A/N: Small Time Skip! Both the young Naruto and Hinata are now 14 years old!

Chapter 8: Remade

"Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new."

― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Lathe of Heaven


Naruto & Hinata (Future)

"We should move."

Naruto-Y says it with such casualness like it would be no big deal for them, voice just faintly loud enough over the crackling of the river and the buzz of the cicadas surrounding them.

The sky is a clear blue for miles, no cloud in sight to provide them with some shade from this excessive heat.

Hinata-Y blinks, wiping at sweat starting to drip down to her chin. It's been a painfully hotter summer than usual for Konoha, temperatures breaking records somedays putting them more on par with Suna it feels like to just about everybody's disdain.

"What will our older selves say? I know the office area isn't exactly comfortable, but your old apartment doesn't exist anymore on top of that I don't think any realtor will rent to us." She asks back, picturing that neither of their future selves will go for the idea.

There's also the fact they have no ryo to make such a large purchase.

Naruto-Y shrugs, swinging off his shirt shaking out blades of grass and sweat. " There's plenty of apartments where we could go to Hinata! I'm getting tired of being cramped in that small spot! Besides, we don't have to tell our older selves you know!"

'And it's getting harder to sleep having your body so close to mine and be unable to touch you without it being sensed.' He realizes, though perhaps it's a good thing to be monitored by his older self, to not be able to act upon these stirring desires...

'Even if we didn't tell them, they'll know something is up and have their clones follow us around more often.' Hinata-Y knows.

Her gaze soon wanders over the plains of his tan skin and growing muscles, face burning when he catches her staring with a cheeky grin.

"Take off your jacket so I can leer at you too!" He teases.

"N-No!" She hisses back, glancing away.

She can feel his stare boring on her though and when she peeks back in his direction, electric blue eyes charged truly scouring her figure, cheeks dusted a light pink before he looks away and heads for the river.

The last time they had sparred it hadn't been this hot and Naruto didn't have the need to become shirtless. All of the boyish charms and features she loves about him have changed so fast in just a year from growing taller than her back in the fall much to his elation, to gaining the beginnings of these muscles that make her fluster during the springtime.

'What changes does he notice about me?' She wonders before shaking the thought away.

Not important right now!

Hinata-Y looks back fully to him, brows furrowing together at a sudden thought. "Are you just trying to get out of meeting with Orochimaru and the other elders again?"

They had called a meeting to discuss updates on getting them home a month ago that she had practically had to drag him to, lips pursed and eyes stormy with flickers of scarlet watching Orochimaru with unrestrained malice. He had dealt with a cool passiveness, beaming and prepared with notes on how progress was going.

"While things have been slow these past few months, I have reason to believe with the new breakthroughs in my studies that we should be able to get you both home before the year is over." Orochimaru starts, sitting forward with a smile.

"And once we do, I'll stop your current plans you know! From trying to take Sasuke's body to any ideas you have for attacking the village again." Naruto-Y cuts in. Even now that body he's in he's sure isn't his own, too free of wrinkles or scars that come with age...

Orochimaru's grin only widens, shrugging. "I'll be excited to see your progress then! Though as strong as you've gotten, I don't think you'll be a match for me just yet."

His older self fixes him with a glare before he can say anymore, nodding at Orochimaru to go on.

"Just spit it out Orochimaru, we don't have all day." Naruto-O grunts.

At his lack of a response, Hinata-Y sighs and moves to sit beside him at the riverbank. The water chills her toes, turquoise green simmering in the afternoon light.

"Orochimaru...doesn't seem evil. He's helped everyone in recovering those missing pages from those Space/Time scrolls and actively helped speed up research on how time travel can affect the body and mind, remember?" Hinata-Y mentions.

Naruto-Y snorts, kicking his legs spraying them with droplets.

"I don't believe it, how could he get a pardon after all the crimes he did you know?! It doesn't make any sense, no matter how many times our older counterparts try to explain he helped in the war." He grunts.

A war neither of them have witnessed yet to give proof to their words.

Naruto-Y buries his head into his palms, sighing. "Is it wrong to be this angry? When we go back to the past he'll be evil again...I won't let him just run free if I can help it."

Hinata-Y leans closer to him then, knees touching and the warmth and scent of lilies and vanilla encompasses him.

"No, it means you can feel Naruto. It's okay to be upset, confused, even mad. I don't understand it either, but we should trust in our older selves. It's how we'll get back to our own time." She voices softly.

He clicks his teeth, anger melting off of him as he studies their reflections. At times over this passing year he fleetingly wishes he and his Hinata could just stay here, that the past life they came from was simply a dream.

Here all his goals are already complete, Sasuke is back in the village, he is set to be the next Hokage, and he is happy and loved with a family to come home to. People even make toys and plushies out of Kurama, the very same beast that once they go back to the past he knows people will be wary and fearful of once again.

But then Orochimaru, Kabuto, and probably many other crooks are free here, their punishments so minor in comparison to all their crimes.

And Pervy-sage is gone, he along with Neji, Asuma-sensei and so many others...

The conversation of them first beginning to work with Orochimaru replays in his mind, a bitter reminder of their limited options.

"What?! No, I refuse to work with that guy!" Naruto-Y snaps, standing up.

Of all the people his older self thought could help get him and his Hinata back to their correct time, he picked Orochimaru?!

"Sit back down, at least let me explain why." Naruto-O replies.

"Hear him out, it's not an easy decision to even bring him up as an option." Hinata-O points out.

Naruto-Y scoffs not following his command, blue of his eyes darkening to a sharp red.

"And if I don't?" He growls.

But then he feels his body freezing up, his shadow locked in place by Shikamaru when he glances his way.

"Just do as your older counterpart says. This day is troublesome enough already without you trying to go running off to attack him or Kabuto." He asserts in warning.

Naruto-Y rolls his eyes, reluctantly doing as he's told with no other choice.

Naruto-O clears his throat, starting again. "As I was saying, Orochimaru whether we like it or not has done vast research and study into the human body and time travel."

"Yes, for the purposes of trying to live forever! Are we forgetting this man killed Old Man Third because he was getting in the way of that?! That he actively wanted Konoha to be destroyed!" Naruto-Y interrupts.

Hinata-Y jabs at his hand, sending him the beginnings of a glare.

"Let him finish Naruto-Y, we have to go with whatever options we have if we want to get home any sooner." She relates.

Naruto-Y sighs, those are just the main actions he's done that first pop to mind, even if Orochimaru supposedly became 'good' afterwards in the following years, the blood of innocent victims stains his and Kabuto's hands.

"Orochimaru can help aid us in getting you two home faster by allowing us access to his research files on space and time. Particularly the notes he took on the Uchiha clan." Naruto-O finishes.

Naruto-Y smiles grimly then, flash of elongated, jagged teeth.

"Of course he studied their clan the most." He mutters.

He wondered then what Sasuke thought of all this, if he even cared about his mentor's old crimes.

"We plan to ask him tomorrow afternoon just so you're both aware." Hinata-O brings up.

But Naruto-Y merely shrugs, hands folding behind his head.

"We don't have a choice, do we?" He states bitterly to only silence in return.

"Smaller Papa look, I caught a big fish!" Boruto yells out to them interrupting, blond hair weaving through the high grass towards them with Himawari's violet locks shuffling closely behind him.

"Really big! I saw him catch 3!" Himawari emphasizes as they come properly into view holding up three fingers excitedly, the silver bass wiggles in Boruto's arms about to flop out of his tiny hands.

Naruto-Y beams, the two reasons why it would be different for them to leave.

He pats at the spot beside him, Boruto dutifully tossing the fish back into the river at Hinata-Y's prompting it should be back with his family as well.

"Boruto, how would you feel about Smaller Mama and I moving?" Naruto-Y begins.

Boruto scrunches his nose in thought, looking between his younger parents before beaming as he comes up with an answer.

"No!"

"No?" Naruto-Y mimics back at his blunt response.

Boruto nods, sure of himself. "No, you can't leave!"

Hinata-Y giggles, joining in. "How come Boruto?"

Cerulean eyes sharpen then, frowning. "Because I said so! Smaller Papa and Mama can't leave because then everyone will be sad. You can sleep in the garden shed if you need more space if that's the problem!"

It's quite the insight for a 4 year old, a bad suggestion though!

"Stay like big brother says!" Himawari pipes up wanting to be a part of the conversation, puffing her cheeks out to match his.

She moves to crawl into his lap, at 2 now she's become almost as much of a chatterbox as her brother, pointing out colors or counting for them at every opportunity.

He ruffles at hair so similar to his own, weighing how to say this in a way they'll understand. Eventually, they'll get back to their own timeline whether they want them to or not, perhaps in a few years they'll even forget they had two sets of parents for a period of time.

"Remember how smaller Papa and I said we weren't from this Konoha? That our Konoha is a bit older and doesn't have all the fancy trains, computers, or cellphones like you have?" Hinata-Y begins.

Boruto pauses, the idea of such a Konoha sounds so foreign to his ears. "Yes, it's in the photo albums." He recalls after a moment.

Hinata-Y nods. "That's the time period we came from, we need to go back and grow up to be bigger Papa and Mama. As well as try and help save people who passed away during the war or beforehand."

"We can't stay here as the people in the past miss us as well you know. Do you understand?" Naruto-Y chimes in.

Boruto lays back into his chest, confusion still muddling his features before he abruptly brightens once more.

"Okay then, I'll come with you!" He decides.

Naruto-Y and Hinata-Y glance to each other in unison, quick enough for Boruto not to notice their own equally wary looks.

He still didn't get it!

But now Boruto is hopping up and down and Himawari matches his eagerness, kicking her legs up giddily.

"I'll go with you to help! Then I'll turn around and come back home back to bigger Papa and Mama once we get rid of all the bad guys! Just like the Super Sentai Ninja squad or Kamen Ninja; I'll be the leader Red Shadow and you guys can be my sidekicks!"

Naruto-Y looks to Hinata-Y for help, completely lost.

"He's referencing his favorite TV shows, they're about ninja teams and a mysterious masked ninja who take on anything from evil warlords, petty crooks, to alien monsters." Hinata murmurs in explanation.

"...Okay, sounds like you've been watching it with him!" Naruto-Y snickers.

Hinata-Y reddens, averting her eyes. "Only an episode or two because he gets so excited about it! He copies they're signature attacks via using his pillows or his crayons!"

"-And we can go back the same way Dr. Hongo used for the Dai Sentai team using the time keys!" Boruto continues on animatedly.

Naruto-Y chuckles, letting him go on as he grabs a nearby twig describing how the rangers do their formation attack.

If only traveling back was so easy.


Sakura (Past)

'It's the one year anniversary.' Sakura reminds herself, slowing her footsteps and brushing her sweaty palms against her scrubs. Last remnants of sunlight follow her, burnt orange and red rays keeping her shadow far too visible.

Maybe the anniversary of Naruto and Hinata's disappearance will signify something, bring up a hint of how far in time they are.

She shouldn't be in this wing, it's been blocked off all these months for a reason...

But there must be an answer in Naruto's hospital room that's been missed, a clue that even Jiraiya may have overlooked the first time he and his team scoured the area from top to bottom.

The residue of ash and shattered glass still lingers along the furniture and linen, charcoal blacks and grays littered across Naruto's bed where the flames surely first started.

A tile crackles behind her, curve of a figure just barely visible from the corner of her eye.

"You still don't know where Big Brother Naruto is yet either, do you?" The voice asks, soft and forlorn.

Sakura straightens herself, stomach tightening knowing there is nothing she can say to console Konohamaru. It's not the first time he's asked her this and it won't be last time he wonders why none of the adults or even she can't figure out the mystery behind Naruto and Hinata's sudden time slip.

Nonetheless, she forces a smile when she turns to him, steeling her heart at seeing the cloudiness of his features.

Tear tracks and puffy eyes are the hardest to cover she knows from experience...

"No, but perhaps I need to search for answers outside of Konoha's borders." She mentions.

Konohamaru follows her gaze inside again, stare focused on the rust of the unused IV poles in the corners, the burnt pillows and blankets melded with the bed.

"Why is it taking so long to find him and Hinata? At first...At first I thought maybe this was a prank or maybe a new jutsu he hadn't told anyone about! I guess it was silly to think he would pop back up again as usual when I saw the damage from the fire." He sighs.

Sakura reaches for him at seeing tears spring to his eyes as his figure briefly slumps, but he hurriedly wipes them away resolving himself.

"Shinobi don't cry and I still believe Boss and Big Sis Hinata will return back safely someday soon!" He voices aloud, confidence renewing her own.

A smile etches at Sakura's lips, nodding her agreement even if a layer of uncertainty lingers under his words.

"Hey, perhaps they were targeted?! Naruto was always saying he was getting chased by girls in the upper classes back at the Academy and by men and women alike on missions! Maybe a band of thieves or crooks took him knowing they could fetch a high ryo on him?!" Konohamaru abruptly suggests.

Sakura barely contains something of a snort and laugh.

'Naruto made this kid believe he was even more popular than Sasuke!' Though she can't bring herself to tell him that said stories are utter lies.

Part of Sasuke's popularity exists because of his looks and power and her heart drums in her ears knowing there was so much more to him than just those surface factors, factors she learned too late before he left to Orochimaru for power...

'Power. That is a main motivation for most people good or bad.' Sakura realizes.

And she recalls then her disastrous encounter with Jiraiya back in The Rose Room, the whisper of conversations he's had with Lady Tsunade more and more as of late while she tucked herself into the shadows or behind a stack of books.

"The Akatsuki are getting steadily closer to Konoha. I've received imminent warnings from my spy in Suna at the beginning of this month that one of their members will most likely invade within the next year to get the One Tail." Jiraiya sighs.

Sakura freezes nearly toppling her stack of books on pharmacology and foundations of medical-surgical nursing, molding herself with the wall as quickly as she can. The beeps of monitors echo in the distance, clang of metal instruments in the operating rooms down the hall doing little to hide the noise she creates scuttling against the cold tile.

'Relax, you belong here in the hospital. Don't be afraid.'

Tsunade scoffs and Sakura pictures a brandy or sake being roughly swirled in her hand, droplets of white to amber sloshing against the cedarwood of her table.

"Great, they won't have a target for here though since Naruto is gone. They must be putting extra protective measures into place for Gaara then, right?" She questions.

There's a long pause and Sakura for a twisting moment feels like they know she's here, awkwardly blending herself with the dirty linen and her books until Jiraiya speaks again.

"That's where I'm unsure...I haven't heard from my spy in nearly a week now. Plus, I think he's about to step into the higher position of becoming the Fifth Kazekage." He grunts.

Tsunade clacks her drink down, sighing.

"Oh, the cursed shadow that follows the Leaders of the Sand Village. All of them to date have been assassinated...'

Gaara.

He has a tailed beast like Naruto, that much she picked up on before her nerves bested her in getting up to leave the area.

She recalls the way he rampaged through their village, coldness and bloodlust that shined in his light green eyes.

'Still, he has to be warned, I need to get to Suna.' She resolves.

And perhaps he would be able to know where the other jinchuriki were to prevent them from being captured and killed.

Too much has been on Lady Tsunade's plate and Jiraiya's, they may not even fully remember the conversation in the weeks that have passed since then. The village has had to prepare various ways for Naruto and Hinata's eventual return and the ever growing possibility of war coming to them or being attacked by a rogue ninja or group.

'Is this the right thing to do?' Sakura stiffens, numbness and goosebumps rolling over her arms.

To abruptly decide to leave the village is the same thing Sasuke did.

'But it's not for power or revenge.' She tells herself.

And yes, Naruto would surely do the same if he was in her place. Gaara and Naruto shared an understanding in their painful childhoods, these beasts forced upon them without say in the matter to be used as weapons for their respective nations.

'What about Kakashi-sensei?' Her thoughts cut in sharply to the here and now, Konohamaru looking at her quizzically from her ongoing silence.

He'll instantly be suspicious even he isn't already and she bites her lip thoughtfully, weighing how to proceed.

'So be it. It will be good to get out of Konoha, see how health and medicine is practiced in the other nations.' Sakura answers herself.

A knot settles in her chest knowing that isn't the best response, sucking in a slow breath.

"Sorry, I got caught up in my thoughts! I think I can maybe gain an idea of where Naruto and Hinata went if I speak with the advisors in Suna as Konoha's ambassador. They might have notes from their historical archives on space/time-travel. On top of that, I think Suna's best elite shinobi should be aware of the danger." Sakura voices.

Konohamaru arches a brow, curtain falling over his features turning his cobalt orbs icy.

"...You mean the same shinobis' who aided in killing Gramps and Hayate?" He snaps, each word a stab, a poisonous reminder.

Suna and Konoha are not on the most friendliest terms exactly.

"Would they even be willing to help or listen to you? A genin has little say in such high political matters, even I know that." Konohamaru jests at her lack of a green vest.

Sakura doesn't let the sting show, steadying him with a glare of our own enough to make him gulp and back down some. "I thought Naruto taught you better than that! I can't just give up without trying!"

They leave the hospital, nightfall upon them now, moon shining silver as stars crisscross over a velvet blue-black sky.

"Stay safe getting home!" Sakura instructs, Konohamaru saluting her back.

"I can say the same for you as well! Naruto and Hinata would put me through the ringer if you were injured!" He laughs, first true grin since their paths intersected.

As soon as he is out of sight, her strained grin falls.

Because internally she is a mess of jumbled thoughts and a rapidly rising heartbeat, knowing one thing from Konohamaru's questioning rings true.

'It will be hard for anybody to take me seriously.'


Kakashi (Past)

"Suspicious in what sense?" Kakashi repeats, barely turning away from his current chapter of Make Out Paradise. (At the best part too when Kota is about to confess his true feelings to Moriko before leading them to the bedroom).

Asuma arches a brow, looking to Kurenai to provide him with some backup.

"I mean that I saw your last student Sakura buying a lot of gear for a what looks to be like more than just a day trip." He repeats.

"She could just be going on a youthful excursion with her fellow classmates!" Gai suggests getting him a blank stare in return.

"Well you've yet to tell me what said supplies were." Kakashi drawls adding in, bored of this topic. He got enough questioning from students at the Academy and now his so called friends are doing the same.

"Is it true sensei your last team quit on you because you wouldn't reveal your face?! Harue asks while raising his hand fervently.

The question has nothing to do with their current discussion of how to manage your food rations when out in the field.

Gossip persists about him even within the Academy's walls it seems.

He looks to Iruka for backup keeping to the side, the man simply gesturing with a nod for him to continue the lesson.

How?

Kakashi blinks. "Actually I-"

No, that's not it Harue! I heard from my sister all of them left because they he tried to drown them all back in the Land of Waves!" Emica answers for him.

Who did her sister get her gossip/information from?

"You're both wrong! Kakashi-sensei is here on probation from Lady Tsunade after he threatened to send his students on a S-class mission alone!" Reina jumps in, crossing her hands, smug grin in place.

"You're all wrong." Kakashi states flatly, tone sharpening with barely veiled annoyance.

The trio stiffen, instantly quieting.

He was taken off the roster for lectures on field training shortly after that incident.

"What Asuma is trying to say is that he's worried. We've both seen her out late getting gear for what looks to be like a long mission. Gear like food ration pills for up to a week, shawls, flare guns, first aid kit package for a field..." Kurenai intervenes, trailing off.

And at this Kakashi sighs, knowing well and good he needs to look into this.

So he follows Sakura out that very night, pink hair easily traceable through winking streetlights of yellows to whites.

"You know, I would expect this more out of Naruto than you if you're planning a random journey." He begins once he catches her alone away from the vendors.

"Really? Not even Sasuke who actually did leave on purpose?" She retorts.

Jade eyes don't even look his way, steady and focused westward.

"I can't just standby, I thought more about what Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya have said regarding Naruto, regarding what's coming." She finally mutters.

Kakashi arches a brow and Sakura adjusts the backpack upon her shoulders.

"This...This Akatsuki group, surely the other jonin sensei have been muttering about it too, right? Their targets are tailed beasts, the other jinchuriki should be warned. A messenger bird will deliver my plans to Kurenai-sensei and Lady Tsunade by dawn. Also, I want to learn from a variety of nations if I can on their poisons and medicines, learn techniques that people won't expect from me." She further explains.

'I see, Gaara is Suna's jinchuriki.' He notes.

But there's no full proof that is the Akatsuki's goals, Sakura must've picked up more than what they were updated on...

"I can't let you go alone." Kakashi notes and Sakura grunts, expression morphing into annoyance.

"You didn't let me finish, that's why I'll come with you. They'll take you more seriously with me tagging along." He tacks on and as moonlight rolls over them a flash of smirk etched her lips.

"Say that first sensei instead of waiting!" Sakura snorts.

Kakashi shrugs, accepting the duffel bag she tosses towards him.

It's heavier than he expects, Sakura was prepared to carry such a hefty bag alone and he silently reprimands himself for disregarding her new strengths with all her training.

He thinks briefly of Rin and Obito, it would be nice if he could greet them before departing or even tell Lady Tsunade their sudden plans but he can see Sakura is itching to depart as she hops from one foot to the other.

"Don't be such a stickler for the rules." Obito chastises him in his thoughts, he was never one for following any of the shinobi policies really.

Maybe it will be good for them both to be away for the village for a bit, these ghosts of the past that chase them...


Naruto & Hinata (Future)

"Why, you're the first one here who was finally able to actually get a IV in without having to poke me dozens of times over!" Mrs. Yamazaki beams, hazel-green eyes shining in relief. Her husband in the seat beside her nods his agreement, watching as Hinata connects back up the infusion to finish her vitamin B and magnesium solution.

Hinata-Y deactivates her byakugan, shaking her head with a laugh. "Sakura and my older self told me the best places to first look to start an IV is in the median cubital vein or the basilic vein. Being dehydrated though always makes it tougher to spot a good vein that won't immediately collapse."

"You had no trouble at all, they've taught you well! I hope you truly continue the practice of working here into your adult years." Mr. Yamazaki asserts.

Hinata-Y simply bows, excusing herself to see if anyone else in the center needs help. Most of the IV's she's been putting in have been superficial, Sakura promising to soon have her start pushing meds in the emergency room and operating rooms on central catheters and lines.

"I expect great things out of working with you here that you can use in the past as well!" Sakura had related to her at the time and indeed there is much she has taught her about the human body and medicine.

A world beyond just her clan and wifehood.

"Since there aren't anymore cases for today, I'm going to head home" Hinata-Y states to the charge nurse Yuya. Auburn orbs look away from her computer with a nod and smile.

"Tomorrow, Sakura told me to show you to the intensive care and dialysis wings, the nurses and doctors there will think you're a godsend having two Hinatas to aid in all the lines constantly being pulled out by our more elderly or confused patients."

Hinata-Y pictures it with a nod, ready for the new challenge.

The walk to the Hyuga manor is quiet, Naruto texting her during lunch he would be running late to meet up with her to pick up the kids. Often upon not, if he wasn't training with his older self, he was joining him in long meetings that sometimes ran into the evening/night.

"Don't worry, I can get Boruto and Himawari from the compound." She had told him.

"Okay, and can we have ramen tonight!? I can make the sides of the salad and rice, but this meeting is going into business hours and policies for every shop in Konoha and I'm pinching myself to stay awake here you know! :("

Hinata-Y restrains a giggle, now she knew why her older self always snickered at the text messages Naruto's older self sent her.

"Sure. :) I'll get the ingredients ready with my older self so it will be warm when you get home."

"Maybe I'll leave out early to help (I'll feign a stomach bug or flu!). I need to know how to cook more meals for us when we get back to our original time."

Before she knows it, she's already arrived at the Hyuga manor, sunlight gleaming off of the dark shingles and sharp greenery of the trees. She can hear Boruto's laughter somewhere in back as she approaches, Hiashi watching him practice using wooden swords with Hanabi, Himawari fast asleep in his lap.

Pearl orbs sense her presence, half turning to greet her patting at the wooden steps beside him.

"Come sit, I'm sure he'll want to finish this round before you take him home." Hiashi voices.

'We never talk like this in the past.' Hinata-Y realizes, following his order with ease. This is the relationship she longed to have with her Father for years, but perhaps war and death will keep him hardened until things truly become peaceful in the village.

"I...I would like to talk with you more like this when I go home back to my proper time period, but I do not know where to start." Hinata-Y breathes out, steadying her gaze to meet his own.

Hiashi pauses, thoughtful.

"Yes, that would be nice. Granted, I'll be honest I won't see it as a priority most likely. So much was always happening in the village back then and I'll be too focused on worrying for you and Hanabi's safety to think of the pain and stress I caused you."

Hinata-Y purses her lips, she knew this, was expecting it even, but an ache sinks into her still like a falling stone.

"Naruto my Naruto that is, he'll come with me and we can talk?" She suggests, pushing forward.

Himawari shuffles in her sleep, azure eyes cracking open seeing her and cracking a sleepy grin before burying back into her grandfather's arms.

"Naruto kept his promise in changing the clan, I assume you want it to happen earlier. Beforehand he would come to visit quite often after Neji's death, checked in on all of us especially you, but Hanabi and I as well. As you started dating, he would bring by flowers that could be used as medicine at the hospital or to plant here in the garden. You two would go to the garden shed/room and spend hours there worrying Kō." He chuckles at the memory.

Hinata-Y tries to picture it too, she and Naruto with their heads buried in the shed, smell of pine, oak leaves, and berries surrounding them. The old shed he gestures to looks out of use now, weeds and vines the shade of greenish-yellows crawling over and reclaimed the warped wood and broken glass that leads up to the door.

"And then when you two were 19 or so, that man came by for your hand. Maybe that won't happen now with all these changes, Naruto was so mad, he nearly-"

'Nearly what?' Hinata-Y straightens, reddening at a million scenarios, heartbeat turning into a pounding drum.

"Welcome back!" Hanabi greets interrupting him to her dismay. Boruto remains coiled in her arms ,cheeks flushed with a lopsided grin.

"You cheated by tickling me Big Sis!" He huffs between giggles at her light poking.

"Nobody said that was against the rules! Ninjas have to think fast in the midst of battle!" Hanabi teases him back, setting him down properly allowing him to run into Hinata-Y's arms.

"Welcome back Smaller Mama!" He grins, bearing a toothy grin that reminds her so much of his Dad's.

She lifts him up into his arms with ease, taking in the scent of sweat and pine sticking to his black jacket and hair.

"You can always stay for dinner if you would like." Hanabi suggests to which Hinata-Y shakes her head. Her older self had already bought a variety of ingredients earlier in the week she and Naruto-Y planned to help her in preparing Yaki Udon, baked tonkatsu with rice, oyakodon, and omurice.

'It's a bit more ingredients than usual now that I think about it. We aren't having more guests over than usual I wonder?' Hinata-Y considers as Boruto leads them along.

Himawari stirs fully awake this time at their moving, cobalt eyes gazing around. "Where we going Mama?" She asks, lifting her head off her shoulder.

"Back home, you can sleep a bit more if you want and I'll wake you when we arrive." She smiles, tiny fingers weaving into her hair weighing the option.

"Can we have burgers tonight Smaller Mama?" Boruto asks, halting in his stride.

"No Boruto, Father already gave you burgers for lunch and you need to eat a variety of food-" Hinata-Y explains, stopping herself at seeing two shadows just lingering around the corner.

Waiting for them?

Even if this time period is peaceful, a wariness crawls up her.

'Byakugan!'

Their chakra signatures are familiar, relaxing at realizing who they are.

Boruto senses them as well, breaking into a wide grin, running forward.

"Smaller Papa is here! And Uncle Sasuke!" He cheers, running ahead leaping into Naruto-Y's hands.

'He left the meeting earlyor Sasuke told him to?' He considers.

"Whoa now, don't run ahead of Mama Bolt!" Naruto-Y chastises him, ruffling up his hair with a grin. His gaze fixes back to Sasuke, lips flattening, smile evaporating and the uneasiness crushes at her again wondering what they had been discussing.

"Well, have you told our older selves yet? We should call another meeting tonight I suppose. Heh, guess we don't need to think about moving now." Naruto-Y considers.

Hinata-Y slowly walks up, straightening her posture adjusting Himawari to her hip. "Has...Has something happened?"

Sasuke nods his head, holding up a scroll a bright shade of crimsons and golds. "Yes, I've been in correspondence with Orochimaru as you already know. He was able to find this scroll from his research years back in studying the human body from birth to death."

"I'll give you this scroll Sasuke on the condition I can watch it's effects in action. It's been too long since I've seen the fruits of my labor actually blossom." Orochimaru purrs.

"...Naruto and Hinata's younger counterparts won't want you there for their departure. You hardly came to the meetings every time we held them." Sasuke voices after a pause.

Orochimaru's eyes only gleam, shining with mirth.

"It's like it's been said before; they don't have much of a choice in this matter."

Naruto-Y grimaces, rolling his eyes. "Don't remind us of his gross habits."

Sasuke ignores his remark, revealing his rinnegan, a swirl of purple that makes them quiet.

"We need to head back to the Uzumaki manor; now. I know how to get you both home."

-x-


Random Thoughts: Soo a couple of things, even with trying to stay safe and protect myself I still ended up getting Covid this past week. :( Luckily it's a mild case, but occasionally while writing this chapter I zoned out or fell asleep lol. Hopefully I feel better enough to write out the next chapter as this one was already midway done when I got tested. This cough and fatigue is no joke though, I can't get rid of either of them it feels like. I will flood my body with more orange juice and water!

Boruto is referencing a mix of the Super Sentai series (or Power Rangers as known overseas) Kamen Rider, and other popular ninja and superhero shows of Japan that were popular around the 70's-90's into today. It was fun to write that scene imagining Hinata doing the poses and acting out the fight scenes with him while 'training'!

Sakura, I feel pretty sure about what I'll do for her. New year so I plan to challenge myself in twisting the dynamics of her canon relationship with Sasuke so stay tuned for that!

Umm, can't think of anything else right now. Let me know your thoughts! We're going back to the past officially next chapter!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!