Ino and Choji died on the same mission- a supposedly simple recon mission. Shikamaru wasn't with them because he was stuck in a meeting too important to miss, but he blamed their deaths on himself for the better part of three months. Even then, he never truly recovered.

At that point, they were the last Ino-Shika-Cho. The last to be and to live, since no one had the time to have and raise an heir. They barely had the time to sleep a few minutes before heading back out onto the field.

No one heard their last words- none from their respective groups surviving. That didn't make their deaths easier on anyone.

Shikamaru was never the same after that.

.

.

.

Aki stood completely still, keeping an eye on Zabuza, Haku, and his team while letting his clone's memories fill his head. The threat was neutralized and Tazuna's family was safe. For the moment, at least. And a clone was sent to prepare the back-up plans in case anything fell through. "Well, look who's here."

The Uzumaki looked at the speaker, Zabuza, and only let an easy smile overtake his face.

The only things he noted as different? Naruto immediately got stuck in the ice dome with Sasuke and Sakura wasn't shaking as much. Zabuza wasn't fully healed and was way warier than before. Aki stood lazily, posture relaxed, as he surveyed the area, setting up a protective barrier around Sakura and Tazuna without so much as a blink. The others on the bridge didn't notice- otherwise, Zabuza would've started attacking him.

He grinned as Sasuke awakened his Sharingan, deciding it's been long enough. "Ready for our rematch, Zabuza?"

The missing-nin didn't react outside of the "You arrogant little-"

"lAnGuAgE! There are tiny small ones present!"

In a blink, Aki was behind Zabuza and Kakashi was sending some jutsu at the ice dome, trying to help his kids. Once Aki and Zabuza parted, the red-head switched places with the Hatake, a simple, "I have more chakra," taking the place of an explanation. The red-head released some of his limiting seals, his chakra radiating off him in powerful, intimidating waves. Waves that mostly focused around the mirrors instead of spreading.

The mirrors cracked, just from his chakra. He's dangerous. They aren't reforming at all. Who is this man? I can see how he challenged Zabuza-sama like that...

Without moving, Aki made the wind around them slice through the mirrors, turning them into a fine hail. Luckily for Haku, the only mirror left was the one he was in, and even that was destroyed after he had just enough time to leave it. The boy crouched low, tense as a spring.

"You have a special someone to protect, Aki-san."

Aki only let a brief glance of grief fly across his face, his smile never leaving. "Now? Yes. A few. But the ones I got strong for are all dead. Have been for a long time now. I never would've gotten here without the friends I had at my back."

"You idiot! You'll get yourself killed!"

"Naruto, you moron! Don't talk to the Hokage like that! Have some respect!"

"Maa... That's our number one unpredictable knuckleheaded ninja, Naruto Uzumaki."

"Mother wants your blood. Who are you?"

"Don't call me Pervy Sage!"

"I'm not a Granny, brat!"

"Troublesome."

"Don't let Forehead get you down too much."

"Come get barbeque with us!"

"My name is Sai."

"I'll be your temporary jonin-sensei on this mission. My name is Yamato."

"Naruto, I'm sure you know Temari of the Sand."

"It's because... I love you! I always have! And I won't let him hurt you anymore!"

"I will help you. Why? Because... I don't need a because!"

"We got your back, don't we Akamaru?"

"Bark!"

"Call me 'Dad'. I may not have much time, but I want to get to know you the way I should've."

"You moron! I'm not the Kyuubi!"

"Call me B!"

"The flames of your youth shine very bright, Naruto!"

"It's your destiny to lose to me today."

"Welcome to my weapons shop! I'm Tenten, how can I help you?"

"You don't know true pain!"

"Take this. As long as the petals are on it, take it as a sign I'm alive."

Aki blinked, noticing only a second had passed, and smiled. Yeah... There's no way I'd do this if it weren't for them.

.

.

"I'll take the bodies."

No-one stopped him as he sealed away what was left of Zabuza and Haku into the seal he tampered with, keeping them alive within the parchment until he could get Tsunade to look at them. Sorry, you two. You're not going to the afterlife just yet.

Once they made it back to the hut, Aki grinned easily and stood at the table. "How about that island trip?"

.

.

.

"Now hold on tight, alright?"

A second later, the group stood on Uzu sand, the waves lapping up to meet them a little less than two meters away and the forest fading a ways away into the edge of the ruins. The sands were soft and pale, the ocean a blue that rivaled Naruto's eyes, and the forest was emerald green, the sun shining through the leaves turning the floor into jade spots. Seagulls cawed from above, insects buzzed from the forest, the shadow-clones made a bit of ruckus from the ruins, a few dolphins leaped up from the waves, paradise birds called from the trees... All in all, very peaceful. And alive. All around, nature chakra flowed in abundance as well as normal chakra. No one could sense around the natural chakra since there was so much of it except Aki and -maybe one day- Naruto and Yuki.

Aki had sat on Uzu meditating and gathering nature chakra for so long, the chakra around the island felt normal to him and he was able to tell when someone was there. He was able to tell if they were Uzumaki, too, since the chakra swirled around an Uzumaki in small waves, slowly getting to its full density as if welcoming the Uzumaki home. For others, it had no such respect, flowing around and through them as it always would. So when Sakura started hyperventilating and Kakashi looked a bit pale, Aki wrapped an arm around the jonin's shoulders and pressed his body to the older's side, easily lifting Sakura and holding her with one arm as well. He chuckled a little, an apologetic smile on his face.

"Sorry. I didn't know any of you were chakra-sensitive besides Naruto."

"Why isn't he feeling this?"

"It's Uzushio's chakra. It recognizes Uzumaki blood and chakra and comes to us much slower." Once Sakura's breathing went back to normal- if a little fast- and Kakashi's face got its color back, Aki set the child down and put a little space between him and the other jonin- not much if the heat he felt from the man was an indicator, but enough so the man didn't feel forced to stay. "Stay by Naruto or me and the chakra won't overwhelm you. Probably."

"I told you it wasn't dead, Teme!"

"Shut up, Dobe."

"Teme!"

"Dobe!"

As the children argued, Aki's shoulder began cramping at the height difference- Kakashi was a head taller than the younger jonin, even back in his own timeline. (He blamed the lack of proper nutrition in his childhood.) So, he lifted his arm from Kashi's shoulder and dropped it around his waist, not touching him until Kakashi gave a nod. In a whisper, he said, "Sorry for just... coming up to you. You looked a little pale and I kinda panicked."

"It's alright," the older man replied, slinging his arm around the other's shoulders. "Thanks. I wasn't expecting so... much of it."

Aki nodded, then looked back at the kids, who had started sparring. He purposefully ignored a particularly loud explosion- a bit of luck masking the shadow clones' antics with the boys'. "They're good kids. Good kids that got dealt a rotten hand."

"Nearly impossible to teach. Why do they listen to you?"

Aki blinked at the jonin, then looked back at the fighting boys before answering. "If I had to guess... Naruto probably listens to me cuz I'm his family, Sasuke listens because I don't choose him over anyone all the time, and Sakura always listens to her teachers." He shrugged as the fight escalated. "But that's just a guess and assuming they're actually taking my lessons to heart." They stood in silence, watching the fight until both boys, panting and exhausted, collapsed on the sand, Sakura rushing over to Sasuke as Aki moved towards Naruto, Kakashi still in the red-heads arms.

"You okay, Kit? Got him good and got good?"

The blond nodded, rolling onto his back and staring to the sky. "Yeah."

Aki nodded, letting go of the Hatake and squatting down beside the blond. "Good. That means you're growing and learning. It means you have someone to push you harder than you'd ever be able to push yourself, and it means both of you will get stronger because of it."

"Did-" the blond took a deep breath, trying to slow his breathing a little. "Did you have someone like that?"

Aki grinned, a real smile flowing onto his face for the first time since... Well, since the losses started piling up during the war. The first real smile anyone in that timeline had the honor of seeing, as tinged with sadness and nostalgia as it was.

Kakashi thought he wouldn't mind seeing that smile more often.

"He was my best friend. We fought like cats and dogs but in the end... We'd both die for each other," Aki stated without faltering, as though saying the sky was blue or his hair was red. (Except Aki would falter on claiming his hair was Uzumaki red, as he forgot sometimes.)

The child looked up at the red-head, a sad look on his face. "He's not here anymore, is he?"

Aki shook his head sadly, a small smile on his face. "He's long gone, now. He saved me more times than I care to count and pushed me farther than I ever thought possible. He was an idiot, but so was I." Aki gave a slight laugh, mirth in his eyes. "He was my Sasuke, but we had a much stronger bond after those years."

Understanding flew through Naruto's eyes, face lighting up in hope during his next question. "Could we be like that?"

Aki grinned. "You're already on that track. Keep being there for him and pushing him, and you'll get there one day."

A smile formed on the blond's face as Aki helped the boy up. "You mean it?"

The older Uzumaki nodded easily. "We were just like you, back in our genin team. Believe it or not, he was the Sasuke in our relationship."

Naruto's eyes widened, shock filling his face. "You were like me?"

Aki grinned, ruffling the blond locks and ignoring the curious looks. "Exactly like you. I was a rambunctious, energetic, prankster that no one in my village liked. They thought I'd bring bounty hunters with my Uzumaki-ness and always tried to run me out. When I got on the same team as the prodigy of my class, many rioted against it, saying I'd get the team killed. I had too much chakra, no control, too much energy, and a heart ten times too big. I couldn't even do the standard clone jutsu. Still can't."

Kakashi's eyebrows rose while shock and doubt went across Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke's faces. "Really?"

"I don't believe it. How'd you graduate without the clone jutsu?"

"Prove it."

Aki grinned, made his hand signs, gathered his chakra like he was supposed to, and... there poofed a clone looking a bit too identical to the ones Naruto made. Everyone blinked at the clone, then to Aki. "Huuuuh?!"

"That looks just like one of my clones!"

"You... actually can't do a standard clone."

Aki grinned at them, standing tall. "I really can't. Too much chakra and not enough control. I never got a good education and none of my teachers tried helping me through my disabilities."

"Your what."

Aki looked at the furious Hatake and nodded. "I have ADHD and dyslexia- both common among Uzumaki. Makes sealing a lot easier, but learning from scrolls or sitting down long enough to figure them out..." He shook his head as the understanding went through Team 7, being reminded of a certain Uzumaki.

"Learning by doing was always my friend, but I was thrown out of weapons shops, even after I became a genin, so I couldn't ever practice my aim. No one taught me katas or proper taijutsu, so mine was a mismatch of what I got from watching other shinobi." The red-head shrugged as rage swelled up in Team 7, minus Naruto who filled with understanding. It seemed Kakashi noticed that as the Hatake looked over at Naruto, surprise and grief in his eyes.

"Anyway, it's too late for me to learn the jutsu or completely perfect my chakra control, but training makes up for it."

"Um, Sensei? You say you have a lot of chakra... but I don't feel anything from you."

Aki grinned as the others thought about it, but nodded. When they looked at him expectantly, he lifted his shirt and sent chakra to his stomach, where Kurama's seal used to be. A large and intricate seal bloomed to life, dark ink swirling around his skin like water. "That's thanks to this seal. It suppresses my chakra when active and makes it identical to my surroundings. To a sensor, I don't exist."

"How," Kakashi asked while he and the kids studied the seal- Naruto in particular.

"It suppresses my chakra, then filters whatever chakra's in the environment and spreads it over and through me. If I deactivate it and my other seals..." He pulsed his chakra, stopping his stealth seals from working and letting his chakra flow normally- letting it go in waves and flow wherever it wanted. Team 7s eyes widened at the amount alone, Sakura and Naruto wincing at the feeling.

To them, it was like an ocean. Endless, deep, and wide, filled with mystery and question. For those who could sense better, they felt his unending joy and energy, but also a sadness bone-deep no one knew was there. They felt trauma and pain and hope and scars and so many other feelings. They felt the warmth that was Aki Uzumaki as well as the hidden similarity to Naruto, but how something was... different... in the feeling of his chakra. Something ancient and wise and hurt and healing.

At that moment, every sensor on Earth knew something big was at Uzushiogakure- something powerful and warm. Something they wanted on their side- or someone. But no one knew who it was or where they lived, immediately informing their leaders of the presence that disappeared as suddenly as it came.

But Kakashi? He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, only opening them when Aki reactivated his seals and looking at the red-head in a new light. He recognized the pain he felt of losing someone important, of finding family only to lose them. Of regret and self-loathing and borderline suicidal desires. Of grief and hopelessness and determination and pure pain. Of healing and effort and sleeplessness and desperation and hope and energy.

He recognized the feeling of depression, having known the state well. He recognized the feeling of help, of healing, mainly from the people who slowly stopped going to Inochi and the Yamanaka therapy sessions.

And he felt for the red-head. Way more than he would ever admit aloud.

But then the moment was over and Aki's seal was reactivated, smile on the Uzumaki's face once more. "Who wants to explore?"

.

.

.

Aki noticed how Sakura was more interested in the plants, asking him all about everything he knew. So when they decided to turn in for the night, Aki walked up to her with a grin. "Hey, Sakura?"

She looked at him, a smile and question on her face. "What is it, Sensei?"

He unsealed his Sakura's journal, the only mention of who it belonged to being an S.U. on the cover for Sakura Uchiha-Uzumaki. The three of them had let each other into their respective clans, sharing names and seals and traditions before their deaths.

That only made their deaths hit harder, as Aki lost the first and last family he'd ever had.

He held out the brown, worn journal to the pinkette, a sad smile on his face. "This was my other teammate's journal. She was so smart and talented and she was the best medic in the whole wide world. She kept us in line and alive and gave her life to heal our teammate." He took a deep breath as she looked over the journal, awe in her eyes. "You remind me so much of her it almost hurts. And I think you'd be an amazing medic. With your chakra control and memory, I'm sure you can surpass her and Tsunade."

She looked at him, awe still there, and asked a bit breathlessly, "Are you sure?"

He sat down beside her, grin still on his face. "I'm positive. I'd bet all my money and everything I have that you'd be great with medical ninjutsu and genjutsu, plus a fighting style that uses chakra control."

She thanked him with tears in her eyes, finally getting a little confidence in her abilities as a shinobi.

And looking over the journal, she realized the author must have been a genius. Everything was well organized and easy to understand, coming with diagrams explaining and showing what whatever she was talking about should look like. From then on, Sakura carried the journal with her wherever she went, referencing it and memorizing its contents much faster than a normal person would be able to.

She wouldn't disappoint her sensei, after all.

.

.

.

Aki found Sasuke angrily punching a tree one day, quickly intercepting the boy's fist. What once was an anger session turned into a productive training session with the red-head showing the boy the flaws in his defense and stance without a word. He attacked every opening he saw, hitting the Uchiha hard enough to leave a bruise.

Sasuke had to admit, that was the most productive training session he ever had.

But all too soon, they had to return to Konoha and give their report.

Minus the quick trip, of course. Aki didn't want people knowing the status of Uzushio- especially no one on the council.