—National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for— Tornado emergency for western Konohagakure and—

Above the clouds, the moon was red. Red like blood. Red with three circles and tomoe around it. The light came through the clouds, brighter than anything she'd ever seen. Brighter than the light on her phone. Brighter than sunlight. It swung under and through the clouds, like it was chasing her car over the wet pavement. It pushed through the trees.

I miss the Earth so much. I miss my wife. It's lonely out in space…

She couldn't sing anymore. Not like she once could. It'd been a long time since she'd sung anything. Since well before the war started. I think it's gonna be a long, long time. There weren't any happy endings. And there was no way to escape this. Her little Jeep could never move fast enough.

Maybe if she got out and ran…

She slammed on the brakes, turning the car to avoid hiding an overturned cart in the road. She recognized the symbol on the wheels. Akimichi Produce. There was no way a civilian could outrun this. Unbuckling, Miho looked over her shoulder to see the light approaching. It was rushing down the mountainside and over the trees like a pyroclastic flow, drawing everything into dreams as it moved. It would arrive to Konoha soon.

She wouldn't make it there in time.

There was no way she could make it in time.

She had to warn them.

Just as she began to push one foot into the dirt, she heard it.

"Listen to the winds blow, watch the sun rise…"

Stopping, Miho felt a chill rush down her spine. She recognized that voice. He shouldn't be here. He couldn't—She turned slowly, knowing who she would see. He smiled. His golden eyes caught the light as it approached, seeming to glow. Miho didn't know what to do. She could feel warmth on her shoulders.

His eyes tracked up and over her head.

"Run in the shadows, damn the dark—"

Miho scrambled back. Her hand found a kunai, drawing it up with her right arm across her chest. Heart buzzing in fear, she blinked a few times as reality settled around her. It was all a dream or a memory or… He was gone. The light was gone. Swallowing, she shifted forward, lowering her kunai to reach out to Ino. Her friend stared at it for a moment with wide blue eyes before reaching out to grasp her hand, chest heaving to recover her breath.

"It's— It's okay." Miho tried to sound reassuring. It was a stretch. Her voice was shaking. She sat the kunai down in the grass and placed her hand over Ino's quivering fingers "It's okay."

"It's not. It's not okay. Miho, I don't—" Ino shook her head. She looked away and set her jaw, staring at nothing.

Miho watched, knowing her friend well enough to know when to let her alone. Instead, Miho let her eyes move around to where Tetsuya and Lee were moving through katas. Or, at least, they were before Miho's awakened from Ino's technique. They both were frozen in a movement, eyes on her and Ino. Miho tried to smile, but it was made of glass. It shattered the moment Tetsuya broke his stance.

Swallowing, Miho looked to Lee. He held her stare for a long moment before saying something that she couldn't hear. Tetsuya nodded his head, reaching up to readjust his green bandana. He raised a brow as if to ask if she was okay. Miho nodded in return and she watched as both Tetsuya and Lee went back into their katas. They were both facing toward her and Ino now— keeping watch.

It'd been a week since she'd been released from the hospital. Her body was stable enough. Each day, she gained more of her weight back. Bit by bit. She was set at just 3,000 calories a day by Elder Ayumu. It would take months to get back up to 10,000 calories a day. Elder Ayumu was determined to see her back to her normal weight, a healthy weight.

Even if Miho was leaving the Akimichi Estate.

"Should that matter, sweet bun? No, it should not!"

Reaching to the inside pocket of her vest, she withdrew some cranberry protein cookies and popped one in her mouth. Weight maintenance, endurance and strength training, and speed training were at the top of her priority list. She'd rebuild her stamina. She'd regain her speed. No, she'd be faster than before.

Lady Hokage had stressed that Miho be mindful of the stress her body had endured. She'd even threatened Genma-sensei with gate duty if Miho or Tetsuya landed in the hospital within the month. She had to be careful of her chakra consumption until she understood just how her system had changed.

"It's not what it should be, Miho. He messed it up."

Sighing— and trying desperately not to see his face in that terrible brightness— Miho nodded. "That was a memory and…and a reality…and an Image. It was a nightmare."

Ino nodded, teeth grinding.

This wasn't new. Ino had been trying for the past three days, accessing different tenketsu to remove whatever damage her cousin inflicted. Nothing had been resolved. Miho was fairly certain that nothing could or would be resolved. Just like her knee, it was a fact she would just have to accept. Pulling in a breath, Miho pushed herself up to stand. Ino mirrored the movement, guilt pulling at her mouth.

"It's—" It wasn't okay. Miho knew she needed to stop saying that. It got Ino riled every time. "We're going to look at an apartment this afternoon. Genma-sensei is coming with us." Miho was perfectly content not to talk about the nightmare if Ino would let her. Ino never let her just ignore it. It wasn't in her nature. "Sensei sounds confident it's the one."

"Did he ever access your memories?"

Miho reached down for bō, drawing it up. "No, I don't think so."

"How did he…" She trailed off, looking at Lee and Tetsuya, who were squaring off for a spar. "Don't you dare!" Lee's foot caught something and he tripped, barely catching himself before face-planting. Miho trailed behind as Ino charged toward them, finger admonishing. "Lady Tsunade said no sparring until the end of the week! Is it the end of the week yet?"

Tetsuya rolled his eyes toward the sky. "Just because you're—" Her teammate didn't finish his thought, snapping his mouth shut at Ino's glare. "Freakin' fine. Green Machine, laps?"

"Yosh! Laps it is, my friend!" Lee turned to Miho, hand fisted before him. "Shall you accompany us, Sweet Sunflower? If you cannot run fifty laps, I will carry you for three hundred! No! Four hundred! FIVE HUNDRED LAPS!" Rock Lee's smile was so large and bright and warm that Miho found herself nodding, even as Ino scoffed and crossed her arms. "Ever youthful, Miho!"

Rolling her eyes, Ino turned on her heel. "Whatever. I've got lunch with Asuma-sensei and the goofs anyway." Ino paused for a moment, looking back over her shoulder. Miho met her eyes.

She knew. She knew she couldn't avoid it forever.

She knew it would take more effort, more work, to sort out the kaleidoscope that was her head.

Normalcy was something she craved though. Something she craved like her mother's yellow cake or takoyaki.

She was hungry for the everyday.

"Don't strain yourself, Miho. I mean it." Ino's eyes cut over to Rock. Miho huffed a laugh, lifting an arm up to stretch. Tetsuya was muttering under his breath. "Don't overwork her, you hooligan." Rock Lee saluted dramatically. "Geez, the people I'm friends with…"

"Fifty laps! Let's go!" Rock Lee put out a hand. Miho followed the tradition, slinging her bō onto her back. Tetsuya watched, still finishing his stretches. Miho's hand fell on Lee's and he grinned. "Let's get it!"

"Yeah!"

"Let's get it!"

"Yeah!"

"Let's get it!

"Yeah!"

"Start!"

Even though her body was still recovering, still sore and weak, Miho felt euphoric as she took off. (Euphoria!) Her knee changed her gait into a strange, unsteady movement. It'd been healed as much as was possible, but even the Hokage had frowned at the way it restructured. The skin was tight, and she felt it move differently inside the joint, but Miho was running.

It was an uneven run.

It was a different run.

But she was running.

Physical therapy may never get it to move the same again.

Rock didn't take them on any leaping or jumping courses. Just a standard run around the village.

It felt like she was flying though.

"So, the Suna Trio is leaving today. Shikamaru told me." Tetsuya slowed down to run by her side, breaths heavy. Miho rolled her eyes at him. He and Genma-sensei had still not let it go. Aoba-sensei had warned her. One visit by a friend and suddenly—"So…you're not seeing Puppet Boy off?"

"You can do way better than 'Puppet Boy.' Put some effort in at least.'" Miho laughed a bit, trying not to grimace when her knee buckled a bit more than it should. She felt a click in the joint. If Tetsuya saw it, he didn't say anything. "C'mon, Stringbean, try harder."

"Puppeteer of Hearts. Knot a Chance. No Strings Attached. String Cheese."

Miho staggered to a stop, hands on her knees and tears in her eyes. "String Cheese!" She laughed, dragging fingers under her eyes to mop up the tears. Tetsuya had stopped ahead of her, looking mighty proud of himself. His hands rested on his hips and his chin was raised. Beyond him, Rock paused and looked back, a big smile on his face. Miho felt giggles hit her again. It built into another uncontrollable laugh. "String Cheese! Oh man."

She moved forward, falling to a run again. She kept laughing, even a lap later. Tetsuya was preening like a peacock, obviously pleased as punch by his own cleverness. Rock was joyful, jumping up to the buildings above them turning cartwheels overhead.

After seventy-five laps, she called it quits with Tetsuya. Rock Lee decided to go on with his three hundred laps before he was due to meet his team for afternoon practice. He'd leaped down from the building nearest to her, happily drawing her up into a hug.

He was taller than her now, which was weird.

She'd always been his height.

"Wait for it, Miho. You will get there. You will surpass yourself!"

She nodded into his shoulder and pushed him off with a grin when he bounded away, proclaiming that "youth shall never die!" He disappeared into the distance. Gai-sensei's team was in for it today. With Rock Lee's mood, he'd surpass each one of them in training. Even Gai-sensei would probably get tired. Gluten Free might actually walk away, his pride be damned.

Miho was exhausted.

Absolutely and utterly.

Still, she felt good.

For the first time in a long, long time, she felt good.

Genma-sensei bought her six sticks of takoyaki when she arrived the Market Street with Tetsuya an hour later. It seemed that each team was meeting. Team Ten was training after lunch, she knew. Team Seven was resting after a successful in-village mission. There was also, apparently, some sort of issue with that mission. Miho hadn't yet gotten the run-down from Naruto. Gai-sensei's team was training as well. Miho fought off the random grief that struck her.

She'd never train with Koji again.

"I think this is the winner, kids." Genma-sensei might've noticed her expression, even with his back to her. Tetsuya grabbed her hand and directed a stick toward his mouth, stealing a piece off the end. Miho made to hand him the whole stick, but he waved her off. "It's a relatively safe part of town with good prices." He looked back at them and winked, pulling the senbon from his mouth. "And it's a four-bedroom."

"It's a what?" Tetsuya yelped. "Genma-sensei! You said we could afford this place!"

"You can." Their teacher shrugged. "I'm a shinobi, not a liar."

Miho recognized the area from when she was a little girl and accompanied her father on business in the village. There was an Akimichi Farmer's Market nearby, owned by one of her cousins. To the east was the Uchiha Compound and to the west was Ramen Ichiraku. To the north, the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka Estates. Miho stopped, turning toward the south. Wait.

"Yeah, yeah, Miho. I'm a jōnin, okay?" She turned to her teacher, who was feigning a very put-upon expression. "Just deal with it."

To the south was Genma-sensei's apartment.

"Is it a winner because it's nice or… because it's perfectly triangulated and defensible, Boss Man?" Tetsuya drawled, folding both arms behind his head. Considering where it was located, and the fact that their teacher was in ANBU, it was definitely both. Genma-sensei always put them first— Miho knew that without a doubt. He would want them somewhere safe.

Sans an actual response, Genma-sensei cut Tetsuya a look.

Miho laughed, shaking her head. She knew what was coming.

"Green's not your color, brat."

Tetsuya rolled his eyes. "Oh? C'mon, old man. It's the same thing every time."

"Old man?"

Miho interceded at her teacher's dangerous tone. "Is that it?"

The building was cute. The first two floors had well-tended porches, with flowers set upon the iron railing. Miho raised a hand to block the sun, looking up to the vacant third floor balcony. It had a place to hang laundry. Genma-sensei held the door open to a breezeway entrance and a set of stairs toward the back. The back of the breezeway opened up into a shared courtyard between the back of the building and the business on the next road over. There was a small plot of untended land and targets on the chipped brick wall.

"Kunai." Tetsuya observed. "This is a shinobi complex."

Genma-sensei snorted. "As if I'd let the two of you and your roomies end up in a civilian establishment. C'mon, brat."

Civilian apartments rarely accepted shinobi tenants. When they did, it was with higher insurance premiums and less access to training facilities. Civilian apartments also limited the amount of modification could be made to a space. Shinobi apartments had lower rents by the standard. Miho followed their teacher up to the third floor, where he approached #305.

"Genma-sensei, how did you know about this place exactly?"

"Three-oh-five? What in the coincidence?" Tetsuya tapped the number.

Their teacher grimaced a bit, shifting the senbon in his mouth to the other side of his lips. Miho saw that his eyes were sad. She stepped through, already loving the way the light filtered in through the balcony window doors.

"A friend of mine's executor decided to put it up on the market." Executor. Miho stopped, turning to Genma-sensei, who was parsing through the four bedrooms around the space, nodding as he went. She could see the way he scanned the place for traps and escape paths. "It's already privacy-sealed. Just needs chakra activation. It's a multivariable seal. You've got at least fifteen escape routes from the main space alone." He walked over to a built-in bookcase.

Tetsuya turned and Miho met his eyes.

This wasn't just a shinobi's apartment. It was a senior shinobi's apartment.

"Weapons storage in each room with main storage here." Genma-sensei pulled down on a lone book resting on the shelf. The bookcase folded down. Storage space was cleverly concealed. Miho felt a whir of excitement in her chest. "Tetsuya, come here."

Her teammate followed their teacher into a room to the left of the bookshelf. Meanwhile, Miho moved to the kitchen, running a hand along the countertop.

When she gained her weight back, as she grew larger, she would need space to move. The other apartments had been eliminated because the spaces were too small. She would never be able to cook with others in those other kitchens. They weren't built with someone her size in mind. This one though…This one seemed like it was made for someone larger. There was even a large pantry to the side and a ton of storage.

"The room's got a sword rack." Tetsuya informed her, looking positively ecstatic.

"Genma-sensei… Can I ask?" Miho looked at him over the counter as he and Tetsuya approached. Tetsuya crossed over to her side of the peninsula, leaning on it.

"His name was Akimichi Dōtō. He was a good man. A good friend of your father's— I mean Keisuke-senpai's— and Lord Fourth's."

"I've— I've never heard of him."

Genma-sensei nodded, twirling the senbon a bit between his teeth. "Yeah. You wouldn't have. See, Lord Dōtō was a powerful Akimichi figure back in the day, in the Third War. He was second only to your father, to Chōza. His brother was really powerful too, one of the ANBU Elite. They were some of the best." Miho gripped the counter to steady herself. By her teacher's tone, this story would not have a good ending. "Trained by Lord Torifu himself. He was on a team during the war…"

Miho held her breath.

"… with Inuzuka Gaku, Okuda Keisuke, and Namikaze Minato"

"My father? He was my father's teammate?"

Genma-sensei nodded, smiling a bit around his senbon. "During the war, yeah. The four of them were a trip. Scary as all hell. Went up against some pretty incredible odds. They were usually on the front lines, scaring the shit out of enemies."

"Hell yeah." Tetsuya crowed. "They sound like badasses."

Genma-sensei snorted. His tone was a bit wistful. "Yeah, they were."

"After the Fourth Hokage died and his brother and Keisuke-senpai died in defense of the Fourth, Dōtō joined ANBU. Gaku joined too. They lived here. Gaku-senpai died in a mission about five years ago. Dōtō was the last of his team left alive. He died in the Invasion."

Miho felt like some of her strength left her. Her knees buckled a bit beneath her, but she caught herself on the counter. Neither Tetsuya nor Genma-sensei moved to help, simply allowing her to feel whatever she felt.

"Teams often lived together during the war, sensei. They— They needed to be ready—"

"At a moment's notice. Yeah."

Genma-sensei held her stare. Four bedrooms. Miho's mouth opened and closed, looking over to where Tetsuya stood wide-eyed. They were in her father's old apartment. The apartment where Namikaze Minato and his team once lived. Where her father once lived. The excitement was met with the cold realization that it was left empty because every member of that team…was gone.

"It's up to you two. Naruto will take you up on your offer. The Uchiha is another story. If he doesn't take the offer, then you have a spare bedroom for anyone who needs it to crash." Genma-sensei explained. He waved his hand idly. "Split three ways, the rent is affordable on a genin salary. It'd be better with four though. The executor will remain anonymous."

"They're in ANBU." Tetsuya commented, pointing out the obvious. Genma-sensei sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. "That ANBU member has a place that's not this place, right?" Miho smiled a bit, looking down at her hands, loosening their hold on the counter. Her teammate was such a caring person. She was proud of him. "Like— That doesn't sound stupid, does it?"

Their teacher's smile was warm when he looked back to them. "Nah. You've got a good heart, Tetsuya. The executor has a place of their own. I mentioned my kids were looking. They put this place forward. Seemed right." Miho knew that several of their teacher's friends were also in ANBU, including Aoba-sensei and Hayate-sensei. "You two talk about it. I'll meet you at Ramen Ichiraku in ten."

Ten minutes later, Miho and Tetsuya eased themselves onto the two stools to their teacher's left. Ayame quickly took their orders while Genma-sensei fiddled with the senbon in his teeth. Miho could tell that he was waiting on bated breath. Despite the front that their teacher liked to put on, he had been so, so concerned over the past weeks. It was largely Genma-sensei that had dissuaded them from the first few apartments— too expensive, too dangerous, too open, too small, too far. She knew he wanted it to be a perfect first step. After all, he was the one encouraging them from the first moment he heard of the plan.

"So?"

"We'll take it."

Genma-sensei nodded, smirking around the needle. "Good 'cause, funnily enough, I booked another genin team to help you get moved in this weekend."

Miho's mouth dropped open and Tetsuya squawked. "Free will is a thing, you know!"

Genma-sensei laughed, batting away Tetsuya's pointing finger. Miho felt herself smile, too, seeing how alive their teacher looked after so long. His eyes were shining again. They weren't as dark and sad and cynical. She had wondered, when she first woke to find Koji gone and Tetsuya injured, if Genma-sensei would recover from it all. Their teacher was a resilient man.

Between his missions, he was with them. Taking them to physical therapy, coming up with training regimens, helping them to find stable ground after.

After.

He could overcome anything.

"Thank you, Genma-sensei."

He turned to look at her, taking the senbon from his mouth.

"For everything. It's…not been easy. None of it. Thank you for…everything you do for us."

Miho raised a hand and set it on Tetsuya's shoulder. Her teammate nodded. "We're lucky you're our teacher, Genma-sensei." With a shift in tone, he crossed his arms and leaned forward conspiratorially. "You ask me, you're the best jōnin sensei out there." Miho watched a slow smile spread on their teacher's face until it was a full-blown beam.

It was rare for his smile to be so genuine. His smiles almost always had a sarcastic tilt, some sort of caustic humor. This one was sincere. He looked down at the counter, nodding as his smile faded away.

"Gimme a break! That guy's gotta be kidding! Seriously!"

Miho recognized the voice, turning to see Naruto throw the curtains open. His one-track mind guided him straight to the counter while Iruka-sensei quietly entered after him, eyes falling on Genma-sensei first and then tracking over to Tetsuya and Miho. Miho lifted a hand in a wave.

"Yo, Iruka-sen— Miho!"

Naruto spun off of his stool, running over to throw his arms around her waist. Miho grinned, returning the hug. Her friend was practically vibrating. Before she could say anything, he jumped back and pointed beyond the curtains.

"That damn Pervy Sage left me hanging and went off on some mission and didn't give me anything to do to work on my training! Miho, he's useless! It's— It's— He's a scam!"

Miho looked over to Iruka-sensei's patient stare. The man turned to place and order before settling down next to Genma-sensei. His shoulders were rounded and weary. Just how long had Naruto been ranting to him? Genma-sensei clapped him on the back, smirking. Tetsuya raised both hands, turning back around.

"Naruto, you remember what my mother said about patience?"

Naruto puffed up, chest filled with a righteous sort of indignation. Miho just stared at him, waiting for that swell of irritation to pass. Sure enough, a moment later, he deflated a bit. "Patience and fortitude conquer all things." He parroted it, like a kunai was pressed to his back. "But! But! Miho, he just dropped me!"

Nodding, Miho shifted off her stool and sat a hand on his shoulder. "He shouldn't have done that. That was wrong of him. Hearing the stories, he probably did it in a kinda underhanded way. A good teacher wouldn't do that. Still, we don't know why he had to take off on a mission. Did he say?"

"Lord Jiraiya has a very specific skillset." Genma-sensei commented, turning around on his stool. Naruto deflated even more. She knew that Naruto really respected Genma-sensei. It was so clear in the way he deferred to the man every now and again. She knew Kakashi-sensei hadn't yet built up that kind of rapport. "If he got called for a mission, Naruto, it's an important one that Lady Tsunade needed a specialist for."

Naruto's eyes flashed. "Damn! So, it's Old Lady Tsunade's fault, huh?" Miho could see the wheels turning in his head. One arm lifted and his fisted that hand. Uh oh. "I'm gonna go—"

Miho caught Tetsuya's eye, who'd turned a bit to watch the show. In an instant, an agreement was met. "Please don't go yell at the Hokage. We actually wanted to talk to you about something. I was gonna come to your apartment tonight, but— Well, we just found the right place and…"

Naruto was calming, hands lowering back to his sides. Miho smiled.

She heard Iruka-sensei mutter something and Genma-sensei snorted, shaking his head.

"Naruto, me and Tetsuya are moving into an apartment not too far away from here. We wanted to see if you'd like to be our roommate."

"You're…You're leaving the Akimichi?"

Anticipating the question and actually hearing it aloud were two different things. She could feel Tetsuya shift by her side while she saw Iruka-sensei turn in her peripheral vision. "I'm leaving the clan estate. Not the clan."

"Why?"

Miho met his eyes. "Right now, our relationships aren't healthy. And I don't think they can be healthy while I still live there. Moving out will give us time to heal. Me and Pa…Me and Chōji…We're not really good at the moment. I can...I can tell you more, if you want."

Naruto's mouth opened and she could tell that he wanted to argue. He desperately wanted to argue, to tell her to stay, to make sure she didn't leave her family. After all, she was lucky to have one. She saw something cross over his eyes before his mouth closed and he nodded. His normally bright blue eyes seemed darker.

"I would have moved out eventually. Now is just the best time. And my mother is in full support of it. Heck, even the Elders are in support of it."

Her father, however, hadn't said a word about it. Neither had her brother.

Neither told her to stay.

"And you want me to…live with you?"

His wide blue eyes tracked away from her to Tetsuya.

Tetsuya, who used to bully him.

Tetsuya, who had called him "monster."

She turned and watched Tetsuya hold out his right hand, scars twisting his face as he grinned. "You gotta pay your end of the rent, but yeah." He shrugged, scratching the back of his head as he sent Miho a wink. "You're into plants, right? The room Miho thought should be yours has a small balcony. Good for plants."

Naruto was still, quiet. "Me?"

Tetsuya lowered his hand, looking both sad and bemused. Like he couldn't believe Naruto was asking the question. Miho smiled, stepping forward to set a hand on Naruto's shoulder. She lowered her head a bit so she could look him in the eyes. There was still a shred of doubt there. He almost seemed ashamed of it, of that doubt. He averted his gaze down and over, toward where Iruka-sensei's feet shifted around.

Miho knew things were different now. Naruto didn't feel as unloved or as uncherished as he'd been in that other world. His parents had wanted him. He had support structures that cared for him. Miho, Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Lee...Her father and mother...He had food and guidance and… Even if his team was still fraught, Naruto was still…

"Then, you showed up and I got to see what a real family was like, ya know?"

Every day though, he returned to the same isolating apartment.

To an empty home.

After each day, good or bad, he returned to being alone.

"You, Naruto."

After a moment, Naruto lifted his eyes and met hers. A slow grin came over his face before it was brighter than that light her mind had been running from that morning. He flew forward and she felt Tetsuya at her back, making sure she didn't fall over from the weight. She couldn't support that kind of strain yet. Naruto shifted, throwing his other arm around Tetsuya, who squawked. Miho laughed, patting Naruto's head.

"Seriously? Seriously-seriously? This is awesome! I'll be the best roommate! I'll be an awesome roommate! Believe it!"

"Careful! Careful!" Iruka-sensei jumped up to grab them before they toppled out into the street. "Naruto, Miho and Tetsuya are still recovering! They just got out of the hospital! Be careful!"

Genma-sensei waved him off. "They can handle it. Miho's been handling Naruto for years."

Old Man Ichiraku sat bowls in front of the three open seats, returning to finish the teachers' bowls. Miho noticed that one was larger than the others. Naruto whooped, throwing himself into the chair between the large bowl and Iruka-sensei. Tetsuya scoffed, throwing her a tempered look. He took the seat on the other side of the largest bowl.

Smiling, Miho sat and dug into the large pork ramen. Her roommates sat on either side.

Genma looked up, watching the hawk that circled overhead in three careful loops. Sighing, he looked over to where the kids sat on the bench. Miho and Tetsuya were quietly munching on the mochi he'd grabbed them from a nearby cart. Naruto was standing, explaining his most recent mission and how it went FUBAR. FUBAR was on-brand for Team Seven, so Genma, of course, had already heard the details through the grapevine. The chūnin were close to starting a pool.

Team Seven—sans Kakashi— had been given an in-village escort mission. Which, of course, resulted in some sort of drama. Orochimaru had made some half-baked bid or the Uchiha, with significantly less planning and even less execution. Naruto and the Uchiha summarily ended the attacker.

Their record was growing and a pattern was emerging. Genma saw it as an excellent opportunity to make some money. After all, Miho would eventually gain her appetite back. Tetsuya was growing like a weed. They were both was going to hit puberty soon. His kids were growing up. He needed to afford snacks.

The hawk flew off— toward its next victim.

No rest for the weary, it seemed.

"I've been summoned."

The kids turned to him. Naruto stopped talking.

"Looks high-level. Until you hear from me, normal procedures. Maybe go talk to the Uchiha. See if he wants to take the fourth room."

He saw Tetsuya's jaw drop. Miho laughed, shaking her head. With a wink, Genma took off.

In the autumn, night seemed to fall fast and early in Konoha. The sun was almost set in the few minutes it took for him to reach the tower. When he arrived to the Hokage's office, Kurenai and Asuma were there as well. The two cut him grim glances. Raising a hand in greeting, he bowed to the Hokage.

"Looks like a party."

"Seems your Oracle Student didn't catch everything."

That brought him up short as he took the folder held out to him by Kurenai. He opened it, scanning the contents.

"You were on the retrieval team for the Scroll of Sealing. You were on-hand for the incident. Describe it."

Rolling the senbon to one side of his mouth, he shut the folder and handed it back. "We were on a Level Two alert. I was patrolling the north forest. I ran into Akimichi Miho. She was searching for Uzumaki Naruto. She said that Mizuki told Naruto to steal the scroll. To convince the Hokage he was worthy."

Lady Hokage scoffed. "Your girl is in the middle of everything."

Genma rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it." He shifted, pushing the hair out of his face. "Mizuki and Iruka were battling when I arrived. He told Naruto about the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. I poisoned him. Naruto finished him off. The Scroll of Sealing was returned. Mizuki was imprisoned."

The woman held his stare for a long moment before sighing. "The possibility has arisen that a bigger mastermind was behind Mizuki's actions." She gestured to the paper that Asuma was holding. "That's a clue. It was found on Mizuki when he was incarcerated in the Maximum Security Facility. At the time, nobody thought of it as anything more than a doodle."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Genma took the piece of paper.

Nothing ever was that simple.

Of course it wasn't a doodle. What was the Third thinking?

"Then what is it, Lady Tsunade?" Shizune questioned.

Genma didn't like where this was going. Knowing what he knew, it was likely the Third passed it off as nothing, recognizing the handwriting. When Genma caught Asuma's eye, he knew that his friend saw it as well. There was a disappointed tilt to Asuma's lips.

"I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it has the same handwriting as documents recovered from one of Orochimaru's labs…where he was conducting human experiments."

Well, shit.

"A note in Orochimaru's handwriting found on Mizuki." Kurenai summarized.

Lady Tsunade waved a hand, eyes thoughtful. "It's not like a chūnin alone could do much with the Scroll of Sealing. It would only make sense if Orochimaru were pulling the strings from behind." She shifted, looking up. "Genma, Asuma, Kurenai. I want you to go to the Maximum Security Facility and interrogate Mizuki. We need to know just how deep Orochimaru's influence went or goes."

It wasn't a jōnin's place to question the Hokage. Still, Genma paused. Asuma and Kurenai nodded without hesitation, taking off. "Lady Hokage, the Images show Orochimaru was in league with Danzō. If that's the case, then it is possible…"

"That Mizuki was influenced by Danzō who was working with Orochimaru? Yes. That is possible. Hell, it's likely. We need to know how deep the cancer has spread." The Hokage nodded, glancing to Shizune. "I've heard rumors that your two genin are relocating out of their clan estates. I've also heard that they're inviting Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke to live with them."

Genma nodded. "I figured Cat would report back on that."

The woman sat back. "In only a month's time, they will be out two roommates." She smiled a bit. Genma wondered why she looked so amused. A genin was entering ANBU at only thirteen in 'peacetime.' Naruto was still being sent with Jiraiya while the village planned for Akatsuki. There wasn't much to be amused about. "As soon as your two kids hit chūnin…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "A discussion for another time. Go."

Miho shifted, trying not to feel unsettled by Uchiha Sasuke's stare. Tetsuya and Naruto were at Naruto's apartment, figuring out what needed to be packed and what didn't. Miho had offered to talk to Sasuke, thinking it best that he wasn't overwhelmed or pressured into the decision. Naruto had immediately puffed up for an argument.

"It's his decision, Naruto. Honestly, do you know anything about how he's been living since…since the massacre?"

Naruto had clamped down his lips, wringing his hands. "I—I guess I—"

"It's okay. I just…I don't want him to—"

"Nah, Miho, I'm…I'm sorry. You should go. That jerk should have…a home."

Naruto had thrown his arms around her again before dragging Tetsuya with him down the street. Miho had suggested they "bond." She hadn't necessarily meant that evening in particular. Naruto, of course, was never one to put things off. "C'mon, 'Suya! Let's start packing!" Tetsuya definitely glared at her as he was manhandled away. She had waved with the sweetest smile she could manage. Like sugar melting off a sweet bun.

"I know that you don't know me well."

"Naruto talks about you all the time. It's annoying." Sasuke responded, stepping out of his apartment to shut the door. Miho moved back, giving him space. His head jerked to the right and she followed him to an adjacent training ground. Miho wasn't a fool. The fact that he even gave her the time of day was something.

She wondered if he knew he likely had an ANBU tail?

Sasuke was a lot of things. A fool was not one of them.

His apartment was on the edge of the abandoned Uchiha District. It overlooked the empty district and the Uchiha crest above the gate. Vaguely, she wondered if he could see his home from the balcony. It was in constant sight of the yellow tape and cones that blocked the district from access. Miho had the sickening realization that she should've acted so long ago.

He has no one to cook for him.

It'd been so long since it happened and she'd never…

She couldn't even bring herself to approach him. And she'd known that he'd been suffering.

She'd been given time to think over her actions.

In a place with few distractions.

In a place with too much time.

In different realities and fake memories.

"You're not overly fond of me, but you're seeking me out. Why?"

That brought Miho up short. He— She watched as he looked up at the night sky. At the very least, he was willing to hear her out. And that, she realized, was one of his defining traits. Despite seeming otherwise, he did listen. He was perceptive. In this version of reality, he was traumatized and so, so very close to the edge. Still, the Cursed Seal hadn't warped his mind. He hadn't been plunged into darkness yet.

He still had a chance.

His family never had that.

Itachi never had that.

The Sasuke in the Images didn't have that.

"I'm not going to beat around the bush." He raised a brow in return, twisting a bit to meet her eyes. "Tetsuya, Naruto, and I are moving into an apartment not too far from here. We wanted to see if you'd be interested in moving in with us."

"No."

Miho tried not to let her heart beat too fast. The tone of that 'no' was cold, cutting. She held his stare for a long moment, trying to figure it out.

"I'm not living with you and the Idiot."

She didn't fist her hand, but damn if she didn't want to.

Damn if she didn't want to swing her staff at his face.

She'd never manage it. Taking a deep breath, she nodded.

Power was a motivator for Sasuke. One of the only reasons he might choose to stay in the village would be the opportunity to gain power. The Hokage likely made an offer that Sasuke thought rivaled that of Orochimaru. He didn't have the Cursed Seal, which affected his thinking in the Images. Regardless, each decision that Sasuke made connected to one thing: Killing Itachi.

Miho had to acknowledge: he had every right to want to end his brother. Itachi massacred his family and then tortured him. Regardless of what pressures created those circumstances, Sasuke was unaware of them. He knew that power was the one thing that could define terms of his next engagement with Itachi. So that he wasn't hurt. So that he could have some control So that he could get revenge.

Could she really fault him for that?

Did he see Naruto as a weakness? Did he see anyone as a weakness?

Then why was he in Naruto's hospital room?

Why was he still around?

Miho shrugged. The fur of her collar brushed her neck. "I wanted to extend the offer. It can give you strength when you come home to something. To a community." Miho rolled her shoulders back and moved toward the exit. "I'm not gonna pressure you." Her back was to him as she walked away, which she realized was a power move in and of itself. Or a message. "And don't call Naruto 'Idiot.' My not overly fond will turn to strongly dislike."

She noticed the way his eyes lingered on her leg as she passed him. She vaguely wondered if he thought she was weak. After all, she was still too-thin and her leg was obviously damaged.

"Why waste your time asking me?"

Miho paused in the archway, looking back to see Sasuke halfway between the streetlight and the darkness beyond it. She wondered vaguely if this world dealt in visual metaphors too.

A bright flash of light overtook her vision for a moment and she blinked, shaking her head. It disappeared. If the actions confused Sasuke, he said nothing.

"It wasn't a waste of time." Miho pursed her lips for a moment before sighing, pulling a sleeve of cookies from her pocket. His eyes followed the movement. She ate five on a handful. She spoke around the food. "We needed a fourth roommate. You're the only one outside of Naruto that lives alone. We wanted to offer." Sealing off the cookies in the beeswax bag, Miho tossed it over her shoulder.

She heard him catch it.

"Please remember to eat. You can't gain any strength back if you don't eat."

"Back?"

Narrowing her eyes, she half-wondered if he actually didn't want her to leave. "You're probably the strongest among us, Sasuke, but you're not eating. Probably protein and vitamin deficient." At his stare, she adjusted her stance. "I'm an Akimichi, Uchiha. We know when someone's malnourished." She gestured to the cookies. "They're protein-enriched. Let me know if you ever want more."

He was watching as she walked away, but Miho knew that it was better to just let things lie. Pushing him would only result in Sasuke pushing back.

She was about halfway down the street when a siren sounded.

Miho stopped.

Beep. Beep.

A Level Two? For what?

Her heart jumped into her throat.

Danzō was destroyed. The Akatsuki couldn't be attacking—it was too early. Still she saw an explosion in her mind. No, no, it wasn't that. There was no reason that there would be a Level Two alert. Her stomach turned as she watched a few stragglers on the streets hurry inside. She didn't move. Genma-sensei had been called away for a mission. Her family— She didn't remember anything hap—

Horrible visions filled her mind.

Different realities. Things she'd seen.

Blood over the Akimichi symbol.

The Akimichi Downfall.

"It doesn't have to be like this, Miho."

The shattering.

It wasn't five beeps. Not like the last time. It was two.

Two. Level Two.

It couldn't be-

"Hey." Sasuke was there. "Come on."

Miho jerked herself out of the stunned trance, following him inside his apartment. She immediately made her way to the balcony windows, not paying attention to Sasuke's uncomfortable shifting. She vaguely wondered when the last time was that someone entered his apartment by invitation. She drew the bō from her back, setting the end on the edge of his carpet. If it were daylight, she might've been able to see the Akimichi Estate from Sasuke's windows, far to the east. In the darkness, she couldn't see that far.

"A Level Two at this time of night. It's gotta be something big. Most people wouldn't even be home yet and they wouldn't want to cause a panic." Anxiety tore through her, feeling like indigestion as it bubbled under her shoulder blades. "The last Level Two was last year—"

Last year, when Mizuki tricked Naruto.

Last year, when Mizuki almost killed Iruka-sensei.

Miho's hand rose up to rest on her left shoulder.

Naruto. Tetsuya. Chōji, Ino, and Shikamaru. Her family...

"Sasuke, sorry." Reaching her right hand up, Miho bit the skin on her hand, pushing chakra into it as she pushed her hand into the floor. Golden smoke swirled about for a moment before a cub bounded out of it. Miho felt the pull on her chakra, felt it ebb and flow within her like a pebble thrown onto a still lake. She felt unbalaced and sank down to sit. Her vision swam. The Hokage warned her against using her chakra. With the way her body felt, she could see why. "Fuwa."

"Lady Miho! You look so much better. So much better, Lady Miho! I was so afraid when I found you, and Lord Father told me not to be afraid. You are of Center Mountain now, cub-sister! I'm so happy to see you."

Her back was to the window, but she had confidence that Sasuke would be fast enough to cover her, if anything happened. Nevermind the ANBU guard. She could sense Sasuke watching the interaction. "It's good to see you, too, Fuwa. I have a request."

"Anything, Lady Miho!"

"My teammate, my brother, and my mother have the Bear Seals. Please go to them, make sure they're safe, and report back."

"Lord Tetsuya and Lord Chōji, right? And Lady Aiko, right? Right, Lady Miho?" Miho smiled, nodding to the young cub. "I will do this, Lady Miho! I will do this and I will be back soon." With a salute, the cub disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Resting her hands on her haunches, Miho took a deep breath. Her eyes closed with it, trying to steady herself in the onslaught. She could feel Sasuke watching, observing. With a sigh, her eyes opened and she met his.

"Well. You hungry? Do you have food? I can cook."

A body fell to the forest floor. Aoba sighed and released the half-rat sign, allowing the crows to disperse. Beside him, Gai slammed another missing-nin into the ground, leaving a crater in the grass. It was overkill, but who was Aoba to call Gai on it? He was probably worried, after all.

"Any word on Genma, Asuma, and Kurenai?"

"Still unconscious." Takajō Torikai shook his head. "Seems wild that even badasses like them can get taken out by sheer numbers."

"The prisoners used the guards as shields. If any one of the three wanted to kill Konoha shinobi, they could've taken out the prisoners." Aoba was already feeling exhausted and they'd only found seven of the two hundred and seventeen escaped prisoners. "Genma alone could've taken them all out with his Poison Rain technique."

Gai nodded. "Our colleagues attempted to protect life, but were overwhelmed in doing so." He could hear the conflict in his friend's tone. "Let us keep searching. We have to find Mizuki. Let's go."

Aoba jumped into the trees, following Gai's lead.

A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I very much appreciate the favorites and follows! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please leave your thoughts. We've got another chapter or so of Part I. Then, in 2020, it's on to Part II! Thank you for reading!