DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own. PLEASE REVIEW! I will take advice on and a tally on relationships you'd like to eventually see, as well as suggestions from my readers while continuing the story.

Forgive me for not adding dedications and such in my recent chapters! My laptop is on its very last leg and I'm waiting for my stimulus payment to buy another one. The poor old thing is literally hanging on in pieces, plus moving between tabs shuts it down from time to time!

Thinking

Biju, etc. speaking

Biju, etc. thinking

Emphasis

Kakashi was having a hell of a month.

First, there was little Naru-hime, who had been so terrified after meeting Hashi-kun that Kakashi and Tsunade-hime had to put up seals over every single window and door so that the chibi couldn't escape the manor again. Naru had scurried around like a scared kit, and routinely had to forcefully be pulled off the ceiling.

The first time Kakashi woke to find her hanging over him like a bat, he'd been so startled he nearly threw a kunai at her. She spent nearly a week avoiding everyone, even their summons, and refused to eat with them until she finally passed out one night and fell from the ceiling from a combination of chakra exhaustion and having so much blood continually rushing to her head… Something like that. Tsunade explained it after examining her, but Kakashi was just so panic-stricken and relieved that he'd caught the tot before she plummeted headfirst onto the floor.

Honestly, sensei's daughter was going to give him grey hair. And it's silver for your information: thank you very much. Naru had been incredibly afraid of Hashi-kun simply because she associated him with Orochimaru, although things were getting better now.

They'd also learned from Hashi-kun that the traitor had most certainly experimented on her.

Hashi-kun didn't know exactly what the traitor did to his… sensei's daughter, but the boy had admitted with some fear that the little girl was "Orochimaru-sama's favorite." Apparently, the other imprisoned children were both terrified of Naru-chan, yet felt sorry for her. Hashi had explained late one night that more than once, he'd been in training when a lab he didn't want to talk about had emitted dark and terrifying red chakra from around the door frame. Hashi was a smart and very perceptive boy and realized quickly that whenever such a thing happened, the tiny child with the bright yellow hair would eventually be carried out, unconscious, before being literally thrown back into a cell.

Adding to their stress, Naru had cried out one night around a couple of weeks ago, and Kakashi had been horrified at what she'd mumbled so clearly in her sleep. "...don' wan' no new eyes! Nooo," she'd moaned. "No sharing! No gun!" He'd woken her and although he'd never admit it out loud, he'd clung to her in horror just as much as she had to him. The last thing you could say about Hatake Kakashi, no matter what Inoichi-san said, was that he was an idiot. "Sharing" plus "gun" sounded an awful lot like Sharingan to him, and with her mention of not wanting new eyes? What the hell were you doing to her, you despicable snake?!

After hearing that, as well as a bit of Hashi-kun's own experiences that he'd recounted in parts, Kakashi, Tsunade-hime, and Shizune-san had all been so angry they'd begun to train hard every day in order to both defeat Orochimaru, as well as to defend the kids. With what could be a potential Mokuton ability in Hashi, and gods-only-knew what might end up manifesting in Naru-chan, they needed to be strong enough to handle nearly anything.

Jiraiya-sama had returned for a couple of days, reminding his fellow Jonin that his traitorous teammate didn't like to "lose or share his toys." It was a sickening thought, but they all agreed that the Snake summoner would be back. And they'd be ready for him when he made his move - if not before.

The bad news he shared was that he and his spy network had lost track of the traitor for now.

And so here Kakashi was, bruised, bleeding, and trying to control his breathing while Tsunade-hime healed him - and scolded him harshly for "going down like a bitch." Bitch, my ass! The woman's strength was terrifying, whether or not she was out of her prime fighting shape! Not that I'll ever say that. And with Shizune backing her up, very precisely throwing poisoned senbon at him while Tsunade tried to make him into okonomiyaki? The training was harsh. She's harsh! At least he'd gained immunity to a few new poisons, though.

"You should've been able to dodge that, brat!"

"Maa, maa, Tsunade-hime. I had nowhere to go. I wasn't ready to get hit with your newest poison while my chakra stores were so low. Your summon would've melted me had I been any closer."

"You're damn right, she would have," Tsunade replied, not really meaning it. Katsuya had an excellent aim and knew very well the difference between a spar and a true battle. She looked around at the training ground and winced. Sensei was going to have her balls. This was the third one they'd destroyed this week, even though it was off-limits to the general shinobi forces. Hmm. Maybe I should pull out Grandfather's journals. Hashi-kun might be able to fix it. It was a long-shot, but why not? Uncle Tobi's journals might offer insight, too.

They might provide even more insight into his brother's Mokuton, since although her grandfather was probably the most fun person she'd ever met, he was, as her grandmother warned, a little flakey. Tobirama-oji was not only very serious but also a genius. Her grandfather told her that his brother took notes on any and everything throughout his entire life. It was a habit that the brother's father had instilled in them early in life. Tsunade could easily imagine her great uncle writing what could be a near-thesis on the older brother that he respected, but also drove him slightly mad.

"Your silly grandpa is busy right now, Tsu-chan. My pretty husband is no doubt driving your Uncle Tobi crazy with his nonsense," Grandma Mito would say while shaking her head fondly. Pretty husband: Tsunade snorted. It's what her grandmother always called the great Shodaime Hokage, founder of their village, The Kami no Shinobi, much to his embarrassment.

She ignored the spar analysis Kakashi-brat and Shizune were having. Talk about a boring conversation. Tsunade closed her eyes as she leaned up against the bottom of an oak that she'd split in half, basking in the bright sun and reveling in her memories and thoughts.

The blonde-haired woman didn't want Hashi to become a ninja, but the boy needed to be able to defend himself. Orochimaru was a snake, and he wasn't the only one in the village. Danzo. She couldn't stand that man when she was a child, and although people sometimes doubted it, she was a good judge of character. I just might ignore my better judgment sometimes...

Tsunade might not have incredible sensing abilities like her grandmother and to a lesser degree, Kushina-chan had, but she was still a quarter Uzumaki. And you don't fuck with an Uzumaki! "We can always feel… Hmm, I suppose you can call it something similar to dirty chakra, Tsu-chan. We always know! Remember to trust your Uzumaki instincts, Tsu." Grandma Mito continued as the redhead drew her fingers through her granddaughter's pale blonde hair. "Considering how few of our clansmen are left, I need you to be aware and train hard. Will you do that for me, princess? I love you!"

Tsunade woke up in a jolt. Gods, being in this stupid village always does this to me: good memories and bad… "What the hell are you doing up there, Naru-chan: you little brat!" And how did she get out of the barrier again?! The little girl shrugged her shoulders and crossed her arms, looking away while puffing up her cheeks.

I need to go through Grandma Mito's journals, too. And Kushina-chan's diaries for her. Tsunade felt that pain panging in her heart yet again over Kushina's death. Why, sensei? Why didn't you let me know that Biwako-sama planned to induce Kushi-chan early? She would've at least come back to help in her fellow clansmen's labor - especially as the mother-to-be was a jinchuuriki. There were so few Uzumakis left! "Get down here, you!" She watched the quiet little girl jump down from her branch and land easily from at least a ten-meter height. "Did Hashi-kun bring you through the barrier?"

Naru nodded. "I don't want to be all 'lone. And Grandpa Pervert's froggy had to leave!" Seeing the alarmed look on Tsunade's face, the little girl continued. "He said he had to do a message?"

"Oh, that means he's fine, dear," Tsunade said to herself more than anyone. Stupid Pervert, worrying me!

"Do Drunk Granny and Grandpa Pervert have babies?" Naru asked out of nowhere. Tsunade was so horrified at the question that she didn't even realize that Kakashi and Shizune had begun to barely hide their laughter. "Hmmm," the blue-eyed girl scratched her chin, "You're both super old, so the babies are old, too?" Riotous laughter ensued behind the two blondes.

Tsunade took a deep breath: Naru was only a child after all. Talented or not, there's no way she'd survive one of her fists. As if I'd ever hurt a child. Maybe. Seeing that her, ugh, "granddaughter" was still waiting for an answer, she finally responded. "No. No, Naru: no babies. And certainly not from that Pervert."

Fortunately, Naru was finally doing much better now, even once giving Hashi-kun a flower. Tsunade had turned fangirlish at that, cooing and waxing on their pretend future romance. Sakumo's brat had chased Hashi all over the house and training area, threatening him on behalf of Naru's idiotically possessive father who'd apparently left Kakashi with one direct order: keep boys away from Naru-chan at all costs. Naru's reaction to the whole thing had been comical. "Stop that, Tou-nii and Drunk Grandma! You're pissing me off!"

Yeah, we have to work on her language.

Naru might look much more like Minato at a glance, but the more they saw of her personality lately, it seemed that some of Kushina's brashness was hidden away in the observant little girl, too.

Tsunade stood up and stretched. "Come on, brats: we're headed to the library."

Hashi appeared from behind another bashed-in tree, looking frightened. Tsunade frowned: the two kids were set off by some of the most mundane things. She watched as the boy made his way over to the much smaller Naruto.

"I'm sure it's not that kind of library, Naru-hime. Right, Tsunade-oba?" Hashi asked meekly.

"No idea what the hell you're talking about, brat, but the one I'm taking you to only has books and scrolls. We're heading there for diaries!" Tsunade finished stretching, only snorting when the silver-haired teenager jumped between Hashi and Naruto when the boy reached for Naru's hand. She watched with amusement as the teen grabbed both of Naru's hands away and twirled her onto his back to carry her and keep her from the "nefarious Hashi." His crime in Kakashi's mind, of course, was being born male. What an idiot. Seeing her little Hashi-kun's sad face, Tsunade decided to give him a piggyback as well, laughing as the shy boy had a little meltdown at being manhandled in such a fashion.

Naru marveled over the incredible number of shelves of books and scrolls in the Senju library. It was way bigger than… that awful place, and she didn't see anything weird attached to it. She pulled Tou-nii by his crazy silver hair or ear to get him to go the direction she wanted because he seemed to be in some kind of trance, and ignored her when she pointed. Finally, she crawled off of him and pulled out a piece of parchment.

Boring. She already knew all about the human body. Naru tossed the scroll aside.

"Oi, Naruto! Make sure you put scrolls back exactly where they came from," Tsunade scolded. "Wait, can you even read?!"

"Hai, Nii-san taught me," she said simply, as she took out another scroll - only to put it aside again.

That comment finally brought Kakashi out of his so-many-potential-new-jutsu inspired reverie. "Hmm? But you always have me or Pakkun read to you, hime." And how can an imaginary friend teach a child to read?

"Cause it's nice," she replied simply, as she shook her head ruefully after looking at yet another scroll before putting it back.

"Naruto," Tsunade said in what Naru called her way-too-interested voice, "why don't you read this to me?" It was another scroll off the same shelf Naruto was browsing through.

"Cause it's boring. I already know that stuff."

"You know this stuff, huh?" Tsunade scoffed. "If you're such a smarty-pants then, read this to me." She watched as the little blonde rolled her eyes and pouted before grabbing another "boring scroll."

Naruto sighed deeply. "Cellular Regeneration: Initial Conclusions and Proposed Theories by Senju Hashirama, as dictated to Senju Tobirama." The girl paused for a moment before looking up at her elders cooly. She didn't like being tested like this - especially with something so boring. "Ughhh… In humans with non-injured tissues, tissue is naturally regenerated over time…" She read for quite a while before glaring at her wide-eyed grandmother. "See? Boring! I already know that!" Turning her attention away from the gawking adults and teen beside her, she asked, "So is there anything good in here, like at all?!"

"Naruto," Tsunade began again, making the girl sigh.

Naru hated when she used that voice! She didn't like people being "interested" in her!

"Do you really know about tissue regeneration? And if so...HOW?"

Should I tell her? Oh well… Naruto took a deep breath and frowned, thinking over her options here. "I'll tell ya if I can read about something cool." Tsunade gawked at her again.

"Maa, I want something cool, too." Kakashi just couldn't help himself! There had to be so many theories on jutsu here! Things no one had seen or probably considered in several decades!

"Yeah! Tou-nii and me get to read cool stuff, ne?! I wanna see things that don't suck!"

"LANGUAGE, Naruto. And you!" Tsunade turned her ire to Kakashi, "Don't encourage that! I should drag both your hides out of here right now!" She rolled her eyes at seeing Kakashi's pout even through his stupid mask. "Tch! I was going to let you peruse everything - as long as…" Kakashi had already zoomed off to the back of the library to undoubtedly look for jutsu scrolls, completely forgetting about what they'd learned about Naruto's intelligence. "AS LONG AS I SEE WHAT YOU'RE GOING OVER FIRST, YOU OVERGROWN BRAT! AND YOU'D BETTER PUT ANYTHING YOU TAKE BACK EXACTLY WHERE IT CAME FROM! Now, Naruto," Tsunade began again.

"FINE," the chibi yelled. "He - that... Oh, damnit!" Naruto ignored being scolded again. "He - he... I was 'posed to be his snake suit! But nii-san and I were going to eat or burn our way out of him if he really did it: stupid snake. He should know better," she cackled evilly at that.

Tsunade was horrified. She knew that Orochimaru was obsessed with eternal life: has he found a way? A jutsu to make him immortal? Does he - has he really planned to sacrifice others - and, she gulped down bile and closed her eyes. "Snake suit:" oh gods, that's it, isn't it? He's switching bodies somehow - or aims to! And he wanted little Naru-chan... She ran to the wastebin but quickly used her iryo-ninjutsu on herself to stop the vomit that had threatened to overtake her.

Dutiful as ever, Shizune was there in a heartbeat, offering her water.

There was one other thing, though - and by the wary look on Kakashi-kun's face he'd heard the girl, too. "Nii-san and I were going to eat or burn our way out of him if he really tried it: stupid snake. He should know better."

Kami-sama: could Naruto's imaginary "nii-san" actually be the Kyuubi?