the bit. (What was that he said about animal talk?) …

After a moment to blow off some steam, Iruka raised his arms placatingly, "Alright, settle down. I know you're excited. Now, I'm gonna be really busy these next few weeks. Before you go getting wrapped around- *Sneeze*" Iruka rubbed his nose, "Around another tree, I'm gonna see about finding you a proper coach." 'What was that about?'

His vision blurred as the blond collided with his stomach, "Iruka sensei, you're the best!"

"Sensei?" Naruto didn't bat an eye in response, 'A little early for something like that.' "Now come off, I'm still bruising you know!"

-cut?-

Iruka was still a little bit unsettled by the boy's zeal. ~Let's go out for ramen, Iruka. My treat!~ It wasn't like the blond to indulge himself like this. Outside of burning a hole in his pocket, Iruka couldn't recall a time when Naruto pushed a luxury, 'Something's strange. I know at one point he'd been taken under the Hokage's wing, but it's not like he's expecting a paycheck.' "You know you don't have to do this right? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to butter me up for some big hustle."

Apprehensive blue eyes darkened, and Naruto recoiled at the comment.

Iruka frowned in concern, 'He wouldn't.' "Naruto?"

The blond shook his head to clear his thoughts and shifted, "I- I just wanted to do something to help for a change."

There was a hurt in his voice. Iruka suspected it went further than an insensitive remark, "I think this is the second time I've seen you this upset Naruto. What's eating you?"

Naruto shuddered, his hair masking his eyes. Turning away he took a deep breath, and the agitation seemed to bleed off of him in waves. Iruka was stunned to feel a weight rolling off his own shoulders. Turning back to face him, the blond answered, "Everyone- has been trying so hard lately. In my head, I guess I just never noticed why, but everyone has been so hard off. Kids parents are trying so hard to do more, the ones that hate me-" Naruto shook, "I suddenly felt like I wasn't really trying. I let everyone think I was like anyone else, but they had it even worse than I did!"

Considering the withering looks he'd seen from time to time, and the lengths Naruto went to staunch them, even without knowing what it was…

Iruka held a deep seeded resentment. During the biju attack, he had been swept away from the front, even as his parents fought to keep the beast at bay. Throughout that whole night, he dreaded the worst, and when word came it felt like someone showed up just to tear open scars hours old and pour spoil on them.

It slipped once. That a child had appeared. A relic of the foxes power, with a corrupt aura and features plucked straight off the beast. Having written it off as some impossible crank, Iruka was caught by pure disbelief when he first caught sight of a child with whisker marks. Golden blond hair, loudmouthed and a creeping doubt that followed as he passed. Even then. The idea that that boy, that a tiny squealing infant, compared with the roaring storm that took his parents? It stuck like a cruel joke.

Resentment had flanked Iruka for months after the disaster. For a time after that discovery, he supposed his grief might finally have something to focus towards. And end to pertain to all that suffering. It never reached his eyes in the presence of that cursed kid. That hatred and the incoherent mess that the infant was could never be one in the same.

It didn't just vanish from association. Iruka always felt those feelings stirred up whenever he heard words exchanged about the boy. Never so blatant as they once were. Part of it was that he regretted being the helpless child that day, and the pain of being orphaned would never leave him.

Naruto may have been blind to the day to day struggles, but he'd been putting up his own fight ever since. It would be a cold day in hell when Iruka faulted someone for getting caught up in village policies, and in the last year, he'd seen plenty of reasons to admire the blond.

"You're still very young Naruto. It's way too early to be shouldering all of that on your own, but It means a lot that you care. You've got plenty of potential to grow into, so as long as you take it one step at a time, I'm sure you'll be a big help to everyone," Crouching down he placed a hand on naruto shoulder, "It'll happen before you even realize it."

Naruto brushed his face, moisture and pent up frustration alike swept a side with that one moving speech, "I- I want it too, Iruka."

Iruka stood and turned to the road ahead, "C'mon, I'll make it my treat."

Naruto whined, "Iruka?!"

"Relax. With all of us busy with the exam prep, I'm sure I'll be topped off in no time." Iruka grinned, "You think you get to be the only one who's fixing to get stronger?"

Naruto's indignation gave way to a lopsided smile, "You better mean that. I promise, soon enough, I'll get strong enough that I can help everyone!"

(To answer a rather sinister whim that just popped in: No. I am not in the practice of building characters up to have them slaughtered for a big emotional turnpoint. I'm not that kind of monster.)

===Bonus scene===

The midafternoon shadows lent the stand's branded lanterns and other worldly effect as the teen and budding toddler shared the meal. Naruto's usual zeal was divided between his food and prompting new ideas from the genin. With the growing bustle and content in his stomach the boy's movements had gotten a bit more broad sweeping than normal.

The clinker or ceramics was about the only warning they got when a flairful gesture went too far. The stack of bowls to his side lurched toward the counters edge as his elbow swept back. Iruka wound up intercept should things continue south. The swimming mass of pottery jolted at the edge, teetering precariously before settling.

Naruto released a sigh of relief and turned back to ponder his meal more carefully.

Iruka felt similarly, but he narrowly registered movement in his periphery. The stack of bowls pressed against the disposable bamboo cuts, and for a moment he was at a loss as to what transpired. Slowly, his mind's eye played down the list of possible feats, among them the unfound occupant of the empty seat. None of it accounted for what he'd just seen. Reigning his chakra in, he prepared his focus, and in that one moment, he noticed something shifting beneath the lantern.

Like a tongue of heat it shifted from beneath the counter. Worry changed to shock as a breeze, and the cut of light between the curtains revealed others like it. Like a phantom sunspot, they seemed to dive from the space as his attention wavered, and vanished altogether. In their absence, an all to nostalgic blond perked up.

The chef turned and frowned, "Was that a near miss I heard?"

The blond smiled sheepishly, "I've got it old man. I'll be more careful from now on, believe it."

With a grunt of assent the ramen chef returned to managing his kitchen. Iruka, on the other hand, was awestruck, 'What did I just- What I just saw...'

Yet another cruel joke. A blond catapulting about like a monkey, surging ahead with an unforeseen speed, and correcting at a moment's notice.

This one came with a punchline, "Ah."