Chapter 9: Return Part 1

"And now you'll be telling stories of my coming back
and they won't be false, and they won't be true
but they'll be real"― Mary Oliver, A Thousand Mornings


Jiraiya (Past)

'Something's changing in the air, I can't quite place it.'

He casts his gaze up to the night sky, searching for anything out of the ordinary through the streams of silver-white stars against the dark. With the passage of a year he's been more alert for any distinct movements, sparks or flickers around him like the first chills of frost or the humidity on his face in the winters and summers to a warm whisper by his ear in a crowded brothel/bar.

But none of them have ever been Naruto or Hinata having finally tracked him down, somehow gotten home.

'I'm thinking too hard on this.' He decides after a moment, trekking quietly towards Naruto's apartment.

The streets are quiet save for him, only the red light district is alive with chatter as patrons move about the various clubs and bars amid bright, playful yellow-orange lights.

Naruto's rooms are the same as the day he disappeared, ensuring nobody cleaned up the area (save for the fridge/kitchen to prevent roaches/pests) to preserve what he could of finding clues on where he and Hinata could've gone.

Empty ramen bowls and half-opened scrolls remain layered with a fine coating of gray dust and white webs scattered all about the living room floor. Laundry half-folded on his sofa still carries the faint scent of lemon cleaning and polish. The last scrolls Naruto had been apparently reading discussed the fastest ways to speed up the body's recovery after a major injury and ways to hunt down missing nin.

Shuffled next to said scrolls are books on traveling while building one's strength to ones that discuss a variety of nature jutsu to practice in the field and food rationing. All preparations for a journey with him that never happened...

'His time travel wasn't on purpose, that much I know. On top of that, I know he must be at least 10 years in time. There's nobody I've come across that would know how to get him back here or for me to get to him.' Jiraiya reviews to himself.

Well, there's a chance Orochimaru could know, but the man is too caught up in Sasuke and getting a new body.

And he doubts he cares too strongly about either's disappearance.

"I can't seem to shake this thought." He grumbles aloud to the empty room.

'I could try checking the Hyuga compound as well for any changes there, but I doubt Hiashi is going to let me in.' Jiraiya muses.

The man didn't even seem to want to let him into the manor the first time when Hinata had only recently gone missing.

He still can't shake the sense something is approaching Konoha even as he finds nothing unusual or new among Naruto's belongings. There's a high chance the technology of the future and abilities of a future shinobi is enough to get Naruto and Hinata back home though without him needing to try any further.

When and where is just the question.

"Late night walk?" Iruka asks as he slips out of Naruto's apartment back to the sidewalk. Jiraiya blinks, vaguely recalling the man from a set of photos in Naruto's bedroom.

Right, from the Academy.

"Heh, still can't seem to find any hints on where that kid's gone. This long game of hide and seek he's playing is truly getting tiring!" Jiraiya jests lightly.

Iruka's smile wans then, looking up to Naruto's darkened apartment.

"Both he and Hinata wouldn't have left without any reason. I take it though you haven't gotten any major updates or breakthroughs on their case?" He assumes.

Jiraiya shakes his head, clicking his tongue. 6 months ago it became clear enough that Naruto and Hinata were missing to the other nations. It's resulted in more spies, more petty thieves and shinobi from various nations and small villages attempting to breach through Konoha's security to weaken them now that they're without their tailed beast.

'That Akatsuki group; I'm sure this has shaken up their plans somehow too.' He knows.

But if anything for now it seems they've gone deeper into hiding. None of his research, digging, or associates not yet disappeared or busy with missions have been able to get any recent updates on their members or their current locations besides that they're a mishmash of shinobi from different nations. All are considered missing nin or rogue, some in it for the money, fame, or just to spill blood...

He recalls the Great Toad's Sage vision from last month, the very reason he is starting to feel so on edge now.

"When a half moon lies up above the young ones will be back again in their own time; all preparations have been made from the future. They'll come forth in a swirl of flames and light like before." Gamamaru announces, glancing up from his crystal ball.

"And where should I go first?! Do you see where I should try to locate them when they arrive?" Jiraiya pushes, hoping Gamamaru heard him when he cocks his head blankly.

"Hmm? Yes, I like flies too little Jiraiya! Especially with grasshoppers or caterpillars!" Gamamaru relates excitedly.

Jiraiya resists the urge to smack his hand to his head in rising frustration, Shima giving him a comforting look at his impatience from the corner of his eye. Fukasaku groans, they should've tried to ask the Great Sage all this in the early morning hours instead of the late afternoon.

At least he would've been more alert and less...off topic.

"Be nice little Jiraiya!" Shima mouths and Jiraiya sighs.

"I said try, not flies! Where should I go to locate Naruto and Hinata when they arrive back in the past?" He attempts once more facing the elder toad.

Gamamaru straightens himself again on his cushion, going quiet in thoughtfulness .

"Where the river ends, the grass there will be scorched black." He states.

The moon above is now half full, silver light shining along the Naka river making the sea green water gleam brightly in the dark. Crickets chirp from the nearby reeds while fireflies dance around him in bright neon yellows, creating a glowing trail into the woods.

'This is where the Naka river ends, should I wait for them to just pop up around here suddenly?' Jiraiya questions himself, studying the grass.

Said blades of grass are untouched, their usual green and damp with dew.

The Geezer Sage hadn't exactly given him a time or date, for all he knew he would have to wait here for hours or maybe even a day or two for the duo to properly appear.

A yawn bubbles up out of him before he can help it. It's nearing midnight and he's been up off and on since around 2:00 am yesterday, dozing only when his eyes felt too heavy to keep open.

Otherwise he has been waiting for this moment, the time of arrival.

A cloud obscures the moon fleetingly plunging him into darkness.

And across the river a thicket of bushes and trees seem to sway as if alive startling him awake, forming human shapes that dance and twist only to disappear back into stationary branches and leaves once moonlight hits them once more.

Jiraiya rubs at his eyes, pulling out the bottle of caffeine pills from his pocket.

"I shouldn't have to tell you this, but don't take more than one in 24 hours unless absolutely necessary! These pills are the equivalent of five shots of coffee at once and I don't want you zipping around the hot springs or the red light district hyper on caffeine and sugar!" Tsunade warns.

"Why, don't want to take the blame for my misbehavior?! You can provide me with some entertainment if you want me to be good!" He teases with a waggle of his brows, leaning close to her enough to get a faint whiff of some type of sake or bourbon on her lips.

Homura and Koharu have been breathing down her neck he knows, pestering upped a notch by the increased cases of foreign shinobi too close to Konoha's walls along with his update that he senses Naruto and Hinata's return is coming.

Tsunade snorts, cracking her knuckles in emphasis making him instantly move back. Amber orbs swirl with annoyance and worry, sighing when the latter of the two wins out.

"I'm being serious idiot! I can't have you being one of my patients unless I'm the cause of said bruises or broken bones. Caffeine can affect your heart and brain in too high of a dosage in a short period of time as you already know. Organs too major that aren't as easy to heal as a cracked bone or a torn muscle..."

Jiraiya waves off her worry, accepting the bottle. "Come now Tsunade, a caffeine pill isn't going to be the thing that does me in! Most likely it will be one of your punches accidentally snapping my neck or maybe you finally agreeing to a date with me causing me to have a heart attack!"

Tsunade rolls her eyes, pushing him out of the office. "Get out of here already with your stupid ideas!"

He chuckles at the memory, popping down two of the tablets just for good measure.

"Sorry Tsunade, I need to be awake for this."


Naruto & Hinata (Future)

"Get everything packed, we should leave at the latest late morning/early afternoon." Sasuke reiterates.

Naruto-Y waves him off, there's no way Sasuke either young or old is going to boss him around!

"Alright, we will! It's not like we had a lot on us when we came here you know! This time travel wasn't on purpose incase you forgot!" He snaps, grunting as he moves to get a small backpack together from the office.

He can't recall he or his Hinata having anything on them anyways when they came to the future except that scroll.

Sasuke gives him a flat look in return at his slow movements, looking to his older self to provide better directions.

Though Naruto-O looks just as annoyed with his instructions, lips pursed and flat uncrossing his arms when he catches his stare.

'Some things don't change no matter how old this idiot is.' Sasuke frowns.

"Tell us again why Orochimaru needs to watch them go back? I know he helped play a role in collecting the research and doing some trial runs, though this sounds like he could be wanting to try something suspicious." Naruto-O asks warily.

Sasuke sighs, rubbing his head to keep a migraine at bay. "He just wants to see the 'results of his hard work' in action is all. He won't try anything except at the most to take notes, his curiosity lies in seeing if this will properly work."

"And that doesn't sound strange to you at all?" Naruto-O questions.

Sasuke merely shrugs, he's sure Orochimaru isn't going to try anything especially with so many eyes on him.

Hinata-O pops her head in, wiping cooking oil and remnants of chopped vegetables on her apron. "Well if we're going to have a final dinner together, we should make it count! We can use this time to discuss final preparations and things to expect moving forward."

Sakura follows out after her, grinning in agreement despite the clear tense mood in the air. "It sounds like everyone just needs to eat and relax."

Naruto-Y huffs, barely looking away from packing up old T-shirts and shorts that their older selves no longer need. "I don't remember ever seeing Sakura cook before."

The glare Sakura shoots him in return makes him freeze up, goosebumps prickling on the back of his neck down to his arms.

"As I'm sure you already know Naruto, things change." She remarks coolly.

"R-Right!" Naruto-Y chirps, shifting himself behind Hinata-Y to avoid her wrath.

Clearly being around Sasuke has made her pick up some of his usual frosty/stony behavior it seems, Sasuke passing her an amused look as he follows her back into the kitchen.

Everyone takes a seat at the table and briefly they can forget that tomorrow at this very time two of the spots at the table will be vacant.

"It's going to feel weird not seeing skyscrapers or trains in Konoha again." Naruto-Y muses.

"And the crowds, so many people are going to move to Konoha in the coming years." Hinata-Y adds in.

But most of all there is peace in Konoha, shinobi and civilian alike walk without a tenseness in their shoulders or a wary look at passerby who bump shoulders with them going to and from businesses or shops.

Boruto scoots back from the table as soon as he finishes with his dessert, beaming from ear to ear. "Bigger Papa, lets do Reading Time now!"

Naruto-O motions for him to close his plate properly, chopsticks sitting haphazardly against his bowl about to topple over.

"I need to finish discussing with Sasuke plans for tomorrow Bolt, give me like 10 minutes and I'll meet you upstairs!"

10 minutes to his ears though sounds like an hour, cheeks pouting out flaring a deep red.

"Nooo, now!" He whines and Naruto-Y shifts himself up before he decides to fling himself to the ground.

"I can do Reading Time with you Boruto, you remember what we've said about being patient when things don't go our way?" He explains.

Hinata-O nods, granted she hates to indulge her eldest when he's in the throws of a tantrum, so used to getting his wants met easily especially after spending the day with Hiashi and Hanabi.

Boruto hastily swipes at tears pricking his eyes, gaze lowering to the wood flooring.

"Yes." He answers softly after a moment.

Sasuke arches a brow, patience and being mature have never been Naruto's strong suits especially when he was a preteen. "Interesting hearing that come from you of all people."

Naruto-Y pretends not to hear him, gesturing for Boruto to move on ahead upstairs.

'This is the last bedtime story I'll have with him for a good while, isn't it?' He realizes, slowing his climb up at facing the inevitable.

What's been a daily routine for them both suddenly...won't.

Dinner churns sourly in his stomach before he straightens, moving on ahead into his room. Sure enough Boruto is awake waving him forward, lamp light on bathing his blankets, toys, and books scattered around him in a warm amber-yellow.

Himawari pokes her head up from out of the blankets, cobalt orbs equally wide and giddy beckoning him over.

"Papa join us!" She squeals excitedly.

"Come on Smaller Papa, I want you to read this one!" Boruto adds in, patting at the open spot beside him, holding up one of his newer books.

'Goodnight Forest? Normally he wants to read 'How to Catch a Ninja' or 'What Scared Mr. Toad?' Naruto-Y smiles, accepting the book and rolling into the spot beside him.

Boruto leans into his chest as he starts while Himawari wraps herself against his arm, matching the enthusiasm of the narrator as he breathes to life the wonders of the forest's creatures and fauna. He could instantly see why he had chosen this book, fingers roaming over the pop-up pages and textiles used to imitate the smoothness of a leaf or the rough edges of tree bark.

"And the owl makes what noise?" Naruto-Y asks, glancing down to him, azure eyes lighting up as he presses the center button.

"Hoot! Hoot!" He mimics.

"Goodnight Mr. Owl!" Himawari waves, tracing the drawing of the brown and white features of the wood owl as it disappears into the green and blue scenery.

Boruto flips them to the next page, brows scrunching at a sudden thought.

"Do any ninjas live in forests? Like up in the trees with the birds and insects? Can ninjas turn into bugs or animals like the Toads you summon from the mountains?! Because then I would be a snake or a toad and hop or slither around!" He questions excitedly.

"I want to be a panda! Papa, are their Panda summons?!" Himawari adds in.

Naruto-Y shakes his head, patting their heads at their wild theories. "No you two, but considering Konoha was built around a forest, you could kind of say we live in what used to be just woods and we spend a lot of time in nature."

Boruto nods wisely, but Naruto-Y can see his concentration slipping, cerulean orbs growing heavy with sleep. Hima is already curling into him using his arm as a pillow, violet hair tussling up trying to find the best position.

'They're drifting off.' He smiles, shutting off the light. His eyes take a moment to adjust to the darkness even with faint moonlight slipping in through the blinds, taking in the little details of Boruto's room.

His toy box filled to the brim, homework on his desk he or his Hinata still needed to review with him, artwork he's done with Himawari tacked along his walls...

'Stop it, don't make it any harder.' He reminds himself.

But just as about to slip away from the sheets Boruto reasserts a grip on his arm and it's then he sees the crack of his smile, tears glistening against his wet cheeks.

"Are you leaving now? That's what Bigger Mama and Papa said you were going to do at dinner." He pouts, hold tightening at his pause. Everyone had been hoping it would be too complicated for Boruto and Himawari to understand. Or they at least believed they weren't paying attention, too focused on their meals.

Clearly not.

He swallows the glass in his throat, these razors that tear and burn going down.

"Smaller Mama and I aren't leaving until tomorrow." Naruto-Y answers softly.

Boruto's nails dig in, scratching and leaving tiny crescents in their wake.

"Don't go! I'll stay up all night and make sure you don't leave!" He hisses in warning and Naruto-Y does his best not to smile at his threat.

He shrugs his shoulders in defeat, laying back down beside him. "Alright Bolt, you're the boss!"

Boruto plops himself against the opposite side of Himawari, giving him his best serious glare that he's watching him for any sudden movements. He studies him waiting for a jutsu to pop up and fleetingly he ponders if Sasuke or any of their old classmates really have this much trouble with getting their sons or daughters to bed.

His frog clock's ticking up above seems so much louder in the silence, neither moving or speaking.

"Sleepy?" Naruto-Y inquires, Boruto's eyes snapping open and shut like windows.

He's losing the battle, sleep winning as Boruto's head fully lulls, breathing calming.

"No, finish the story..." He trails off, drooling pooling against the corner of his jacket.

Hinata-Y tiptoes in, taking in his current entrapment with a grin.

"Sleeping?" She whispers with a gesture to Boruto and Himawari.

Naruto-Y swallows, nodding as they work together to slowly and carefully settle Boruto against his pillows and favorite Kamen Ninja figure while picking up Himawari to take her back to her room.

The knots are still there, chest aching.

"Sleeping." He confirms when neither stir from their movements.


Sakura & Kakashi (Past)

"We're getting close!" Sakura remarks eagerly, the change in the air of pine and dew shifting into smells of clay and rock. Sandstorms ripple up in the distance, swirls of grays and browns funneling up towards the sky. It's a phenomenon she's only seen from her textbooks back at the Academy.

The pictures do nothing in comparison with reality.

The ground below them too is getting dryer, greenery falling away to nothing but ripples of dry sand and patches of wild cacti and tumbleweeds.

'Finally! I can't wait to get a look into the heart of the village!' She mentally cheers herself.

She ignores the stickiness of sweat clinging to her, bright-eyed despite how early in the day it is. A milky blue dawn skirts on the horizon, washing the sky in ribbons of orange to violet.

Her first proper trip out of the village without Naruto.

Without Sasuke.

"Missing home already?" Kakashi teases as he walks up beside her, adjusting his bag.

Sakura scoffs, shaking her head. "No, quite the contrary really! I've been wanting to travel for a long while now to see how medicine and battle techniques are done in the other nations."

She moves on ahead without waiting for him to make some smart remark on why she felt this trip was so urgent, greeting the pair of Suna guards at the main entrance. They immediately straighten at their approach holding up their naginata, eyeing their headbands with wariness.

"We didn't receive any updates of Konoha shinobi coming." The taller of the two speaks first, Katahide from his name tag. He lowers his blade regarding Sakura, brows furrowing and Sakura purses her lips.

'He isn't afraid of me.'

Being seen as a dainty flower can have its negatives and positives she knows, but right now it feels more like the former. Annoyance swishes about in her stomach like a jagged thorn as he rolls his eyes having to deal with them at what must be the end of his shift.

"What business do you two have here?! Especially at this time of day?" The shorter one, Maeda jumps in, scowling.

Sakura holds up her hands in defense, gesturing towards what must be the Kazekage's office in the distance. "There's an urgent matter my sensei and I need to discuss regarding Gaara-"

"You should address him as his formal titles of Kazekage or Fifth Kazekage; a foreigner shouldn't state his name so casually!" Katahide intercedes, chestnut eyes darkening.

Kakashi steps forward and Sakura notes the way they lift their naginata once more, kicking up billows of dust at their feet should they need to put up a smokescreen.

"As I'm sure you've already heard from rumors, our own jinchuriki Naruto has been missing from our village for over a year." He begins.

Maeda chuckles, revealing a set of yellowing teeth. "Of course, every nation knows about the misfortunate of Konoha losing it's powerhouse! But that's nothing of Suna's concern!"

Sakura balls her fists behind her back, oh so tempted to spray a heavy dose of gardenia or lavender in his face rendering him asleep.

"It matters because the jinchuriki of each village are going to be targeted. A group that goes by the name Akatsuki is planning to come here within in the next year to capture the Fifth Kazekage for his One Tail Beast. One of the Akatsuki's associates is highly likely a missing-nin from this region." She explains.

The two lower their guards just slightly hearing that, Kakashi stepping forward holding up a photo. It's one of the few Jiraiya managed to obtain of a known member of the Akatsuki and only because of his apparent family relation to one of the best medical nin here in Suna.

'Lady Chiyo.' Sakura recalls, known for her mastery of puppetry and poisons.

The latter of which she hoped to learn from her.

"I'm sure you recognize this man, correct?" Kakashi asks.

It's taken from a distance and slightly blurry, but Sakura's sure they'll recognize that trademark mousy red hair and gray-brown eyes...

Sasori of the Red Sand.

Katahide swallows as his eyes widen, expression unnerved seeing the image while Maeda shifts from foot to foot, looking everywhere but at said picture.

"He's Lady Chiyo's grandson, right? He's been missing from your village for years now and is presumed to be working with the Akatsuki now. He and his partner Deidara are making plans to come here, preparations need to be made; now." Sakura asserts.

Maeda scowls, steel gray eyes narrowing on her at the force of her tone. "And why should we believe either of you? How do we know this isn't just a trick or spy tactic your own village is planning just to collect intel on our defenses or operations in order to put them off of heading to your weakened village?"

'Because it's going to lead to more chaos in the lives of your family and friends, bloodshed of your fellow countrymen and shinobi all over! This isn't just a Suna issue; it's a nationwide problem! Do you just want to do nothing?!' Sakura wants to hiss, weighing her next words properly.

She expected them not to believe her yes, but she had at least hoped to get her foot properly into the village before being dealt with suspicion.

'If you were more like Sasuke this wouldn't be an issue; he would just force his way inside.' A cold thought slithers in.

It could be done, sweet oleander blown into their faces will burn at their eyes and throats within minutes or a quick prick of the deep violet of wolf's bane in their systems can send their hearts into fatal arrhythmias...

She shivers then in ugly realization, from when did her thoughts grow so cruel? So filled with malice?

'In order to find Sasuke, to really and truly understand him you'll need to delve into the darkness too.' Bitterness croons in her ears.

A figure approaches before either she or Kakashi can speak, grey hair shining in the coming morning light.

"Katahide. Maeda. Stand down for now. I've received a message from the Fifth Hokage regarding her troublesome student here." Lady Chiyo speaks, obsidian orbs switching from the duo to Sakura and Kakashi.

Her eyes catch first on Kakashi and in a flash she moves to strike, kunai pinpointed for his carotid.

"White Fang." She sneers just faintly under her breath, rage and grief storming in her eyes.

And Sakura twists, moving between them blocking the kunai with one of her own.

"Stop it! You're mistaking him for someone else!" She snaps, pushing back her blade.

Chiyo looks her once over with a huff, backing down slowly at her mistake. "Konoha must be in real danger for them to be sending out aid to the same village that tried to destroy them not too long ago."

Sakura straightens, keeping her own voice calm despite the frostiness of her words. "I'm sure Lady Tsunade updated you on our reasons for coming then?"

Chiyo nods, holding up said note in evidence.

"Yes, and I'm sure she updated you both on the latest news involving your own jinchuriki, right?" She questions back, emphasizing her gaze back on Sakura.

Sakura side-eyes Kakashi who gives nothing away in his face of knowing any other news involving Naruto and Hinata and at this Chiyo smirks, ready for her reaction.

"It seems your village's spy or pervert, whatever you want to call him Jiraiya has received word that Naruto and Hinata will be returning from whatever excursion they went on this past year. Seems Tsunade here is giving you two an option as well, you can turn tail and go back home to greet them or stay here and get whatever amount of medicinal studies one of the hospitalists might teach you. I doubt you'll get an audience in regards to your worries with the Akatsuki though." She reads from the letter.

'Naruto and Hinata are coming back?!' But her excitement is tampered knowing she is miles away.

Chiyo looks back up to her, black to green sparkling in amusement.

"So, what do you want to do?"


Naruto & Hinata (Future)

"Why are you so accepting of this all?! What makes Naruto so different from our past jailers?" Kurama-Y barks out, roar echoing out around them.

"You'll see it for yourself soon enough. Naruto is not the same as those from generations past. Kurama-O drawls back, paying no mind to his anger. It's not a surprise this meeting is going terribly, nothing will change his mind until he lives through the war and dealing with the Akatsuki for himself.

Naruto-Y squirms, nearly knocking out their communication when Kurama's gaze peers down to him. Scarlet orbs still regard him with that same intense anger, same bitterness...

He's not sure this final effort to talk to each other was worth it either.

"Consider this Kurama-Y, there's a lot you and my younger self have seen in this past year including listening in on the meetings I have with the other tailed beasts and how they're all living peacefully. You've played a role in helping save this village and people too, you saw for yourself how popular your plushies and toys are." Naruto-O remarks.

Kurama-Y scoffs, but doesn't refute it and Naruto-O beams, nodding to his younger counterpart that something they've said has gotten through to him.

"Nobody bothers us to add on to his point. Naruto spends most of his time sleeping, being late to meetings, and squeezing in time to snuggle with his wife and play with his kids. He's truly gotten lazy with these peaceful times!" Kurama-O snickers.

"I still train when I can!" Naruto-O retorts.

"Once...Once we get back to the past we'll confront everything and everyone." Naruto-Y mentions to end this conversation on a lighter note.

Kurama-Y chuckles, low and cruel.

"Are you sure you're ready to face them? Do you think you'll be able to keep your emotions in check?"

"Of course!" He shoots back, sweat beading at his palms he balls away.

Lies are easy, no matter how acrid or biting they feel as they leave his lips.

And shifting out of his mindscape to see pearl white orbs watching him in concern only makes the need to lie all the more necessary, to hope Hinata can't hear the frenzied pounding of his heart like he does of it swooshing in his ears.

It takes a minute to realize Kurama isn't here, scent of marigolds and begonias surrounding him in bursts of sharp yellows and deep pinks.

That's right, the garden.

In less than an hour they'll be home, their home.

"You alright?" Hinata-Y asks gently, fingertips brushing along the ends of his face down to his chin.

'No, I'm not.'

A grin etches his lips, reaching his own hand up to intertwine their fingers.

"I'll be fine." He manages out, Hinata squeezing at his hand knowing that's just a half-truth.

"Everything ready to go?" Their older counterparts ask as he sits up. Sasuke stays behind, half in the shadows of the trees keeping out of sight of this moment.

"As we'll ever be." Naruto-Y replies, blowing out a breath.

Himawari loosens out of Naruto-O's hold, rushing forward pushing a keychain into his hands.

"For good luck!" She beams toothily, pink and purple panda charm shining when he holds it up to the light. She nuzzles into their sides, Hinata-Y wiping at mud smeared against her whiskered cheeks. She smells of the dirt and sunflowers, sapphire orbs bright and warm.

"Be a good girl for Bigger Papa and Mama, okay? Keep drawing all those pretty pictures and studying with Grandpa even if he has a lot of rules." Hinata-Y advises gently.

"Okay!" Himawari chirps, scampering back to go play again in the flowerbed.

Hinata-O nudges at Boruto, fidgeting with his own gift.

Naruto-Y chuckles and heat flames his face, pouting before shuffling forward.

"Here." He huffs, dropping a Kamen Ninja figure into his hands.

It's the red figurine, the one Hinata told him is the leader and main character of the show. "Isn't this your favorite one Bolt? You don't have to-"

"I want you to have it! So you won't forget to play with me and Hima when you get bigger!" Boruto asserts, cutting him off.

'Ah, that's right. I'll be Hokage soon enough in this time period.' Naruto-Y considers. He never previously had to think about how his goal would affect others, how it would be seen in the eyes of his own kids...

He tugs him forward before he can squirm away, cheeks burning tenfold in a way that amusingly reminds him of his mother. "Thank you Boruto! I'll definitely treasure it you know!"

Boruto nods, small grin edging up his lips. "You better you know! That's the limited edition figure that was made for the movie!"

Sasuke steps forward then, dark eyes peering up towards the midday sun.

"It's getting to be time." He mentions.

And even without him having to say it, they all sense Orochimaru watching from the trees, slightest crunch of the leaves pricking his ears.

"You have all our notes?" Hinata-O re-confirms.

Hinata-Y nods, holding up said notebook.

"Do you have the photos?" Naruto-O questions and Naruto-Y nods, holding up said envelop.

The pair nod then, stepping back.

"We've taught you both so much in this passing year...time flies. We know you may never feel ready, especially with all that you learned, but just take it one step at a time with all the changes you make." Hinata-O starts.

Naruto-O squeezes her close, pushing on a smile.

"What Hinata said! And...Be safe too you know!"

Kakashi-sensei is going to need to teach him on how to prepare more eloquent speeches.

"This should be quick based on all our study and practice, you may feel a pinch of pain in your head or like a flame is coming towards you, though you'll need to remain still." Sasuke instructs.

He gestures then for them to follow him deeper out of sight away from the village, time already feeling like it's slowing down. Naruto-O pats at his younger self's shoulder just as they turn to go, expression happy and somber all at once.

"One more thing, say hi to Pervy-Sage for me too."


Jiraiya (Past)

'Don't lay down. Don't lay down. Don't lay down!' Jiraiya slaps his cheeks.

Still he finds himself sliding down into the grass, night air warm and inviting him to close his eyes for just a minute...

Well, the mantra isn't working!

Sleep tugs at him roughly, impatient that the caffeine pills haven't yet fully worn off.

Blinking he looks across the river once more, ignoring the pulsing of his migraine behind his eyes. It's been hours now he's sat waiting, he could maybe just take a brief nap, but the risk is too high he'll miss Naruto and Hinata.

He studies the river once more for any ripples, any signs that the nocturnal insects and animals will sense the change in the area first.

'What are you even going to say when you see him?' Jiraiya questions himself, crossing his legs in thought.

It's been well over a year since he's seen Naruto with all his extensive research proving not to be enough to find a way to get him and Hinata home. The last time they talked he promised he would take him off on a training trip to get stronger, promised he would teach him new moves that would match Sasuke's power...

'You've made too many promises you couldn't keep.' He chastises himself recalling Minato and Kushina's hopes for him and if they're just as frustrated with him as he feels over himself, but he could still do that training trip with Naruto if he wanted it.

His eyes grow heavy again, half moon slipping through the cracks of the trees seeming to splinter it in dark thorns.

'Come on, stay awake; they should be here soon.' He reminds himself.

Hopefully.

The wind whistles, swaying up the leaves and the last thing he sees is the rustle of black birds taking flight before he drifts off.

Dew drips on his cheeks when he awakens, startling to see the sky now the light pastels of orange to pink at the approaching sunrise. The moon rests on the horizon, slowly fading from view.

'Shit, how long was I out for?!' Jiraiya sits up quickly, heart skidding running along the river looking for a sign.

And then at the end of the river, just as Gamamaru foresaw he catches the scent of fire along the grass, blond and violet hair sticking out from the tall grass and weeds.

Jiraiya pauses, making sure he isn't seeing things.

The boy and girl before him match Naruto and Hinata's descriptions from Naruto's whiskered cheeks to Hinata's now long violet-blue hair.

They're no longer the 12-13 year old's that disappeared into flames.

Hinata rests curled and pressed into Naruto's lap seemingly asleep, Naruto's arm wrapped securely around her with a closeness that surprises and amuses him. He catches a glint of some figure attached to his jacket, a lucky charm?

'Interesting.'

He takes a step closer and Naruto stirs first, cobalt orbs opening slowly looking around.

"Ahem."

Naruto immediately turns his way, kunai at ready so suddenly from his free hand with a speed that startles him before he relaxes.

"Looking for confirmation of where you are?" Jiraiya goes on at his silence.

He grins as Naruto takes him in while he does the same, what happened to the punk kid that was always begging him to train or had his nose always buried in a bowl of ramen?

Neither speak for a long minute with Naruto finally brushing a hand through his hair, shaky grin edging across his face.

"We're back Pervy-Sage!"

-x-


I feel so much better now compared to last chapter now that Covid is not attacking me, well despite a lingering headache! Naruto and Hinata will have a lot of confrontations to face next chapter and beyond, hope you guys look forward to that coming mayhem! I'm particularly excited for Hinata facing her family once more and Naruto talking one on one with Jiraiya and Kakashi. Let me know your thoughts!

We're almost to 100 reviews and 300 favorites, I really appreciate it you guys! Hope we can reach these milestones with this chapter!

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