A love in time 10

Flashback:

"Ji-chama?!" in a panic, a young Naruto held Hiruzen up when he suddenly tumbled during their walk. The sun was setting in the distance and the streets were quiet. Yet the Hokage had kindly offered to escort Naruto back home after having dinner together. "I'll get you help, Ji-chama!" Naruto looked around desperately, hoping to find his ANBU escorts that were never too far away but she couldn't sense them.

"I'm okay, child," Hiruzen's voice was weak, groaning as he stood to his full height. "I apologise that you had to see that," He saw her clear blue eyes get wet as her hands that clung to his robes trembled. Patting her head gently, he eased her worries with a smile. "It's only natural, my child. I am getting old,"

"Nu-uh," Naruto shook her head stubbornly. "I can fix it, Ji-chama. Fuinjutsu has endless-"

Hiruzen chuckled, cutting off her ranting. "Promise me you won't ever mess with prolonging one's fated time,"

"B-but!" Naruto desperately hoped he would change his mind.

"Naruto," He said sternly, "Promise me," He didn't want his past mistakes repeated.

Hearing the firmness in his tone, Naruto felt defeated and lowered her head. "I promise, Ji-chama," She refused to look at him when the weight of his hand ruffled her hair once more. "Is this why you excused your guards? You don't want them to see you like this,"

"Hoo~ aren't you smart, my child," Hiruzen held his hand out to her, pleased that she didn't refuse his gesture and gripped her warm hand gently. "Nobody wants to see their leader weak."

Naruto sniffed, allowing herself to be pulled along by Hiruzen. "Then why did you show me?" As young as she was, Naruto was a lot smarter than her peers. She saw and understood what adults would dismiss and considered even the oddest of outcomes. It was her life in the red light district, being taught under Madame Diana and...Naruto clenched her jaw...Itachi had widened her view of the world. "You wouldn't have shown me this side of you without reason."

Hiruzen hummed and lead her over to a free bench in the park. They sat in silence for a few minutes before he found the right words to say. "No doubt I'm getting old, Naruto. I'm not the shinobi I once was," Lighting up his pipe, he took a blissful puff as he looked at the stars that started to show in the night sky. "I've become complacent and because of my actions, it hurt many people. You included."

Naruto's eyes widened, watching the man she admired. He looked much older than he did a few minutes ago. The glow of the moon on his withered face added to the illusion of his wisdom. "T-that's not true!"

Hiruzen could only chuckle as the blonde tried to cheer him up. It was times like this when Naruto reminded him of Kushina. In a way, he was glad she wasn't exactly like her father. It would only spell disaster for the village. "It's true. If it wasn't true then I wouldn't be Hokage."

Naruto bit her lip, hunching her shoulders over in shame. "You still haven't told me why you showed me your weak side," She grumbled, chewing on her lower lip anxiously for his answer.

"Naruto, my child," He called gently, his brown eyes as warm as a furnace looked upon her gently, "You are incredibly smart and equally as strong. With your influence comes with burdening responsibility. I'm sure you have felt that weight on your shoulders, even at your young age with the help you give to the less fortunate."

Naruto felt her shoulder stiffen. She felt bitter than he knew about her exploits.

"It's written all over your face, my child," Hiruzen chuckled and pushed his finger between her brow. "You're very easy to read," he massaged her worries away, enjoying her flustered expression. It was hard to catch her off-guard but he was still able to do it. "No matter how strong you get, Naruto, never be afraid to show your weak side to those you love," He saw her eyes widen and sparkle at his words. The cute flush on her cheeks warmed Hiruzen's heart that he couldn't help but poke her chubby cheek. "You've had a difficult path but never forget that there are people that love you just the way you are. Anger and all,"

Naruto was instantly insulted and puffed out her cheeks further. "I'm not always angry~" She whined when he poked her cheek harder.

"Don't forget," He wanted to make sure she remembered his words, "There are those around you that are here for you. Never forget."

The bright spark in her eyes slowly faded until the deep blue eyes turned into a pair of mismatched eyes, one black and one red, that were heavy with tears. Hiruzen felt something awfully hot hit his cold face. He could see her lips moving but he couldn't hear her properly. Reaching out, his hand felt heavy as he poked her whiskered cheek. The blonde child above him was quick to latch onto his withering hand and hold it to her face. He still wasn't able to hear her but he knew his time was limited. "Naruto," He whispered faintly, her lips stopped moving yet they trembled.

"Ji-chan~" Naruto gasped as she hugged his body close to hers. Desperate to keep the heat between them. She couldn't sense what was happening around her just that she was expending a tremendous amount of chakra to keep Hiruzen's life force with her.

"Naruto," A clone of Hiruzen crouched before them. She refused to look at the clone. "You have to let me go," He spoke on behalf of the dying Hiruzen. Although his life force was flickering, the clone was able to latch onto the living due to the amount of chakra Naruto had released into the area. "You know the price of the Death Reaper's seal. Let me go," He saw her clutch to his dying body with her own trembling frame. Her breathing was so rapid that he could see her breath cloud. "Please," He pleaded with her gently.

"No!" Naruto screamed, "I will never let you go! Never!" Naruto forced even more chakra out of her body. She wanted her chakra to help her. To help save her old man. "Don't take him from me! Haven't you taken enough from me!" Naruto screamed, moving her eyes from the dying man that was still smiling gently and glared at the astral figure that hovered behind the clone of Hiruzen. "Give him back you bastard!" She didn't care that she was insulting the Shinigami. All she knew was it was responsible for taking away her precious old man.

"Naruto," The clone of Hiruzen looked past the distraught blonde and towards the Edo-Tensei of the Shodai and Nidaime. Although his other clones had sealed their souls, they still lingered because Naruto refused to release them. Naruto wasn't aware that her chakra was causing a suspension in time. Everything within her chakra's reach, time had stopped and this included the death of his main body. Clone-Hiruzen made eye contact with the lifeless eyes of the Nidaime and shook his head when the man tried to approach them. He mouthed at him 'Don't come closer. You'll only hurt her'.

Clone-Hiruzen wanted to shiver at the cold look his deceased teacher gave him.

A few minutes before

"Saru, release me," Tobirama ordered, his eyes never leaving the blonde that flew by him and caught the real body of his student.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Clone-Hiruzen muttered, he needed to seal the Nidaime before he reached Naruto. It could only spell disaster if they met now. "I'm sure you have so many questions and I will answer them in the belly of the Shinigami." Clone-Hiruzen completed the seal before Tobirama could forcibly release himself. Grunting from the pain the seal caused, the clone spoke sadly, watching the Edo-Tensei of Tobirama crumble. "Let's have a long conversation, sensei."

Tobirama frowned when a sudden influx of chakra changed the battlefield. Looking at his hands, he noticed them stop flaking away and looked over to see Hashirama with only half his body intact. The burst of chakra, although overwhelming, felt so bright and warm. It was overflowing like the sun yet Tobirama could sense along the borders of something sinister. "This is…" He moved his vacant gaze over to his blonde friend weeping over the real body of Hiruzen. "Naruto…" Seeing that his soul was still with the living, Tobirama made a step towards Naruto when Clone-Hirzen stepped in his line of sight. "Move," His voice was deep and firm.

"I cannot allow you to meet her. Not like this," Hiruzen's voice was equally as firm. When Tobirama made a move past Clone-Hiruzen, he gripped Tobirama's arm tightly. "She can't lose another person. Don't appear in front of her,"

Tobirama stopped moving. Hearing his student's words calmed him down but a part of him wanted to help her. He had so many unanswered questions and there was very little time. Hearing her cry out made something within this dead body tremble as his eyes widen. She was expanding more chakra than she could replace it with. Gritting his teeth, he glared at the clone, "What do you suggest I do?"

Clone-Hiruzen knew immediately that Naruto was messing with time. He wasn't sure if she was aware of it or not. "I'll speak to her. Stay out of her sight. Once this is done I will answer whatever you have to say," Once he saw his sensei nod, the clone approached the blonde girl.

Flashback end

"Naruto," The clone frowned, he wasn't sure how Naruto was able to see the Shinigami. It should've only been the user and the target's that could see the astral figure.

"Naruto," Kurama spoke up, "Don't be mad at this being. They are a servant of the Old Gods. You may be closer to the Old Gods than I expected. I need you to calm down" Kurama withdrew his chakra that got caught up in the boiling emotions of his host. He was surprised that Naruto could see the Shinigami. As far as he knew, only those with the blood of the First Worshipper of the Old Gods could contact or hear their message.

Naruto could hear Kurama but she couldn't drop this. She tried deep breathing to calm herself down but the ghastly look of the Shinigami only riled her up. "I can't let him go," An almost deranged laugh left her lips as she looked up at the entity. "I swore…" She took a deep breath, Naruto was sure desperation was clear on her face, "I swore I wouldn't prolong fated time. I've always kept my promises. I've always tried to be a good person. Hehe," Her laughter was scary, tears streaming freely down her face. Naruto was still unaware one of her eyes were pitch black and with Kurama's chakra gone, her other eye was blue. It was filled with despair. "I can't do it," Her voice broke. She couldn't bring herself to stop the flow of her chakra and let Hiruzen go.

"I'm well aware that you're not the one who's taking him away from me but right now…." Naruto bit her lip as her chakra grew denser, "You're standing in the way. I can't stop you, I know I'm powerless," Naruto gasped as she felt something change within her. Her head dropped and Hiruzen was still watching her gently. The warmth in his eyes was fading and it shook Naruto's soul. She caressed his cooling cheek as if he was going to break in her arms. "Until I'm with you again, I swear I will hunt him down and make sure he can't take away what you hold dear,"

"Naruto?" Clone-Hiruzen heard her words and the formation of something powerful behind her. "Naruto!" Clone-Hiruzen called out as the formation of chains appeared from her back. This was dangerous. Without a guide, the adamantine chains could easily harm allies and even the user itself. "Naruto withdraw your chakra!"

However, it was too late. The chains had already burst forth and quickly made their way towards the users keeping up the barrier. Her chains easily destroyed the barrier protecting them. The Shinigami watched as the 4 barrier users seemed to dry up like mummies with a curse seal appearing on their bodies. It was different from the original curse seal they had. Looking back at the child that held onto the Death Reaper seal user, the Shinigami observed her carefully.

"Damn it," Orochimaru cursed when he saw his guards get easily overwhelmed by the new curse. Soon the barrier would lose power and he needed to find the right time to escape. Orochimaru didn't have time to think when a multitude of chains started chasing him.

The Shinigami looked past the blonde and towards the dead white-haired man. Its voice appeared in Tobirama's head. "If you don't move she will die,"

Tobirama's eyes widened. The voice gripped at him. It sounded inhumane but Tobirama understood well. His brother was weakened with only half a body and he could see the adamantine chains start to whip and slither at its surroundings. "Tch," Tobirama clicked his tongue and rushed towards his long-time friend. Weaving through her sporadic chains was no issue for Tobirama, however, when he chains lashed at her and left deep marks, Tobirama pushed his borrowed body further. Hiruzen's clone tried its best to protect her but not even the suspended time could keep its body together. The clone was slowly losing body parts.

Naruto, unaware of what the chains were doing to her, whispered endearments to Sarutobi. "I have so much to say to you. I have so many things I want to show you. If you leave me," His gentle smile never left and Naruto wished he could still hear her. "Then who will I talk to about the past? Who will have tea with me and complain about that man? Who's going to scold me for almost blowing up half the village with my seals? You're not going to be there, Ji-chan. I can't do it...I can't imagine my life without you." Her tears, once again, fell onto Hiruzen's face. It almost looked like he was crying with her. "I can't do it. I won't do it…." Naruto gasped when darkness fell over her eyes and Hiruzen disappeared from her view. Feeling a weight on her back and a cold breath on her ear, Naruto shivered. "W-who-"

"Let him go," Tobirama spoke firmly. Ignoring the way her chains whipped his body mercilessly. As if finding him an enemy from stopping Naruto. He could feel her chakra envelop him. It was bright and warm that Tobirama found it almost suffocating. Yet, he expected her chakra to feel like this. "Let him go, Naruto." He could feel her trembling in his arms. He could feel her! However, he couldn't relish the feeling. He had to save her. Tobirama knew she would live. He had seen her far older than what she is now but the present was always changing. "Saru has done his job as Hokage. Don't shame him by extending his life. Even if he is breathing, a man unable to think is not truly living. Let him go,"

Naruto's lip trembled. She knew this voice. "Y-you bastard," She knew he was around. How couldn't she know? There was only one person she knew that exclusively wore blue like he owned the colour yet Naruto didn't prioritise his appearance. Her heart was with saving Hiruzen. "I'm afraid," She whispered, "That when I opened my eyes, he won't be there...and neither will you,"

Tobirama understood her words fairly well. Although she didn't know now, he once knew her words well. Too well. "I have many questions for you but unfortunately we do not have the time. Release him, Naruto, and release me too. I do not belong here." He heard her gasp heavily. "Release us."

"I~" Naruto's voice trembled, her tears flowing past Tobirama's hand.

"You will be okay," Tobirama reassured her as the chains dug deeper into his body. "Believe in yourself. Just as Saru has. Just as I do. Release us, Nami," He whispered his nickname for her unconsciously. He held her tightly when she screamed, refusing to let her see him in their final moments but he felt it. She was reeling in her chakra to release them. Just as sudden as her initial burst of chakra was it suddenly disappeared.

"Naruto!" As soon as the barrier disappeared, Kakashi rushed in to find his blonde companion. He found her almost immediately as Madame Diana ordered the ANBU to capture the fleeing Orochimaru. Naruto was hunched over the body of the Sandaime Hokage. "Naruto," Kakashi whispered as he approached her. When she looked at him, Kakashi held his shock seeing one black and one blue eye look at him. She looked worn out and he could tell her chakra was almost depleted. Rushing over to her, Kakashi was relieved when Naruto released the body of Hiruzen and reached her arms out to him. Gathering her in his arms, Kakashi held her tightly as she sobbed. "Rest Naruto," Kakashi put her to sleep immediately and stood with her in his arms.

Looking around at the destruction, Kakashi took note of the heavy damage to the rooftop. The markings were very familiar to him.

"Hatake," Madame Diana was dragging a body behind her and threw it to Kakashi's feet. Her face remained cooled as she took control of the situation. "It seems the Namikaze bloodline has merged with the Uzumaki chains."

Kakashi looked at the mummified body and the curse marks that painted their body. "I suppose you're going to tell her,"

"Narumi has left me no choice," Diana observed her granddaughter. The wounds on her body pained Diana but she refused to let it show on her face. "She will prevail. Today has shown that she has more potential than Minato with over one of her eyes showing despair she showed phenomenal restraint."

"She's just lost somebody close to her and you want to train her," Kakashi frowned in disapproval. He was also grieving the loss of the Hokage. It was a hole that would be hard to fill in.

Diana turned to leave. "She's done it once, Hatake. Narumi can do it again,"

Kakashi bit down on his tongue. He knew she could do it. He was there when she trained relentlessly under Diana's eye when Itachi betrayed the village. This was different. Itachi was still alive and the Sandaime Hokage is dead. Kakashi sighed as Diana left and looked down at Naruto. She looked terrible. Looking around, Jiraiya was already directing shinobi to get Konoha moving again and Shikaku with the ANBU Commander to prepare the defence. Meeting Shikaku's eyes, Kakashi knew he would be needed.

"Kakashi-sensei," Shikamaru and Sakura landed before the silver-haired man. "We can take care of her,"

"We?" Kakashi looked at Sakura suspiciously.

Sakura was offended but understood why her sensei looked at her this way. "We can protect her, Kakashi-sensei! Until you're free to take over."

"Oh? She needs protection?" Kakashi found her comments odd. Just 2 weeks ago, his student wanted nothing to do with the blonde. Sakura was squirming. She looked uncomfortable.

Swallowing her nervousness, Sakura spoke up with clenched fists. "Kakashi-sensei, I'm not sure if you have noticed but Sasuke-kun has been watching Naruto."

Now, this was news to Kakashi. He was aware that Sasuke was conscious of Naruto, not that he was watching her. Judging by the way Sakura's fist trembled, Kakashi didn't believe it was for a good reason. He looked to the more trustworthy of the two and arched a brow.

Shikamaru sighed, "Naruto is smart but she's still ignorant in some ways. I don't know how it works in her brain but she can be….blind to people's intentions sometimes." He knew Kakashi didn't believe him but Shikamaru wasn't sure how to explain it. "How annoying. She's still an idiot, Kakashi-sensei. She looks at the wider picture but can be oblivious to what's happening closer to her."

Kakashi nodded at that statement. He understood what Shikamaru meant. "And about Sasuke?"

Sakura looked uncomfortable as she spoke like she was betraying someone precious. "Sasuke-kun's other goal is to revive his clan, Kakashi-sensei." She wanted to say more but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Part of her heart still belonged to Sasuke yet the logical side of her knew that there was something off about Sasuke.

"Maah maah," Kakashi smiled, hoping to ease the children. "I'll be over as soon as I'm done here," He handed Naruto over to Shikamaru and shooed the children away. He could piece what they wanted to say to him easily but it was hard to wrap his head around it. After all, Sasuke was still 13 years old.

Naruto (Past)

In a field of long grass, Naruto knelt on the ground staring listlessly at the dirt. Her fingers felt numb yet part of her knew her spirit had returned to the past. She wanted to laugh. It was so ridiculous but she wanted to laugh. To let something out. Anything. "Kurama," She whispered weakly, feeling his chakra warm her body. He was with her. It was enough for the tears to roll down her whiskered cheeks. "Ji-chan~" Clutching at her chest, she could only let out strangled sobs. "Ji-chan~" Naruto could only call out his name weakly. She felt guilty. It felt like a sin to say his name. She had broken her promise to him and tried to prolong his life.

"Kurama~" She cried out, "I want to get stronger. So strong that I can protect them even from the Gods," She whispered her desire to the Biju. Naruto could feel something dark festering within her and she was afraid of it. "If...if I lose anyone else this feeling might consume me and...and I know I'll hurt people. Kurama…." Naruto was scared. It was scary. "I don't want to feel this way ever again,"

Kurama was going to reply when he felt someone approach.

"Naruto?"

The blonde gasped when she looked at who called her. It was the last person she suspected. The warm brown eyes of the Sandiame Hokage overlapped with the kind brown eyes of the young Shodai Hokage that Naruto burst into tears. "Ji-chan!" She wailed loudly that it flustered Hashirama.

"N-Naruto! H-hey hey, why are you crying?" Hashirama knelt before the sobbing ghost. He was quick to notice the wounds on her body and dishevelled clothing. Unable to touch her, Hashirama awkwardly sat before Naruto. Waiting patiently for her loud wailing to subside before he could ask her. "Are you feeling better?" Although her lips trembled, Hashirama was still able to read her lips.

"A little," She wiped her tears harshly with her sleeves. Her grief was still there. It would always be there.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hashirama offered with a welcoming smile. He didn't push her when she shook her head, declining his offer. He was familiar with what she was going through. It was obvious she was grieving someone dear to her. "You may not believe me now, but it will start to hurt less as the time goes on. You never completely erase the sadness, it will always be there." He saw that she didn't follow and pointed out, "Think of a box and in that box is a button. Every time that button is hit, you feel sadness and in that box is a ball so big the button is constantly being pressed against. As time goes on, the ball gets smaller and smaller but it's still in the box. Every now and then the ball will hit the button and you will feel sad. No matter how small the ball gets it will hit the button. Not all the time but it happens. I promise you won't always feel this way, Naruto."

Naruto couldn't hate the Shodai. Even though she was hurting, lost and angry, she listened to his words. "Thank you," His bright smile warmed her heart. No wonder the Sandaime always spoke fondly about the Shodai. He was a man you wanted to listen to. A man you wanted to be around.

"Ah," Hashirama could feel his brother approaching, "I better get going. There's someone more important than me to see you," Winking, Hashirama quickly erased his presence and left the grassy field before Tobirama knew he could see Naruto.

Once Hashirama left, Naruto retreated back to her thoughts. She wanted to get stronger. Naruto knew an invasion was going to happen but she knew it was from her own cowardice that she left the invasion get so big. She had the power to reduce the amount of damage but she relied on others to make up for her half-assed planning. Naruto was too worried about her own feelings to consider the finer details….the possibility of her precious people dying. "I'm going to get so strong that I can punch the Gods in their face."

A plan formulated in her mind. A training regime with few distractions. "Kurama, I swear I'll take your training seriously. I won't slack off anymore." She would beg Jiraiya to teach her all he knew about seals. Naruto would shake Kakashi until he promised to teach her all his assassination techniques. Whatever tactic there was, Naruto was burning to learn them and apply them to the real world to help actualise her dream. "Even if it means teaching the rotten cherry to become a splendid kunoichi, I'll do it." Sakura had a hidden talent Naruto wanted to nurture. No matter how annoying she was, Naruto was determined to beat Sakura into a new person.

"Who is a rotten cherry?"

"Ah!" Naruto was startled when Tobirama appeared in front of her.

"What are you doing here? You never appear-" Tobirama bit his tongue seeing her red swollen eyes and battered appearance. "Naruto," Once she settled from fright, Tobirama noticed something different about her. The aura surrounding her seemed sharp. "I don't believe your village has beaten you up for you to appear like this,"

"Ji-chan died," Naruto was honest with Tobirama, "And I need to get stronger to help my precious people."

"You're already strong," Tobirama took the news head-on. "Do not do anything stupid. Grief can make people dangerous," He warned her. Tobirama had seen it several times. Grief could destroy some people and turn them insane.

"Do you believe it will make me dangerous?" Naruto asked with fresh tears gathering.

Tobirama nodded without hesitation, "I do. You will be a danger to yourself and with that attitude, you will not be helping any of your precious people. Not even me," Tobirama frowned when she let out a defeated laugh.

"I had a plan, you bastard,"

"I never said not to get stronger. I said you would be a danger to yourself," Tobirama knelt before her and channelled his chakra to wipe away the fresh tears. "Swear to me that you won't lose yourself. I do not care for how strong you get, Naruto, but swear to me I will still recognise you when you come back,"

Naruto chuckled, "I should also say that to you, Tobi." Leaning closer to him, she said. "Don't do anything stupid when I'm gone." she made sure he remained in eye contact with her. "I'm going to go crazy, I won't deny that but I'll be back. I will swear to you on one condition,"

Tobirama sighed, "State it,"

"When I find you, remain as you are." She asked, "Don't close off your heart and become emotionless. I don't know much about the war you're going through but I see that it's taking a toll on you. When I find you again, Tobi, I hope to see that my best friend is still human,"

"You are insufferable," He commented, making her giggle through her tears. "Very well, I swear."

"I swear," Naruto, feeling her emotions ground themselves, stood up and looked down on the weary Senju. "Tobi, we will be okay,"

Tobirama didn't say anything as she ran off. He didn't chase her. Wherever she went whenever he wasn't around was none of his business and he didn't want to break her trust. He had done it once and Tobirama didn't want to do it again. "How annoying," He rubbed the back of his head tiredly, wondering how she saw right through him despite her being in turmoil. Tobirama had a nagging feeling that the death of her Grandfather changed something within his dear friend. It certainly wasn't a good thing but she swore to him and that was good enough for Tobirama.

"Tobirama?"

Tobirama felt Hashirama appear beside him. "What do you want?"

Hashirama chuckled nervously. His dear brother was still tense. It would be a lie to say the war hadn't been taking a toll on him as well. Taking a seat next to his polar opposite, Hashirama looked up to the skies. The clouds were thin and the wind was cool. "Right now, it's peaceful. A rare occurrence for us,"

Tobirama couldn't help but agree. In the whirlwind that was Naruto Uzumaki, she seemed to take the chaos along with her when she left. "I believe you didn't want to talk to me about the weather,"

"As entertaining as it would be I will have to skip the weather talk this time," Hashirama was glad there was still a shred of humour in Tobirama. "I know you don't want to hear about it but you're getting older, Tobirama. Is there no one that catches your eye?"

"Ever since Mito-nee-sama got pregnant, you've been awfully nosey in my life," Tobirama dismissed Hashirama's useless talks. "I am perfectly happy being alone right now."

Hashirama frowned. He knew his little brother went through a hard time with his previous marriage talks and a few women in the clan harassing him, but Hashirama didn't want Tobirama to age alone. "Even just having a temporary fiance will keep the more adventurous women away," Once Tobirama stood up, Hashirama knew the conversation was about to end. "Please, just consider it."

Tobirama didn't reply and left the grassy knoll. Once he reached a busy village, night had already fallen and Tobirama's white hair had changed to brown and his eyes black. Reaching the building in mind, Tobirama casually walked through the back door and through the hallways. The young women in the building seemed to recognise him and moved out of his way with a polite bow. Knocking gently, Tobirama waited until he was called in and sat before an aged woman. Her hair streaked with silver but meticulously combed and styled as her dark eyes observed Tobirama quietly. Tobirama bowed his head towards her, "Madame Belle, please allow me to observe your clients once more,"

"Hmm," Belle hummed lightly, snapping her fan shut before gesturing for a young child to fetch some tea. "I have never come across such an odd man before. Week after week you return like a pesky fly to a horse's dung," Even her sneer was graceful, "Perhaps you get off watching others show emotions or allow themself to be embraced by their most intimate desires,"

Tobirama didn't react. Not even a small flush of his ears. He was already used to Belle trying to rile him up. "I am well aware of my ignorance, Madame Belle. As you have said, those that embrace their most intimate desires gather here. I believe I can understand more not only from them but also from you. The one who has survived and now watches over the dark alleys. Although I am still learning to women openly it is still a surprise each time I come back to see how...crafty you people can be," Tobirama had never spoken so much at once that he was grateful for the tea.

Jasmine green tea.

It has a nice subtle scent with a matching taste. It suited Tobirama over the bitterness of green tea.

Belle couldn't hide her smirk. She found it interesting that a man was curious about the women of the night. Not their bodies but the mind that came with it. "Show me,"

Tobirama released his henge and showed his true appearance. He withheld his disgust when Belle's sophisticated face turned lustful and crazed. Placing the henge back on, Belle's face immediately returned to a prim and proper lady. Tobirama found her fetish for 'beautiful people' truly bizarre but it got him what he wanted.

"Very well, I will grant you permission. You know the rules. Stay out of sight and should a customer get too comfortable…"

"You have my gratitude," Tobirama browed before merging with the shadows. He trusted Naruto's words to never get on the bad side of a Madame. He had seen in once in passing and vowed to only speak politely to Madame Belle. In a way, this was training for him. To witness the undesirable side of humanity.