Chapter 15: Rhapsody
"Each night I lie and dream about the one
Who kissed me and awakened my desire
I spent a single hour with him alone
And since that hour, my days are layed with fire."
― L.J. Smith, Secret Circle Booklet
Naruto
"Training trip?" Naruto repeats, just to be sure he heard him right.
Jiraiya nods eagerly, practically bouncing on his toes. "Yup, just you and I! What do you say Kid?!"
Naruto pauses to weigh with the idea, consider the pros and cons. It would be good to reach an understanding with Kurama and learn exactly what his future self did to master use of his power. Talking with another jinchuriki would definitely help push things along and maybe put Kurama at ease that it was possible for them to form a friendship.
'I could learn more about my parents too, why they chose to seal him into me.' He realizes.
On top of that, it would be good to clear up this rising stress of 'what-if's', of alternate paths that lead to deaths that Shikamaru has reminded him are still very much a possibility.
But he didn't want to do any of this alone, would hate to do any of this alone even if Pervy-Sage is beside him it won't be the same unless she is there too...
"I say...that I want Hinata to come along too!" He beams.
Jiraiya's expression morphs somewhere between frustration and amusement.
"That girl has her finger wrapped around you. Isn't she the reason we couldn't go on our training trip the first time? She stole and used that scroll without knowing of it's secondary effects, behaved rashly not understanding the consequences of her decision."
"What a horrible thing to say about the woman you love." Kurama goads him.
He refuses to rise to his bait, though he feels heat crawl up his neck, a slow rising fire he needs to settle before it encompasses him.
Naruto clicks his tongue, breathing in the misty air.
He's thankful it's early enough for people not to see or hear them, for only the burning yellow glow of the streetlights above them providing a reminder not to lash out and draw the attention of his neighbors to peek out their windows.
"Hinata made a mistake yes, however I'd be a hypocrite if I complained about her stealing when I've done the very same thing in the past. Listen, she calms me down when I truly need it and I know this training will involve going into the darker parts of myself, parts of myself I've hidden from the world that only she knows about." He explains.
Jiraiya looks unconvinced, of course he is.
All he knows about Hinata is that she's the failed heiress of the Hyuga clan, a girl who let love dictate her thoughts that led to their accidental time travel.
"Woman are part of the vices of this world I've told you to avoid on top of-" Jiraiya starts, puckering his lips at having to explain this all to him again.
"Drinking, smoking, and excessively spending; all vices you do on a near nightly basis." Naruto interjects with a scowl.
Jiraiya huffs, crossing his arms matching his stubborn act.
"...I'm an adult!" He responds as if that proves his point.
Naruto rolls his eyes, cobalt eyes flickering with specks of a deep red that makes Jiraiya frown. Teasing and annoying Naruto like this is truly bothering him he realizes, even if he's trying to keep it under control.
"Then act like one and accept I won't go unless Hinata can come too you know!" He growls.
Jiraiya deflates, looking skyward seemingly for an answer. The urge to argue ebbs away watching as a silver quarter moon disappears into the coming sunrise. It doesn't help that Hinata is from one of Konoha's noble clans (the most vocal ones that hate him for his book series and the 'lewd' image it somehow gives Konoha). They would never agree to his presence around their Clan Head's oldest daughter he assumes. He rarely if ever had interacted with any of Naruto's classmates, there was never a reason to before.
Until now apparently.
He rubs a hand along his face slowly resisting a groan, sighing at Naruto's determination to fight him on this.
'Is she going to be a distraction or can she truly help him if he starts losing control of the fox?' He considers.
To himself he can at least admit this is one of his weak points. It's a spot he has had trouble with managing in the past when it came to Naruto learning to harness and control Kurama's presence and power the more he took over. Each tail that popped out made him more volatile; unstable.
He doubts Hinata will know what to do once she sees him in such a state, all their knowledge of the future is worthless when a jinchuriki enters into it's Tailed Beast's mode uncontrolled.
At that point it's just walking straight into danger; possibly death.
"You know, I'll feel more comfortable if you're able to convince that cousin and Dad of hers too. If you two can do that, then I suppose it's fine for her to come along." Jiraiya grunts, resigned to amending his plans.
Naruto nods, blue of his eyes brightening once more making him wonder if the scarlet he saw pooling into his eyes a moment ago was merely his vision playing tricks on him. His chest tightens, stomach swishing in a way that reminds him of the strongest liquors that cloud his head and burn his throat when he just wants to forget all his failures...
'This isn't a good idea.'
Perhaps her Father and cousin will shut this down before it even gains any traction, though Naruto is if anything very persistent and persuasive when need be.
He presses his lips tightly together to keep all of this to himself though as Naruto pumps a fist eagerly in the air.
"Consider it done!"
Naruto & Hinata
Sleep pulls at her before Naruto returns upstairs.
At first it is only a light nudge, eyes growing heavy again staring out at the dark horizon, the sliver of pinks and oranges lighting the sky.
But then it becomes a sharp tug, falling back against his sheets into the lingering scent of pinewood and dew Naruto left behind. Mornings used to be her most busiest hours, the thought of sleeping in a luxury only if she was sick. In the future it's when she wakes Boruto and Himawari (or Himawari wakes her with a cry), making breakfast, changing out of pajamas, making sure Boruto indeed brushed his teeth and didn't just turn on the faucet pretending...
And now back in the present it is the typical Hyuga routine of meditation on preparing for the day, reading over the planned schedules the elders have made, and then morning practice with the main and branch families followed by breakfast altogether in the main hall.
They're never quiet like this, only the sounds of the clock's tick in the distance and the faint ruffle of wind against the leaves outside.
'I don't want to get up.'
She stirs again though at the scent of eggs and rice, peeking one eye open to see Naruto has set out a variety of plates across the bedspread, azure eyes are wide and his brows are furrowed, set in total concentration.
Hinata sits up slowly, blinking away the last remnants of sleep.
"I know you typically like to start off with an onigiri or omelette before moving on to the salmon and salad." Naruto mumbles, meeting her eyes for a moment before pouring out the tea slowly.
"When did you learn all of this?" Hinata questions in awe, careful to avoid knocking anything over as she pulls back his sheets. She slips back into one of his white T-shirts despite his pouting she could've stayed nude, tossing his shirt and jacket at him.
Though she can admit, if only to herself it's still a bit hard to concentrate seeing Naruto's defined muscles, the memories of the night clashing with the approaching daylight of the new things they must focus on.
'What were he and Jiraiya talking about for so long?' She worries.
Her stomach faintly growls before she can dwell on the thought and Naruto chuckles as Hinata wraps a hand around herself to block the noise.
"Prepare to be amazed Hinata! I learned from the best of the best chefs Konoha has to offer!" He gloats.
"Teuchi?" Hinata guesses, Naruto shaking his head.
This truly is everything she would normally eat at home minus a few missing dishes of miso soup, natto, and pickled daikon. It's everything she's been taught by the elders in how to make a full meal rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and minerals for herself and her team members.
"Seriously though, how did you find the time to learn and make this all?" She pursues.
Naruto smirks then, toothy grin bright against the rising sunshine.
"From Hiashi! But I improvised, you know! Like I know you enjoy cinnamon rolls, so I put that to the side as your dessert and I made sencha green tea since I noticed you like to prepare tea using the leaves more than with the powder like how matcha is done." He further brags.
Hinata feels her face redden, glancing down into her omelette.
'How long has he been watching all my likes and dislikes?' She wonders.
Long enough, she answers her thoughts, reaching a thumb forward to brush a grain of rice away from his cheek. Naruto catches her hand, lips brushing at her fingers sending a race of tingles down her back as their gazes lock.
Boldly, Hinata leans forward, letting their lips brush before pulling back.
Naruto gently tugs her back towards him before she can fully sit down again, curling her into his lap.
"Your hands are warm." Hinata breaths out contently, Naruto wrapping her closer in response.
"It's from the tea and everything else." He chuckles between bites of his own omelette, Hinata using him now as a makeshift blanket.
He presses a kiss to her neck, turning it into a frenzy that leaves wet spots down to her collarbone, grinning at Hinata's light sigh angling herself more towards his touch. His mind swirls with taking her again, fingers ghosting against a hardened nipple.
"Is there trouble with Jiraiya?" She asks between bouts of his nuzzling, sitting up properly.
Naruto becomes too quiet then for her to not look up at him, lilac eyes softening.
"He wants us to go on a training trip, however he hasn't told me where exactly yet. He's apparently through his spy network learned of and connected with another jinchuriki who has full control of their Tailed beast in utilizing it's power without losing control of their mind or giving into the intensity of anger and hate." He starts.
Hinata turns herself to face him properly, nodding. "That's a good thing, isn't it? You'll gain faster control of Kurama and a better understanding of his history."
Naruto squeezes at her hands, thumbing at the ends of her wrists. "Yes, but he wants it to be just us two and I don't want to go without you."
Hinata feels her face flush pink, a want settling over her like a second skin. She's dreamed about going on a long journey with Naruto, one that would take them truly outside of the village exploring the vastness of a forest's secrets, the deepness of turquoise lakes, and the crisscross of muddy rivers that spill out into the ocean she's only read about and seen from their geography books.
It had happened in a sense already by training together in the future, but this was a chance to do it honestly in their own time period.
Now it could be done the way she first imagined when her fingers had curled around the scroll of Ages and Seasons...
'Jiraiya doesn't want you to come.' The thought stabs at her, shattering the images.
She knows little about the Sannin except from Naruto and little anecdotes from Sakura and Lady Tsunade.
Most paint him in a negative light.
And hearing he doesn't want her on this journey only spins up thoughts of the iciness of Father's tone during her early days as a genin, that she is only a hindrance, will burden any team she is put on with her shyness and dislike of fighting.
Perhaps that is all Jiraiya sees of her too...
Hinata taps their forehead togethers lightly, ignoring the rising coils piercing at her chest and stomach like wild thorns. Naruto worked so hard to prepare all this food for them though she can already feel her appetite fading, tea turning bitter on her lips.
"Well, you should go Naruto; I'll be fine here at the village. The infusion center always needs help with running the dialysis machines and the main hospital has been rotating me through the operating rooms and intensive care units to make sure patient's circulatory systems are functioning or if they need help with a blood draw." She reasons.
Naruto shakes his head roughly, fingers pressing at her warm cheeks.
"No, we'll figure this out together, you know! We just need to speak to Neji and Hiashi!"
Hinata smiles then, gaze turning towards outside. The streets are busier now, where Naruto and Jiraiya had been standing alone just hours ago is now filled with people crossing to head into the main sections of the village, kids giggling and basking in the morning light playing with their shadows.
It's easy to pretend at their sharp giggles and tiny hands it's Boruto and Himawari waiting for them to come down.
'I stepped outside my comfort zone many times before when it came to caring for them both.' Hinata reminds herself.
With that thought in mind she balls up her hands, resolved to a new objective.
"I'll speak to both of them Naruto. I promise I'll get them to be okay with me coming along with you and Jiraiya."
"Don't forget we can pull off a surprise show of our combined power for Jiraiya if worse comes to worse. I'll make a convenient 'drop-in' visit to the manor!" He chimes.
Hinata giggles, nodding her agreement.
Most importantly, she will show Jiraiya her strength, prove whatever thoughts he has of her are wrong.
Sasuke & Sakura
'He's late.' Karin grits her teeth.
And it can only be because of her. That crazy woman who decided to jump into the fight between Sasuke and Danzo, who gave her illusions of her mother and fields of flowers nearly making her forget Sasuke's presence.
Her eyes trail inevitably back towards the clock, fingers tapping restlessly against the stone table.
What were just cracks in his thoughts thinking of his brother from time to time are now deep fissures. Those desires for power and revenge have switched to a need for answers, consuming Sasuke's mind in an entirely different manner that seems bottomless. She can feel her stomach start to knot once more, heart painfully throbbing with a knowing that Sasuke went to Sakura for said answers, for help that she can't give him...
"You know, staring at the clock doesn't actually make time move faster!" Suigestsu chuckles by her ear.
Karin smacks him away like a fly, water sloshing through her fingers only further igniting her rage.
If it wasn't for the fact he can easily make himself liquid, she would slam his head right into the table.
"Leave me alone or I'll make sure to throw boiling water on you the next time you try to escape me!" She snaps warningly, but Suigestsu of course ignores her threat and plops into the empty chair right beside her.
"What do you think is taking him?" Jugo asks aloud to break the rising tension and Suigestsu merely shrugs.
Tobi had gone off to his lab to see if Danzo's eye could be salvaged and determine next steps in furthering his plans, Orochimaru and Kabuto hadn't made an appearance in days since Sasuke had learned about Itachi's true reasons for murdering their clan.
"You never know with Sasuke." Suigestsu drawls, those violet eyes of his burning on her back.
'Yes, one truly never knows with Sasuke.' Karin sighs. She gets the nagging sense bad news is coming once Sasuke returns, that team Taka will no longer be the same now that these truths have been laid open regarding the Uchiha clan.
Miles away he's still in a standoff with Sakura Haruno.
"Itachi? No, Naruto never spoke of the illness he has." Sakura voices.
A quiet settles over them once more, Sakura taking to studying the wood patterns of the Haruno kitchen table. In all the daydreams she had of Sasuke visiting her family home, it was a joyous occasion, one celebrated with her Mother's good food and her Father's silly jokes/puns...
'He should be back with his new team, not here trying to get answers I don't have for him.' She huffs, masking her bitterness.
"Why did you betray Danzo?" Sasuke asks to break the silence.
Jade eyes darken again, the wrong question to ask.
Sakura snorts lightly, crossing her arms. "Betray? No, all I did was kill Danzo for trying to usurp power from Lady Tsunade via underhanded tactics. To make sure he knew that and that you didn't give him the final blow."
'She waited until I further weakened him and then struck.' Sasuke realizes.
It's a strange and amusing thought all at once, that Sakura would take a kill from him only because she wanted it for herself.
"Now you Sasuke have betrayed the village by going to Orochimaru for power. Orochimaru who isn't even strong enough to kill Itachi himself and only wants you for your body and eyes." Sakura goes on pointedly.
Sasuke sits back in his seat, considering her words. Orochimaru has been absent since he learned the truth from Naruto, perhaps wanting to give him space or just curious to see what his next move will be. He surely won't be happy with these new wavering thoughts of his, is probably in the midst of planning something at this very moment with Kabuto to make sure he stays close to him. Kabuto meanwhile is most likely all too happy for this turn of events, that he's finally truly maybe in Orochimaru's bad graces...
Orochimaru is a Sannin, or at least was once part of the legendary trio.
He was the strongest person he could ask for help, who would be willing to help with his revenge...
But now his goals, the want to kill Itachi has sputtered out like a dying flame.
He's already dying without his help after all, will surely take his secrets to his grave if he doesn't find him and cure him of whatever illness he has.
'Orochimaru and none of Team Taka can help me with this. Orochimaru has only wanted me for my body and powers, this changes his plans too.' Sasuke knows. It means having to go back to Konoha, to his old team. Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, and possibly even Kakashi-sensei are the only ones who know about Itachi's future fully.
He looks up to Sakura trying to find a way to say all this and for a flicker of a moment she looks like the same as the girl he left behind, bright verdant eyes like the grasslands they crossed for silly missions and messy pink hair that falls in waves to the tips of her shoulders.
She frowns at him though, cracking the illusion.
Sakura moves to stand, heading towards the sink.
Just as he finds his voice to speak does his vision go dark, warm fingers pressing a cloth to his face.
"Look, my Mom is already going to be asking me a million questions. Watching blood drip from your eyes and having it stain the kitchen tile is an explanation I would like to avoid." Sakura mentions from somewhere beside him.
This close he smells the lilies and jasmine Karin spoke of as poisonous; dangerous.
"She made me hallucinate my Mom Sasuke! You don't know what she's capable of!"
But nothing about his senses feels changed, just the faint heat of Sakura's fingers and the pressure in his eyes lessening as she heals him.
"...Thank you." He mutters.
Sakura pauses, fingers retracting and he nearly finds himself reaching back for her touch until she speaks again, voice clipped and icy.
"After this you must go Sasuke. Never come back to my house or near my parents."
"...You still haven't told me what you know about Itachi. If there's a way to cure or slow whatever disease he has-" Sasuke retorts.
Sakura sighs loudly cutting him off, fingers brushing near the bridge of his nose healing what must be an old bruise. The scent of wildflowers and aloe nearly draws him into old memories of mornings watching his Mother heal at Itachi's cuts after a mission, smile comfortingly while checking his throat if he overused the fireball jutsu one too many times. If not for him witnessing what Sakura just did with these very hands to Danzo's face hours ago, he could let himself pretend for just a moment his life, all his goals haven't been completely altered.
"There's nothing to say when I told you all that I know; nothing." She murmurs.
Sasuke grits his teeth, fists tightening.
"You're lying."
"Even if I am, I can't work with you Sasuke. I'm needed here at the hospital and the main Family Clinic, so many people are restless with all these talks of wars and it's leading to an increase in gastrointestinal and neurological cases. Does Itachi even want help; to be cured of this illness? I'm sure if he did he wouldn't have waited to get help or he would've said something to you earlier. I'm sure in a sense he feels this illness he has is punishment for his crime against your clan." Sakura voices softly.
Sasuke pushes the washcloth off, dark eyes boring into green.
She senses her parents growing impatient, that the wind is picking up outside chilling at their skin from the way the sky has turned cloudy. Faintly she hears Dad ask Mom who exactly this boy is to her.
Her cheeks burn red when Sasuke snatches her fingers keeping her close, ignoring that she digs her nails sharply into his hands in response, creating a row of crescents that sting.
"The hospital and clinic are fully staffed enough for you to be gone for a few months Sakura." Sasuke growls impatiently.
Her nails dig deeper, drawing blood.
"Why do you need my help when you've never needed it before?!" Sakura snaps back.
His hold lessens and Sakura instantly steps back from him, cracking her knuckles in warning.
"I know you have an idea of where Itachi is from Naruto telling you, but it's more than just that." Sasuke pushes.
Sakura arches a brow and he knows he's losing her from the way her eyes cloud over, building up walls once more...
"You can cure him Sakura or at least diagnose him. You want to change the future too, so why not this?"
Sakura purses her lips, looking away from him back to outside at her waiting parents. When she focuses her gaze back on him again her eyes are still hazy, a fog amid the greenery.
"...Let me think about it."
Kakashi
"You know Kakashi, I thought we were on the right track when we found that silk thread, but maybe not!" Gai laughs breezily, gazing around the hillside.
It's been well over a week since they found that silk the color of silver, it seems it's become a dead end.
Maybe.
They had passed a merchant who hailed from Jōmae Village around two days ago and after 'bartering' for the right price (i.e. threatening his life and Gai hounding him for hours on ways to mix espionage and youth until he finally gave in). Now they had an idea that Hidan and Kakuzu might be heading toward the Curtain Village in the Land of Silence, but they have no idea still of Fu's current whereabouts.
"The Akatsuki were actually in the Land of Keys not too long ago; maybe a week or two now has passed. My brother who works in the administrative office occasionally picks up on conversations or hears tidbits of who the Village Head is possibly working with. Apparently the Village Head was considering using the Akatsuki's services for doing a mix of spying and destruction on a larger scale than what our current shinobi are capable of. He mentioned one of the guys, tall with these cruel green eyes said it was pointless to do business with the Village Head at the amount of Ryo he offered and they would head for the Land of Silence instead." He explains quickly, trying to push Gai off of him to no avail.
'Sounds like Kakuzu.' Kakashi notes.
"I thought you were supposed to be the positive one while I'm the negative one." Kakashi jokes lightly putting the thought aside for now, moving around a bog of moss and mud that nearly goes up to his knees, searching for the even the smallest disturbance to these woods.
Moonlight cuts through jagged branches, brings about shadowy figures that are nothing but harmless bushes and curving trees upon a double take.
"It's doubtful we're going to get anymore information out of the locals or any merchants/shinobi traveling around this area. The forests seem untouched, but we may pick up something better come morning so let's call it a day." Kakashi decides, if only for them to stop going in circles and rest for the night.
Gai gives a nod in agreement from up above, hopping down beside him.
"Good idea, we're not dealing with normal humans so we should conserve our energy!" He beams.
It's warm and cloudy when they awaken, mist settled upon the woods giving it an ethereal look.
Mountains stretch up into the sky, layered with overgrowth in rich shades of greens and blues.
Kakashi studies the gradual change in the air and their surroundings as they move along, clouds disappearing into black smog, grass turning into a hard cement and cobblestone. Gai pats at his shoulder, gesturing for them to remove their headbands as they get deeper into the capital city.
Most of the citizens and shinobi of this area avoid eye contact, hide their faces amid rags and clothes laden heavily with ash and dust.
But a man leaning against what looks to be a convenience store catches Kakashi's eye as they reach the center square, devious gleam in his gray-blue eyes.
"You two, you ain't from around here; are you?" He chuckles.
Gai pauses, looking ready to argue, but Kakashi holds up a hand to stop him.
They don't need any extra attention on them.
The man's grin widens, eyeing them both up and down stepping close and Kakashi catches the shimmer of a knife in his opposite hand just barely out of view behind his back.
"Want to know how I guessed? Nobody comes to Curtain Village looking so clean, so confident...unless they have money to spare."
Hinata
'Just be honest about your plans.'
She repeats the mantra again in her head at least twice more before heading for Father's quarters.
In the evening hours sunlight casts flecks of oranges and golds along the wood flooring, blows petals in from the garden along the steps bringing the scents of hydrangea and marigold he plants and still grows for her and Hanabi.
This will be her first time alone with him properly in months as she hadn't wanted to stress him with such news after he and Hanabi had returned from meeting with the Taketori clan last week, taking deep breaths in and out to calm her nerves. Part of her misses her Father from the future despite them being the same person, his older self is one who easily laughs aloud without care and squeezes at Boruto and Himawari until they manage to squirm out of his hold.
She knocks twice at his door, stepping back at hearing the shuffle of movement.
"Father, I've arrived." Hinata announces.
Faintly she can hear the sound of water running, blending with the crackle of leaves until all is quiet and she pauses, wondering if she got the time wrong or perhaps he changed his mind on meeting her when his door pulls open. Hiashi walks out, smiling at her gently.
Hinata follows to sit across from him along the stone path that leads out to the pond and curve of the garden, searching the plains of his white eyes to determine his current mood.
Nothing.
It's impossible for her to read his expressions right now, her older self made it look so easy...
Or maybe it's just Father is much more open with age and doting on his grandchildren.
"You wanted to speak to me Hinata?" Hiashi begins as he sets to make some ginseng tea for them both.
Hinata swallows, nodding.
"I'll be heading out on a training trip with Naruto at the end of this week. I've already informed the Infusion Center at the hospital that I'll be gone for the next few months. I want you and Neji to be aware and not worried about where I am." She starts.
Hiashi's brows furrow looking back up at her, lips etching with the beginnings of a frown.
"Who will be the assigned jonin with you two?" He questions.
'What happens when I tell him it's Jiraiya?' Hinata's lips flatten. Surely once she reveals it's him he'll be instantly against this whole journey before it can even begin.
Hiashi sighs at her silence, seeming to understand what she's left unsaid.
"Ah, don't tell me it's that perverted Godfather of Naruto's. Jiraiya, is it?" He asks.
Hinata maintains a steady gaze on him, breathing out a small yes.
"I don't believe he actually wants me to go on this trip, from what Naruto has told me he feels I may be a distraction to his training." She relates.
Hiashi scoffs gently, sitting back letting the water boil. "Well, for once I actually agree with something that man has to say. There's no need for you and Naruto to rush your relationship; you two will have plenty of time to spend with each other once he and Jiraiya return."
His voice has turned towards a familiar iciness, a signal that the conversation, that this topic is no longer up for discussion.
She fights down the warmth she feels starting to flood her cheeks, averting her gaze to the garden.
Any blush, any fidget will give away that she and Naruto have already done so much more...
'No, I've had plenty of time to practice this conversation in the mirror, with Hanabi, and even with Naruto. I can't give up on this now.'
Hinata straightens her back, gathering electricity into the tips of her hands.
"Father, please understand where I'm coming from. This is an opportunity to grow my fire and lightning affinities. While I enjoy and am thankful for the skills and knowledge I've gained working in the hospital, I want to master more offensive moves to be ready for when the Akatsuki come." She explains.
Hiashi studies the yellow current she dances along her fingers, expression turning wary.
"I assume you've told Hanabi your plans, but you haven't spoken to Neji about any of this yet; have you?" He questions.
Hinata shakes her head, puzzled at why he suddenly brought him up. She planned to tell him privately, hopefully at some point over dinner or meditation.
She watches as he pours out the tea slowly, brew matching the amber-gold of the sunset behind them.
"Tell me what you saw in the future regarding Neji. You always avoid or switch the subject whenever his name is brought up regarding the things you saw and did at the Hyuga manor in 10 years time. If you can't at least be honest with me on this, then I see no reason to have you go on this journey." He orders.
Her heart twinges as Neji's grave flashes to mind, Himawari bouncing a bouquet of white lilies and sunflowers far too big for her hands...
"Why do...Why do Boruto and Himawari call Neji Uncle when they've never met him?" Hinata asks her future counterpart.
Hinata-O halts in washing the dishes, studying her reflection in a piece of silverware.
"Neji may have died years ago from my point of view during the war protecting both Naruto and I, but we never want his legacy to be forgotten. We remember him in Boruto's name, in teaching them both Hyuga clan techniques, and mostly in stories of missions he went on, little things he liked to do in his spare time and things he absolutely couldn't stand." She smiles, facing her properly.
Pearl eyes glisten and Hinata-Y feels her stomach curl for bringing up such painful memories.
"So Boruto and Himawari call him Uncle I suppose because they feel like they know him in a way from all our stories. Boruto can point to all the spices he hated when he watches me cook and Himawari can point out his face in a group photo and say he likes sleeping, though she means meditating." Hinata-O explains.
Hinata-Y nods slowly in understanding, picturing the group image of him with Choji, Naruto, Kiba, and Shikamaru in the living room.
Right before they went after Sasuke.
And opposite that picture is his memorial photo in the formal dining room, lined up beside Minato, Kushina, and Jiraiya...
"I'm sorry for bringing him up." Hinata-Y mentions softly.
Hinata-O shakes her head, bumping their shoulders affectionately, teardrops slipping into the murky waters of the dishes they haven't yet gotten to.
"No, it's fine; I enjoy talking about Neji! It's by doing this his memory is kept alive, that he knows we miss and still remember him."
"Well Hinata, I'm waiting." Hiashi pushes, bringing her out of the memory.
Tears burn at her eyes, too late to hide from him and he frowns in realization.
"No, I promised Hizashi...tell me my assumption is wrong!" He mutters in horror.
Hinata bites her lip, brushing away at her tears.
"It isn't Father; I visited his grave with Naruto at the cemetery." Hinata whispers.
Neither speak then, Hiashi staring into his tea blankly.
The wood steps creaking near the front startles them both, Hiashi knocking his cup over scowling as the liquid escapes and steams at the grass below.
Hinata's attention stays back on the entrance, throat clenching up. Neji studies them silently, expression giving nothing away as his eyes shift between them both and her chest tightens knowing he can see tear stains on her cheeks, Father's depressed look.
'How much did he see? Was he reading our lips?' The questions rise up in a flurry of panic, hurriedly swiping away any leftover teardrops.
"Uncle. Hinata. Jiraiya is requesting for the both of you at the main entrance." He states before twisting on his heel to go.
Sakura
"That gentleman over in the corner has been waiting all day for your shift to end sweetie!"
Namika whispers this eagerly into her ear as she gets off her shift. Being one of the older secretaries gives her the perk of not having to rush off early to get meals prepped or pick up her kids like the others. (Her husband is one of the best neurological surgeons Konoha has. Dr. Abe and their many grandkids are attended to by the two sons and daughters they have with round the clock care save for rare exceptions).
Under the fluorescent lights her sapphire eyes shine with mirth, pristine gray hair that she so loves to keep up in a tight bun loose leaving ringlets sliding across her face in waves.
This is the best gossip she's heard all day Sakura bets with herself.
'Even Lady Tsunade couldn't lose such a gamble.' She muses sardonically.
At first she wonders if she's made a mistake, but Namika is always efficient despite her age. Her eyes and ears are like a second set of cameras watching various visitors and hospital personnel move in and out of the waiting room.
And apparently the boy in the corner with unassuming auburn hair and steel gray eyes has been asking for her since arriving around the late morning hours. It's a ridiculous disguise to anyone who actually knows what Sasuke normally looks like (or any Uchiha clan member for that matter) and that is perhaps why Namika and the rest of the waiting room patients have paid him no mind or scooted away.
"You were in the operating room at the time so you couldn't be paged, but trust me, he says it's urgent." Namika emphasizes with a wink. She not so secretly looks back in Sasuke's direction, giving him a thumb's up.
Sakura refrains a snort as she follows her gaze, she's sure it is.
She searches her eyes for any sign of genjutsu, if any of the final patients waiting the ER bay are under a spell keeping them sitting in place not to speak or talk.
However, Namika's eyes are clear as the ocean, bright like the rivers on a sunny clear day.
"You two have fun, but not too much fun! You know I know which days Mebuki likes to frequent the market!" Namika chimes as she nudges her to go greet Sasuke already.
Her heart quivers in excitement while her mind prepares to go to war with it again over this boy who brings the flutter of butterflies to her chest and makes her stomach burn with a sickening rage all at once.
It frightens her how easy her heart has won the past battles, these little skirmishes over how to handle her feelings for him.
'Today is the day you lose heart.' She answers at hearing the coming rush of blood in her ears, the wild thrum of uncertainty and panic on what to say as Sasuke moves to stand at her approach.
"Heading home?" Sasuke questions.
Sakura gives a curt nod, not trusting her voice as she walks ahead not waiting for him.
All her mind has to do to win is remind her of what Naruto told her, of what his future self saw Sasuke become before he returned back to the village permanently.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Sakura teases, taking in the amused flush to both Naruto and Hinata's cheeks.
They're the ones who let her in, forgetting perhaps they told her to come at 1:00 pm. She pretends not to see the wrinkles in their clothes, the way Naruto tries to smooth back his tussled hair and how Hinata tries in vain to cover a purple blemish upon her neck using her violet locks.
Her eyes turn towards colorful messy scrawls lining his walls that weren't there previously as far as she recalls, yellow and purple crayons blended together.
"Boruto drew that, it's supposed to be us at one of the spring festivals." Hinata explains behind her.
Sakura trails a finger to a red shape in his hands.
"And that's Kamen Ninja, his and Hinata's favorite show!" Naruto jests, Hinata lightly poking him it's most definitely not her favorite.
Sakura smiles, it's obvious how much Hinata's presence has weaved itself into Naruto's apartment. It's there in the way his floor is noticeably visible for the first time in months, to her books and teas next to his scrolls and ramen cups, and finally most obviously...she's currently wearing Naruto's favorite trademark orange and black jacket.
Hinata practically sinks into his jacket at her noticing, looking everywhere but at her smirk.
"I'm just cold!" She mentions as Sakura takes a seat beside them, but Sakura waves it off ignoring the twinge of envy that she wishes she could do such a thing with Sasuke as well.
'Sasuke doesn't even wear jackets.' Her thoughts scoff, silly to even entertain the idea.
"Tell me what I need to know; everything including the potential war, the Akatsuki, Orochimaru's hideouts, and Kabuto's reanimation stuff. I'll read all of it thoroughly in due time. I'm not as lucky as you two though to spend the afternoon reading or doing other 'stuff' as I have the late afternoon-evening shift coverage this week." Sakura urges and Naruto coughs, nodding as he straightens out his notes.
"Right, so I feel Sasuke will change far earlier now that he's learned some of Itachi's true reasons for the massacre. On top of that, despite what he's said, I'm sure he still cares about his brother and doesn't want to see him die if he can help it." Naruto begins.
This much she already knows from her encounter with him in her home, gesturing with her hand to continue.
"I don't see how it changes much, he'll just turn his revenge and anger from Itachi towards Konoha for creating such a plan in the first place. He still has Obito and Orochimaru whispering in his ear things to convince him that Konoha isn't worth saving." Sakura considers.
"Kakashi-sensei will handle Obito at the right time. It's important for now that Obito doesn't realize we know his identity by acting hastily." Naruto remarks.
Hinata taps to a section of notes that details Itachi's time in the Akatsuki, the many locations he's been possibly spotted or likes to frequent on his travels.
"This is still a fragile time. Sasuke is now longer dead set on gaining power to kill his brother, the main reason for him defecting in the first place. However, it doesn't mean he still isn't angry enough to attack Konoha in the near future either with the Akatsuki or on his own based on knowing what they did to his clan. Itachi's illness killed him and caused Sasuke to further spiral into darkness in questioning a shinobi's purpose and life, but we can prevent that from happening." She reasons.
"I'm not so sure, this is Sasuke we're talking about after all. Revenge has been the only thing on his mind for years." Sakura asserts.
It's obvious enough what they both meant at the time though, optimism she couldn't share...
Save Itachi, save Konoha from Sasuke trying to participate in it's destruction or kill any of their other top advisors.
But they're too many unknown variables for her to believe in said solution, that the outcome would ever be so simple.
Sasuke slides up to her side as she heads out into the night, to any passerby they look like an ordinary couple about to revel in the starting nightlife or maybe just two old friends ready to catch up via drinks and good food.
Though she and Sasuke are neither of these things, just strangers with memories of their days together on Team 7. Up above moonlight shines on the Hokage Monument, Sakura pausing as silver light trickles along the curves of Lady Tsunade's cheek and hair.
She's off for the next 5 days on her orders, to recover properly from her shoulder injury and give her time to decide on what she wants to do next.
"Sasuke isn't going to simply let it go so easily, we both know this Sakura. Go out and see the world, find and heal his brother and in the process you'll be helping Konoha on a far grander scale than the patients we see on a daily basis." Tsunade suggests, looking up from her paperwork.
It sounds similar to what Ino told her, that this will make a huge difference to more than just a few people.
"Plus, imagine all the gossip we'll have to talk about once you return Forehead! Sasuke picked you for a reason. Ah, we're both growing up! Did I tell you that I think I'm breaking down Sai's walls? Maybe he'll even ask me out soon for a proper date alone! Ino giggles.
He doesn't call her 'Ugly', it's more than she can say for herself.
Still Sakura turns in surprise to Tsunade as she pushes the memory away, mouth agape. "What about all these new patients coming in from the Land of Grass and Hot Water?! And we may need to open a weekend clinic too based on-"
Tsunade holds up a hand before she can go on, hazel eyes softening onto green. "Sakura, the medical field is not a one man show. Shizune and I can pick up any extra shifts needed, on top of that we just finished the ceremonies for the spring graduating class of nurses and doctors that you helped train as well. We can handle a month or two without you."
Sakura feels herself bristle, cheeks warm. "I don't, I don't want to give into my feelings..."
Tsunade snorts, swirling her pen. "Well, I'm getting tired of Namika reporting to me daily that Sasuke keeps coming into the ER in poor disguises asking for you. Honestly, when I was in the early stages of courting Dan I just went straight for it and asked him out once I realized how much our goals aligned! You should do the same!"
What horrible advice, though all she did at the time was nod and change the subject.
'Right now all I need to do is go home, eat something, and sleep in.' Sakura decides.
Sasuke catches her arm just as she turns the corner to head home and Sakura notes his contacts are gone, charcoal eyes freezing her in place.
"We still need to talk." He frowns, Sakura sliding out of his hold before he can even tighten it. While Lady Tsunade taught her how to be bolder, to step into the light and command a room amid a medical emergency, Kurenai-sensei is the one that taught her silence, how to breezily escape from anyone and anything via smell or sound.
And more importantly right now, how to guard and hide her emotions.
"Our feelings are often how we get trapped; we get too afraid, too prideful, too passionate for the ones we love and care about...Don't let it happen to you Sakura."
A haze settles back over her eyes, balling up her fists.
"It hasn't even been two full days yet!" Sakura barbs back in return, lowering her voice at seeing a coming group of salarymen approach. Alcohol pours off of them in waves, that and the scent of tobacco that she's always reminding men their age to stop doing or at least cutback on.
The last of the men meets her gaze slowing his pace, pink flush along his cheeks seeming to deepen in shock and recognition. His gaze roams for a minute too long over her figure, Sakura gritting her teeth to keep from scowling.
"You...You're Sakura Haruno! You saved my Dad's leg from being amputated after he injured himself fixing a roof. Ah, you're even prettier up close too out of uniform!" He babbles in awe fingers reaching to weave into her hair until suddenly it feels uncomfortably warmer.
'Fire?' Sakura sniffs the air.
A blaze blocks the man from stepping any closer, Sasuke pulling her back against him to keep out of the flame's path.
She peers up to see his eyes match the color of the flames; a brilliant scarlet red.
"Go home and take a shower; an icy one." He orders the man, the salaryman nodding slowly in a daze, turning to quickly catch up with his peers.
Her heart jolts in surprise, a whisper of triumph over the mind at feeling how hot her face is getting, that this close Sasuke still reminds her of the forests at midnight at how dark he can be, of sandalwood, moss, and smoke.
She extracts herself from him hurriedly, scoffing.
"I could've used morning glory and made him hallucinate his friends were missing him or even a little bit of bloodroot to irritate his skin if he persisted at trying to touch me." Sakura relates.
And indeed Sasuke catches a whiff of the sweet scents, wrinkling his nose before he gets a headache.
He shrugs, obsidian eyes turning stormy. "What? Did you want him to feel you up?"
This time he knows he's going to make her mad, waiting to see some fragment of the girl he knew from 3 years ago become riled up.
But Sakura must sense where his thoughts have gone, clicking her tongue.
"No I didn't want him to feel me up; I'm just saying I could've handled it. You still...You still see me as that girl with her head in the clouds." She sighs.
Sasuke scowls and for a moment Sakura believes he's going to refute her claims until he nods.
"You're right; sorry. You've changed...we both have."
Sakura shakes her head, anger draining out of her feeling a grin tug at her lips. She never expected this was how her night was going to begin, Sasuke apologizing when he probably hasn't done such a thing since they were children.
"Thank you for helping me, I'm used to seeing my patients and their families/friends new and old out and about the village, though never drunk or at least that drunk." She voices with a laugh.
She can feel his eyes boring on her again, jade meeting onyx properly as she straightens her shoulders in reaching a new conclusion.
"What if Itachi says no? Like I said before, I can't force treatment on anybody no matter how ill they are." Sakura voices.
Again Sasuke sighs and Sakura clenches her teeth at how easily he's ignoring said scenario from happening.
"He won't. Not after I tell him all that I already know. It's possible he's acting as a spy within the Akatsuki right now, only aiding them to keep them from attacking Konoha or maybe secretly sabotaging assignments."
Sakura leans against a guard rail, eyes narrowing. "You're assuming too much, the Akatsuki will attack Konoha to get to Naruto sooner or later."
"That's in an alternate future where barely anybody knew their true identities or abilities until it was too late." Sasuke points out.
He steps closer to her then and Sakura stiffens, heart hammering in her chest betraying her cool façade for a moment.
Maybe the darkness will hide how hot she feels her face getting, looking away from him back towards the sky.
"I will help. If only because I want to prevent as many war deaths as I can and stop the Akatsuki early, though I have a condition." Sakura mentions.
Sasuke nods to confirm he's listening and Sakura meets his gaze again, eyes a piercing green that reminds him of Konoha's thunderstorms in the summer.
His chest tightens seeing her face harden to ice, air around them charged.
"If you ever decide at any point in our journey that Konoha is worth destroying, that you'd be willing to kill and aid the Akatsuki in their capturing of the Tailed Beasts then know that all of my help is forfeited no matter what Itachi says. I may not have your strength and speed, but I know all of your secrets Sasuke, all the routes you can go down from talking to Naruto about the future. It wouldn't just be Naruto and all the Kage coming after you in that case, I would find a way to make sure your death is twice as miserable as Danzo's."
Naruto & Hinata
It's not just Jiraiya who has come to greet them at the entrance.
Naruto waves eagerly from beside him, Jiraiya hushing him to calm down.
"Hey Hinata, we were just in the neighborhood and thought we would drop by you know!" He beams with a wink.
Hinata laughs, unused to seeing Naruto this cheerful so late in the day.
To everyone's surprise she steps forward, happily grasping his hands with her own. Her eyes turn towards Jiraiya, nodding politely in greeting. He notes the mix of electricity and fire crackling in her hands, arching a brow how neither seem to be affecting Naruto.
And it's then he sees Naruto's miniature rasengan swirling the electricity and fire around it; a combination attack.
'Huh, when did they find the time to work on that?'
He thought he had been tracking the Kid pretty well, or at least thought his toads had been doing a pretty good job of keeping him up to date on Naruto's whereabouts while he did his hot springs research...
"Naruto. Jiraiya. It is good to see you both. I assume you're both here to discuss the time and day we're leaving out for training, right? I just finished discussing it all in a meeting with Father. Though I wanted to show you as well that this is just one of the many combined attacks Naruto and I have been working on." Hinata explains.
Naruto's grin widens, looking towards Jiraiya with an 'I told you so!' look.
"Well, seems we're right on time then. Pervy-Sage came here to try and talk your old man out of it; I knew giving him a show could help change his mind!" He relates.
Jiraiya stiffens as everyone's eyes turn to him, huffing. "I had a good reason too!"
Naruto snorts, shaking his head holding up their joined hands. "This is what we've been trying to show you! We've both been getting stronger training together in our nature affinities and with Hinata coming along we'll be able to explain to more people faster how we want to prevent the war from happening than with just us two alone!"
Jiraiya clicks his tongue, he truly didn't expect all of us...
Hiashi coughs to interrupt, nodding his agreement. "I must agree with what Naruto says. While at first I wanted to keep Hinata here in Konoha out of concern for her safety and keeping the byakugan secured, I know you're a skilled enough shinobi Jiraiya to watch over them both."
Jiraiya gapes at him, almost wondering if Naruto used the transformation jutsu, however he stands right beside him not having moved a step.
"What made you change your mind?" He asks.
Hiashi says nothing for a moment, though he catches the way his eyes flicker to Neji and immediately understands.
"I see, well...I know when I've been outvoted!" He chuckles.
Hinata breaks from Naruto, tapping a finger against his arm sending a mini ripple of electricity through him.
"Please understand I will take this training seriously; I hope you do as well."
Jiraiya gulps, nodding feeling Hiashi's intense stare as well. "Of course! Anyways, we'll head out bright and early Friday morning; 6:00 am sharp!"
Naruto wraps her close in a hug, reddening as he drops a kiss by her ear despite Hiashi's protests that his affectionate behavior in public is starting to go too far for him.
"That went perfectly! Did you see the way his jaw dropped!" He whispers by her ear excitedly.
Hinata laughs, nodding into the crook of his neck.
Perfect indeed.
But then she looks past him and sees Neji's stare, wondering in his gaze of what isn't being said aloud whenever he's around and bile creeps into her throat.
-x-
Happy Easter! First, I just want to give a big thanks to all my readers since we passed 300+ favorites and 400+ follows milestones! I really appreciate you all!
So most of you guys wanted Hinata to join the training trip, which I believe is reasonable though I did want Jiraiya to not fully be on board with it until he saw how much training they've done! The scenario I wrote for Hinata staying in the village will come up at a later point as I didn't want to completely scrap the writing and ideas I did for it.
I hope nobody seems OOC, particularly Jiraiya and Sasuke and even Sakura for being so cold to Sasuke in this chapter and moving forward. This is a Sakura who knows what he became canon wise and wants to prevent it, but at the same time is trying to stop her feelings from getting in the way too.
There's so much Naruto and Hinata stuff and ideas coming for their training and when they're not training!~
Let me know your thoughts as always!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
