"What are we looking at here?" Naruto questions, barely keeping fear out of his tone. "I…I think that's us." Hinata whispers out in reply. But if that's true then the scroll they used worked forward, not backward taking them far from their original goals, far from what they wanted, and more importantly, how are they going to get home? Time-Travel/Set after Sasuke Retrieval Arc

A Single Effect

Chapter 1: Ripples

People are like water: Many rush pass you, as some will over-flood. Some will drown you, or force you to go their current ways. Some will come as a raging wave and cause a ripple, or a calm sea, supporting you, quenching your thirst, and flow by your side to where kisses will always stay wet."

― Anthony Liccione

Naruto


"You're a fool." Jiraiya sighs.

Naruto clicks his tongue in reply, he didn't expect Pervy-Sage to give him inspirational words anyways.

"Fine, I'm a fool, but I can't just give up on him! Orochimaru targeted Sasuke because of the Sharingan and his clan's abilities, right? It wouldn't do me any good to let him fall into the darkness and let Orochimaru take over his body." He retorts.

Jiraiya scoffs, maybe at one point in time he was foolish and naïve like him believing in the good of others and the power of change, but war quickly makes one grow up, breaks down hope until nothing remains…

"Kid, you just haven't experienced enough of the world yet. Sasuke wanted to go to Orochimaru for power and there's nothing you can do about it; at least he won't have his body for another 3 years or so, that gives you some time. The mission was a failure because you weren't strong enough to defeat him back at the Valley." He counters back.

And he watches then the disappointment cross over his blue eyes, Naruto's figure slumping back against the pillows and briefly he thinks of himself and Orochimaru shortly after the Second Shinobi World War.

The last time they fought together on the same side.

"So it seems the rumors I keep hearing about you are true."

He's caught Orochimaru in one of his late night runs it seems, grimacing at the body tucked away under his arms.

The mottled skin is the whitish-gray of death, necrosis having long set in turning the man or woman's nails a haunting black. He's saved from seeing their sunken in eyes, brittle dry onyx hair covering a majority of their face.

Jiraiya's gaze lowers, taking in the shinobi vest now heavily torn and slashed hanging off of the thin frame, the other telltale marks of decay along the corpse and his frown further grows.

It's a body from the war.

Orochimaru half-way turns to greet him, golden orbs shining with mirth despite being caught.

"Come now Jiraiya, you and I both like to dabble in research and it seems you're on your way back from another hot springs excursion I take it? My own just happens to involve our fellow associates." He beams.

"…You know it's unethical and against the law to conduct any type of experiments or studies on shinobi dead or alive. What would Hiruzen- "

Orochimaru waves up a hand before he can go on, smile evaporating hearing their old sensei's name. "The Old Man is already aware of my experiments or at least highly suspicious going by the men he's had tracking me. I guess like you, he doesn't see the benefits that can be gained from researching the abilities of fallen clans and a fresh corpse, of gaining immortality stopping the pain that comes with growing older; dying."

Moonlight passes over them, highlighting a new coldness to Orochimaru's features he should've seen coming, should've tried to curb him from earlier…

"Tsunade already left the village weeks ago you know, last I heard she abandoned being a shinobi altogether shortly after Dan's funeral. You wouldn't think blood of all things would be the one thing to stop her." He chuckles.

Jiraiya grits his teeth, stepping forward making Orochimaru step back, readjusting the body in his hands.

"I suppose she had the right idea though, the village has nothing left to offer me either."

A cloud blots out the moon then and within the darkness, Orochimaru deserts Konoha too.

It seems the cycle is repeating again with the new generation, but hopefully Naruto won't waste his time going after Sasuke like he did with Orochimaru.

He's made more mistakes than he can count over his life and one of his worst not including Orochimaru's defection is not being there for his own godson during the early stages of his life.

'I'll change that now though.' He silently promises himself along with Minato & Kushina.

Besides, Naruto has bigger things to worry about. The Akatsuki is adding new members and he needs to be strong enough should the day arise he has to take them on alone without losing control of the Nine Tails power.

"Don't sweat it Kid, we'll get to training and head out as soon as you're out of the hospital!" Jiraiya brightens and Naruto nods, immediately perking up again.

"Right!"


Hinata

"Are you going to go in there or not? Pacing in circles isn't going to get you any closer to Naruto's room!" Kiba teases.

The hospital looms ahead like a tower, though last time she made it as far to Naruto's door before her nerves got the best of her.

Again.

Kiba's remark is enough to snap her out of another of her back and forth cycle, flustering at his amused smirk.

"What? You'll burn a hole into the ground with how much you keep pacing like that. Just go in and say hello already! He can't do any harm to you with the injuries he sustained." He further prods.

'Today will probably be my last chance. Naruto is supposed to be going on a training trip with Jiraiya once he has recovered enough.' She knows.

Shino nudges him before he can go on, gesturing towards the longer winding path along the forest and river that will lead to their meet up spot with Kurenai-sensei.

"There's no need to pester Hinata, she'll go in at her own speed. Really, you should be taking it easy as well; that mission did a number on all of you. I want to know more about how you each took on the Sound 4." He emphasizes.

Akamaru yips from up ahead, playing with a swarm of jade dragonflies resting near the grass.

"That's true, but most everyone is out of hospital now Shino. I saw Choji with Ino and Asuma-sensei heading towards Yakiniku Q to celebrate his recovery and Shikamaru only received a mild injury to his hand." Hinata points out.

Shino shakes head. "I am glad everyone has recovered yes, though that isn't the point I'm trying to make. It was a critical mission and though we failed to get Sasuke to return, I would like to hear about the details of what moves you each used to take on the people who were known as Orochimaru's most elite bodyguards. It would be good for building and fostering our own teamwork to prevent us from sustaining injuries like that in any future missions we take on."

Kiba huffs, putting his hands behind his head. It sounds like to him that Shino is more annoyed by the fact he wasn't asked to come along rather than out of concern for his own health or this sudden idea of teamwork…

Either way, they both nod Hinata's way back in the direction of the hospital.

"Go now before you regret it; we'll catch up with you later!" Kiba yells out before letting Shino drag him along.

Hinata watches them go, biting her lip.

The simple white daisies in her hands begin to wilt from her pressure before she hurriedly moves to straighten them out again.

'Flowers like these aren't enough, I want Naruto to get well soon yes, but that is why I brought the scroll along as well.' Hinata reminds herself as she finally steps through the entrance of the hospital.

She's greeted with the potent smells of disinfectants and medicines, though it at least isn't as busy as the first time she came here.

The hospital is one of the few places in Konoha that is glad to see less business, the wings no longer inundated with those needing emergency attention after Suna's attack during the exams and after.

Quietly, she moves for the stairs, pausing to squeeze at the scroll she's brought along as an additional gift.

It's been woven using the finest threads, embroidered with a scarlet and gold covering bearing Konoha's emblem.

'I spent all of last night looking for this, will he even like it?' Hinata considers, recalling how she tiptoed through the shadows of the manor, heartbeat pounding in her ears just to ensure none of the attendants heard her heading for Father's private wing.

Though they're on better terms than before, all of that would fall apart if he knew she was sneaking into his study without permission.

This scroll has been in the clan for generations, however the elders have spoken little of it's use except that it works with time.

It isn't much, but she knows it's rarer than the ones even found within Konoha's Central Library.

Is there any scroll that even discusses the power of time and space? To be able to leap backwards and forwards for a set period altering the events of the past and future?

"Maybe I can read it with Naruto?" Hinata whispers hopefully, pausing outside his room once more.

Evening sun highlights against the doorway, washing it in a burnt orange that reminds her of him.

"Don't sweat it Kid, we'll get to training and head out as soon as you're out of the hospital!" Jiraiya's voice floats in from behind the door.

She walks back towards the stairwell, looking through the upper window just as his spiky white hair disappears into the forestry.

Naruto is alone now.

And again her heartrate picks up, fingers trembling reaching for the handle.

'Go in now before you regret it! He's leaving for that training trip with Jiraiya once he fully recovers!' Kiba's words and her own ring into her ears, growing louder and more impatient with each passing second of her standing still.

"Okay, okay, I'm going!" She hisses to stop them from yelling over each other, swinging Naruto's door open with a force that makes the flower petals sweep into the room along the tile.

Naruto jolts, head turning quickly in alarm halfway out of bed ready to attack with his IV pole.

"Who's there?! Just because I'm weaker right now doesn't mean I won't go down without a fight!"

Blue meets lavender, neither speaking and Hinata feels her face begin to burn tenfold.

Of all the ways she talked this over with herself, planned for this very encounter, scaring Naruto was at the very bottom.


Naruto & Hinata

"Are you sure you're okay now? I can give you another cup of my instant ramens, I stored some extras away!" Naruto comments, taking in Hinata's stiff posture beside him.

Her eyes have taken to observing the tiles, the ceiling, outside, really anywhere but at him.

Sometimes he gets the strangest visitors.

"I-I'm fine. Sorry for startling you like that." Hinata answers after a moment, taking a sip of his miso ramen with a small grin.

'He's more bandaged up than I thought.' She muses, peeking up from the broth taking in the gauze covering his arms, chest, and face.

Sasuke took him to the brink of death.

But he didn't kill him, and Naruto heals on his own fast. This too, he'll recover from.

Naruto nods, unsure what to make of her shocking entrance and now quiet behavior. He knows little about Hinata when it comes to his classmates, she's related to that ass Neji (well maybe he's a little better now since he beat him) and her clan is one of the old ones…Hyuga or something like that.

She's always been nicer than her fellow clan members though, offering him that ointment once and at least giving him an opportunity to let him cheat off of her during the chunin exams.

'She's not one of Sasuke's fan-girls I don't think, so why is she here to see me?' Naruto considers, scrunching his face in thought.

"Naruto, I know you'll be leaving out soon with Jiraiya, I um, well I wanted to bring you a parting gift. Just something I think may help in your journey." Hinata speaks again and Naruto blinks as she pulls out a scroll from her pouch.

He slowly accepts the gift, unsure what to make of it. Most everyone that has visited him has only been by with get well soon cards, flowers, and the occasional fruit basket.

His arms twitch opening up the scroll, eyes widening at the neat black calligraphy.

"Wow, no one's giving me such a nice gift before you know; thanks Hinata! Heh, the last fancy scroll I got like this I had to steal!" He beams.

Hinata smiles, fingers threading with the edge of his bed's linens.

"Is it…is it bad that I kind of stole that scroll too? Father doesn't know I took it from his private study, but I thought it could be of help to you in getting stronger or at least distracting while you recover."

Naruto blinks, smile widening in amusement.

"What, Hinata of all people stole something?! Now I know this scroll must be important you know!" He grins wickedly, scooting over allowing Hinata to read it as well.

"So…how does it work? Do you need your clan's special eyes to read it or something?" Naruto questions, unable to make heads or tails of the descriptions of calming one's mind to think forward or backward to make the best use of the scroll's power.

Hinata pauses, activating her byakugan, however nothing out of the ordinary sticks out to her before boldly placing her hand on top of Naruto's, reddening at his puzzled look.

"We need to press our palms to the center, similar as if you're doing a summoning jutsu and relax our minds to think clearly of the future or past." She explains.

Though her mind is all over the place, the warmth of Naruto's hand gently squeezing hers trying to follow her instructions, the ache in her chest knowing she is finally this close to him only for him to soon be leaving the village once all his wounds heal…

She doesn't even know if this old scroll is going to work.

"Should we think forward or backwards?" Naruto whispers.

"I-I don't know; you pick." Hinata murmurs back.

Well, the first thing that pops to mind is his failure.

His thoughts run back to the Valley of the End, the smell of mud, rain, and blood mixing together staining the ground crimson. Smoke singes his nose, electricity crackling through the gray-black sky while the Nine Tails whispers in his ear, goading him to use more of his power.

All for naught.

But with this scroll can he rewind back to that battle? Can he dodge Sasuke's chidori at the right moment and end the fight sooner? Keep his promises and return him back to the village?

'Back, I want to go backwards.' Naruto decides.

Though just as he is about to voice his decision and reason, Hinata leans into him and the scent of the valley twists into that of amber and lilies.

"Backwards, I want to go back and redo my fight with Sasuke. Stop him for real this time from leaving to go after Orochimaru for power." He swallows.

Can this scroll really do that? And what will happen afterwards?

'This moment with Hinata would no longer happen.' A small part of him realizes.

"Okay, I'm glad I'm getting to spend this time with you; no matter what you'd picked or if this even works. I don't know how long you'll be gone from the village after this, but I'll be stronger when you return." Hinata hums in understanding and promise.

Naruto straightens, voice turning dry feeling own face tinge pink. What girl has ever said such a thing regarding him? Wanting to even be near him? He opens his eyes breaking his concentration to see Hinata looks and sounds serious enough.

"Why?" He asks point blank, not caring at how rough his voice sounds.

"…Because I love you." Hinata breathes out.

It's enough to skew his thoughts off course, thoughts of going backwards in time switch to forward and then back again in a tangled loop, gut swirling taking in the meaning of her words.

The scroll begins to burn at his fingertips, room gaining a coating of a fog that reminds him eerily of the smoke that comes with a fire.

"Is this supposed to happen?!" Naruto mentions in alarm as the area grows cloudier.

Hinata's fingers tense in his own, lips pursed in equal uncertainty.

"I don't know." She murmurs back before the smog makes it too hard to see anything, to focus…

To breathe.


Naruto & Hinata (Future Konoha)

"Naruto, Naruto! Can you hear me?"

'Hinata is calling out to me. That's right, she came to visit me in the hospital. We opened that scroll she gave me as a gift and then we thought backwards, no or was it forwards- "

Slowly, his eyes drift open, no longer in the haze of the hospital room but in the warm and clear night air.

"Ah, thank goodness! You're okay." Hinata sighs in relief as Naruto meets her gaze properly.

Naruto shifts, sitting up to look around. The grass beneath them is wet with dew and his head spins when he quickly moves to stand.

"Wait, we're outside! The scroll, it sent us back; right?! Maybe to the night right before Sasuke decides to defect! Let's report to Granny, they can probably put extra security around the Uchiha district before Sasuke leaves." Naruto questions anxiously, slapping his cheeks to focus.

Hinata peers down to said scroll, pages now burnt and laden with ash.

The cause of the smoke and now their presence suddenly outside.

From the looks of things, they're right by the Naka river, moonlight making the water glow silver. Behind them they can hear the bustling of Konoha's streets alive with fervor despite the late hour.

Hinata uses her byakugan to check around as they head towards the market square, knots multiplying in her stomach.

This is Konoha, at least she thinks it is though it seems much more…grander than before.

She can't recall there having been so many high-rise buildings or even this many people within the village. Neon lights sparkle in greens, yellows, and reds of stores and restaurants she's never even heard of before.

Naruto slows his pace taking in the unfamiliar skyscrapers and street signs as well, brows furrowing together.

"Hey Hinata, does something about Konoha seem I don't know, different to you?" He questions, head tilting about.

Hinata nods, gesturing for Naruto to follow her stare towards the Konoha's monument.

The knots in her stomach snap.

'That looks like Kakashi-sensei's face after Lady Tsunade's and they're starting to carve another face beside his.' She notes.

Naruto says nothing for a long minute, grabbing Hinata's hand abruptly taking them to the rooftops for a better look.

He meets Hinata's gaze again, clenching his teeth.

"Could this be a genjutsu?" He asks.

Hinata makes the signs for release, nothing changing about their environment.

Naruto tries it himself before pinching at his skin, a raised red mark erupting up on his hand, the sting coursing through his body.

Crap.

"Okay, let's try Granny anyways. Hell, maybe Iruka-sensei will be at Ichiraku's and we can ask him or even Old Man Teuchi what's going on." Naruto determines, Hinata nodding her agreement.

Except they can't get past the guards at the Hokage Tower, only getting confused expressions when they ask for Lady Tsunade (she retired years ago?)

Iruka isn't at his old apartment and Teuchi's daughter appears to be running a now expanded Ichiraku's, tables now going for what seems like miles catering to a wide variety of shinobi, couples, and families under bright white tiles and fancy hardwood tables.

"I'm sure Ichiraku's was just a small stand yesterday." Naruto whispers as they leave the now mega restaurant.

"Can we check at the Hyuga compound next? I know it's a stretch, but perhaps Father knows what's going on since he did have the scroll in the first place." Hinata mentions.

Naruto nods, they need to find an authority figure who knew that scroll better than them.

The Hyuga manor is quiet save for the patrolling guards, Hinata halting them at catching a familiar figure approaching the main gates.

"Father?" Hinata whispers, voice falling to the wind taking in this older man just a few feet away.

A giddy smile rests upon his lips, brown hair peppered with gray as he flips through what looks to be like a set of photos.

"Boruto actually stood still for me today! He's normally got the energy of his Dad trying to get away from my hugs! And look, Himawari is starting to stand on her own; she's so happy with that teddy bear I gave her from last time!" Hiashi remarks proudly.

Hanabi rolls her eyes from beside him, though a grin rests upon her face as well. "Yes Father I remember; I was there too don't forget."

"Should we start buying them gifts for the Rinne Festival now, or maybe their birthdays?! We can have Kō look up places or- "

"Father, Hinata will let us know if they need anything. Let them play with the pile of gifts they just got from us today." Hanabi interrupts.

Hinata stiffens, stumbling back into the shadows before they can look her way. Her breaths come in short gasps, Father older, smiling and the happiest she's ever seen him and Hanabi, older as well and with long hair past her waist. Where is Neji, wouldn't he have been with them too?

'Who are Boruto and Himawari?'

"Slow breaths Hinata. Hey, maybe we should head back to my apartment? We can get some sleep and better scope the village under daylight?" Naruto suggests, rubbing at Hinata's back until her breathing evens out.

Hinata squirms, but follows along. They've spent the last hour trying to figure out what's going on delaying what seems to be the truth of their situation.

But besides that, he can feel the odd stares he's been getting, more than once an old lady or man asking with a teasing grin if he admires the up and coming Lord Seventh by mimicking his old style of dress.

He takes the old route he's memorized back to his apartment complex through a series of alleyways and roof-hopping, frowning when this too has been changed.

What lies ahead of him are residential homes and businesses that he knows were never there. His apartment is rickety looking from the outside, old boards covering up holes from previous heavy storms, moss and ivy tangling against the back walls competing for light. Nothing like the fancy polished designs before him now.

A middle aged lady passes by on a late night jog, Hinata politely stopping her to ask directions.

"Excuse me, my friend and I might've lost our way getting back to a family friend's apartment building that used to be in this area? We're new to the village so we haven't memorized every major area yet." She lies.

The woman laughs, brushing chestnut hair and sweat out of her eyes.

"Oh, there haven't been any apartments in this side of town in years I think! I'm originally from Suna myself and came here in my mid-20s right after the war ended, husband and I liked the cooler summers here! Ah anyways, an older neighbor said they tore all those old buildings down to make way for more houses since more people have been immigrating here; makes sense!" She explains.

"What?! But I lived in that apartment!" Naruto yelps in dismay earning him a confused look.

Under the orange glow of the streetlights she better takes in Naruto's features before chuckling.

"Boruto, is this another odd prank you're playing on your Dad? You should run on home now before you worry him, your Mom, and especially that little sister of yours!" She laughs, pointing in the direction of his apparent home before waving and continuing on with her run.

They watch her disappear around the corner, leaves scattering up in her wake.

"We went forward; this is the future Konoha." Hinata finally says, just loud enough for him to hear.

Naruto faintly nods, forcing a grin they'll figure this out when he sees tears brim in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't…I never should've taken that scroll without knowing the proper repercussions of using it." Hinata begins, Naruto patting her shoulders.

He had just as much wanted to use that scroll, another chance that would've been to stop Sasuke who is now probably hundreds of miles away.

Or is the Sasuke he knew already gone by now telling by how many years have passed?

"We'll figure this out, we're not giving up until we find someone who can help you know!" He asserts, brushing away her tears while injecting as much confidence as he can into his voice.

But there is no Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, or even Pervy-Sage to ask on what to do next.


"That lady said 'Boruto' lives in this direction and based on the tidbits of information we picked up, we at least know him." Hinata reasons.

It's nearing midnight now; the streets have lulled to an uncomfortable hush as they determine their next plan of action.

They don't know how far they're in the future, though at least one of their old classmates could be of help on what year it is and more so, how to get them back to their original time.

"So maybe one of us lives around here you know. Granted they may not believe us considering our only evidence is burnt." Naruto frowns.

Still they were out of options and he would prefer to not sleep in the forests if need be.

"Shoot, I'm really late tonight!" A voice grumbles from below startling them as a figure comes into view.

Hinata is the first to straighten seeing the man walk by, same favorite orange attire and blond hair shining in the glow of the streetlights. Naruto is the one to see where exactly he goes, approaching a two story home greeted by a woman with violet hair and pearl eyes.

Their lips brush in greeting, so casual and typical despite it nearly making Naruto fall off the railing of the house they're perched on.

"Sorry, they're putting more paperwork on me and even Shikamaru isn't being lazy about it!"

"Welcome back, and don't worry! You have an off day tomorrow and I think Boruto wants to go to the park to- "The woman's voice fades away as the man comes in, shutting the door behind him.

Naruto and Hinata look to each other before back at the house, hundreds of thoughts spinning together.

'Because I love you.'

Hinata's words repeat in his mind, four simple words that briefly made him switch from thinking about the past towards a future of getting to know her and why she would say such a thing to him of all people.

A future he thought about right as the scroll's pages began to burn at his fingers…

'Ah, so it's my fault we're here.' Naruto muses with a sigh considering his thoughts at the time.

Pervy-Sage is right, he lets his heart win over his mind once again.

Hinata is still staring towards the home, face pink and crawling down her neck.

She catches his gaze and her expression turns from curiosity to concern, watching as he hops down back to the pavement.

"I have to fix this. Somehow; someway!" Naruto mentions up to her gently.

And with that he approaches up to the door he saw the man who could very well be his future self just go through, knocking loud enough until the bright yellow lights of the home turn on again.


So I actually wrote this chapter out over a year ago for a cousin who off and on likes reading my works. Her favorites have been my time travel stories and when I came up with this idea over one weekend last spring/summer, I wrote it and then immediately forgot about it letting it get buried in my word documents and so life went on!

And now when said cousin is planning to visit me at the end of this month suddenly brought up this story I told her I forgot about it! Lol, so here I am posting it for her to share and maybe see if anyone else likes it enough for it to progress. Ha ha, otherwise it was going to collect dust which I know she would hate! Let me know your thoughts or any ideas, we made a very rough plan for it with her mainly just tossing out ideas she just wanted to see written!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!