I walk through the training ground. My resignation as a shinobi of Konohagakure does not mean I'm going to stop training. On the contrary.

I mean, during the war, I glimpsed at things I never even imagined. How limited am I, actually? How narrow is my thinking? I want to explore the possibilities of chakra. More than that, I'd like to see if I can develop a skill set that goes beyond that of a canon that you point at a target.

Zabuza, all those years ago, eventually proved to be right, in a way. Assessing myself honestly made me think. The few jutsu I've been given aim at making me a weapon, not a soldier. My penchant for misdirection and straight-up unusual moves (nonsensical, according to some - Sakura is still salty my Oiroke Gyaku jutsu ruptured a vessel in her nose and distracted Kaguya) comes entirely from me and none of my teachers ever encouraged it.

It is fortunate that Tomiko was never taught any better by Orochimaru or she'd have ended up truly out of my league and I would have had to actually go for the kill. Yes, she has raw power and her Sharingan compensates for a lot but she is just as prone to charging headfirst in a fight as I am and she is objectively worse with coming with on-the-fly strategies.

If we ever come to blows again, even if it's for a spar, I want to sweep the floor with her. As a matter of principle, for everything she put Team Seven, Konoha and the world through. Kurama rolls his eyes so hard that I can feel it.

"It's not that."

My friend smirks. "Keep telling yourself that, you're not fooling me"

It's not. Anyways.

They'd protest it vehemently, I've no doubt about it but I believe my teachers saw me as a jinchuuriki first and foremost, never an actual shinobi. How would I explain the utter lack of lessons on strategy, stealth, negotiation and many other things? No, none of these subjects is taught in the Academy, I never missed them. I've always had to scrap by myself as far as these skills are concerned.

"I'd say your negotiation skills aren't too bad, given your history."

"Thanks, Kurama." I still pout. I'm not truly convinced. I have a vague theory about the frankly ridiculous efficiency of some of my speeches over the years. It's something that I need to test.

People scoff and ask "how do you not know this or that?" but really, how am I even supposed to? No one else I know has ever been asked to reinvent the wheel as much as I was. The worst is that if I asked them, my teachers would likely be genuine in their assessment that they taught me "what I was capable of" or even "what I ought to know". What it could mean is concerning and I'll get to question my remaining teacher about it.

I won't be focused only on developing and refining my skills, however. I've decided that I want friends. Actual friends, that is, meaning people I can hang out with, joke with, know stuff about and confide in. Stuff a bit more profound than "that boy with the dog" or "that girl whose family sells flowers". I don't know any of my agemates. They're comrades I fought with during the war.

I trust them in a fight but I'd never go and cry on their shoulder. It's amazing how much and how little it means. But in the end, I only entrusted my back to them because I didn't need to. I didn't allow myself to count on them. It's going to sound arrogant but none come to my ankle as far as raw power goes. Not that I feel like I deserve most of it but that is the reality of the matter.

And I mean, the Alliance got trashed before I entered the battlefield.

Nonetheless, if I ever have to fight a world-ending level threat, power be damned I want to actually rely on people.

I'm not counting Sakura here. Someone who kept your heart pumping manually stands a bit off the charts. Tomiko is a special case too. The end of the war showed us that our relationship is a complicated one.

The muffled impacts of shuriken against wood pull me out of my thoughts. I review what I'm going to say for one last time, inhale deeply and steel my nerves. I approach, quietly - the force of habit - but not hiding my presence either.

Tenten is drilling what she's already best and better at than anyone else in Konoha, possibly in the world. She has pushed shurikenjutsu to an art, refining and polishing her motions to perfection. She is dressed simply, in her same white blouse and dark burgundy pants. Her chestnut hair is done in two buns.

I wait for her to empty her holster, not wanting to surprise her and call.

"Hello, Tenten."

She whirls around. The smile she gives me is surprised at first then strained. Something twisted wells up and tolls against my empathic web but Tenten smothers it. "Hello, Naruto."

"She resents you," remarks Kurama.

I show none of what my abilities revealed to me on my visage. "I know," I whisper in my mind, keeping my smile on.

"How are you doing?" I ask, out loud.

"Fine, thank you. What about you?"

"Undergoing changes." I smile warmly. "For the better, I hope. Could I have a bit of your time?"

"Sure." She relaxes her stance slightly and places a hand on her hip.

I bow. I do it right, bust horizontal with the ground and eyes downcast.

"First, I wanted to say, I'm sorry for your loss." My voice thickens and I must swallow a knot in my throat. "I know it comes late. I've never been any good at this kind of thing. I hope you can forgive me, I didn't mean to be insensitive."

Tenten breaths out. We both know who I'm talking about. Her exhale stretches and shakes until it steadies. So do her emotions. "Please, Naruto. Raise your head."

I straighten my back. Tenten is massaging her eyelids. I see one stray tear pearl. I stay quiet, waiting for her to regain her bearings.

"Thank you," she says eventually.

I give her my softest smile. "I didn't come here only to open fresh wounds. If you'd accept me, I'd like to get to know you, Tenten. As a friend." Seeing as she says nothing, genuinely surprised, I continue. "I figured discovering your passion for weapons would be a good start. I imagined you could teach me, maybe."

I cough, hoping to break the developing awkwardness but Tenten doesn't help me. She remains silent; I sense her shock.

"Hum, only if you'd like, I mean…" I flail for a second. Her quiet attitude is throwing me off. "I don't want to be a bother or anything."

She giggles. "Of course it's okay. That's nice, Naruto. I'd like us to be friends too."

Something blooms in my chest as a relieved sigh escapes me. Elation, I believe. The smile that flourishes on my lips must radiate more light than my chakra cloak.

"If you need anything from me, don't ever hesitate, Tenten. I mean it. Alright?" I frown. "As long as it remains lawful and ethical."

She chuckles and nods. "Sure. What would you like to learn?"

"The sword if possible, though I wouldn't say no to refining my shurikenjutsu." I scratch the back of my head. "I don't think I'll ever reach your level but I can try."

She puffs her chest out and smirks proudly. "That's right! I'm Konoha's weapon mistress!"

"The absolute best," I abound. "I have a lot of free time so our session will depend on you."

"Well, why don't we begin now?"

I blink. Tenten walks towards a very large scroll and I remember her most impressive offensive jutsu. She unfurls part of the scroll and unseals two straight swords. Jian, I believe they are called. Tenten comes back to me and confirms it, showing me the handle of one of the blades. I take a hold of it; it's both heavier and lighter than I thought it would be. The straps of leather wrapping the handles immediately chafe my skin.

Tenten shows me how to hold it, providing me with a few general rules and good habits to adopt as early as possible. Then, once I'm gripping my sword - but not too much, one must remain flexible, always - we run through a few kata together. Slowly at first and as time passes, faster and faster. Regularly, we stop so that I may ask any question I want. If that is how Gai trained his team, I'm officially jealous. At some point, we start exchanging pointers by clashing swords directly. Slow, fast, slow, we repeat; perfection of motions come by rote.

We get lost in it because suddenly, Tenten sheathes her sword. It's difficult for me to tell when evening comes because I see well in the dark.

"Let's stop here for today." She gives me a dazzling smile. "You progress fast. I'm surprised, in a good way."

I scratch my neck, embarrassed. I'm sweaty, which is saying something, given my literally inhumane endurance. My arm weighs a ton and my legs are sore. I'll be good in an hour but I'm surprised I'm that afflicted in the first place. Though I've been taking it easy since the end of the war so maybe I'm losing it. I return her smile. "Well, when I put my mind to it…"

I let the rest of my sentence hang. Tenten must have heard the echoes of my being dead last back in the days. Being a year older than me, she and Rock Lee are the only two who don't shove it in my face on every occasion. Then again, I somehow became strong enough to save the world - still sounds surreal - though to be fair, most of the might I have displayed was gifted to me, never exactly worked for. I suppose she truly didn't know what to expect. I do best when I'm involved and I'm determined to learn about her and her hobby. Also, swinging a sword around is surprisingly fun, all things told.

I take a discreet whiff of the air and hide a grimace. "I propose we go home, take a shower and meet for dinner together. If you don't have any prior engagement that is?"

The tweet of her surprise passes through me like a single wave disturbs a quiet body of water. Tenten gives me an enthusiastic nod. "Sure, why not! Let's meet in Shodai Plaza, alright? In thirty minutes."

I offer her my closed fist and she bumps it. "We have a deal," I concur. "Bring Lee, maybe?"

She puts a finger on her chin then shakes her head. "Nah, we do that us two. Will be fun."

"Okay. See you."

Twenty-five minutes later, I await Tenten on Shodai Plaza, freshly showered and dressed in a clean change of clothes. I've renewed my wardrobe a bit since the war ended. I used to have a soft spot for orange; red and yellow mix to make it after all. Yellow has lost a bit of its lustre though, so I shifted to white pants and a soft blue kimono top. The Uzumaki swirl is emblazoned on my back, scarlet.

My face is discreetly altered by a Henge, masking my most striking features. Blond hair has turned brown, blue eyes to dull green and my whiskers have disappeared. Any half-observant moron would take a second to pierce my disguise but the keyword is "half-observant". I mean, the swirl is a dead giveaway. My cohorts really aren't but that's probably because Naruto Uzumaki doesn't matter to them; only Naruto the War Hero does.

I spot Tenten - skin-tight pants in black denim that really bring out her hips and legs, a red and white top that leaves her belly button naked, her hair done in a braid and a touch of makeup to accentuate the slant of her almond eyes. Like most shinobi, Tenten is lithe and lean, corded. She has guns and she isn't afraid to use them. There's not an ounce of fat allowed on her frame, except for her bosom and bottom.

Her outfit teases it all artfully, I'd say. Kurama chuckles something that I don't dignify with an answer.

I approach her, dropping my disguise. "Evening, Tenten."

Her eyes widen a tiny bit as she gives me a glance, one that turns appreciative. I suppose I'm not too bad physically either if tanned and wild is your style. I'm missing an arm though; I've honestly no idea how unattractive it looks.

"Damn boy, you dress up nicely when you want!"

Is it appropriate to give a compliment to a girl you intend to - for now at least - keep a platonic relationship with? She just gave me one so it would be rude not to reciprocate, correct? I wet my lips and decide to voice my honest impression.

"Thank you, you look charming yourself."

Her cheeks dust pink and I detect - in relief - an appreciative ping against my sensory web. A bit of testing showed me I actually do detect positive emotions; negative ones are simply easier to sense. I think it's because they are grating, unpleasant and disharmonious; that's why I notice them immediately like you'd hear a broken note in an otherwise soothing melody.

Tenten smiles, happy and confident. "Thanks. Where are we going?"

I scratch the back of my head. It's not a date, just an outing between friends so I can have nothing planned, right?

"Honestly, I thought we could let the wind push our sail? I like ramen but I'd be happy to discover something else."

Tenten snaps her fingers and grins. "I like the plan. Have you ever had beer before?"

I shake my head. "No."

"Perfect, follow me."

The evening with Tenten proved to be a lot of fun. We might have overindulged a bit but nothing we couldn't handle. I forced myself to listen a lot and to truly register what I was told. I'm not going to lie and say it proved easy. I've been so used to seeking attention that actually paying any to someone else was a new exercise.

We exchanged on fuinjutsu, a discipline she excels at while I dabble - yet something else I have resolved to change. She talked at length about a book she's currently reading - which made me think that I really need to start doing that too. I discovered last night that she's an orphan and we commiserated and joked about what we had to go through. Remembering being given "the talk" by a bored caretaker caused us both to laugh in shared retrospective embarrassment.

I think that is when the gates truly opened. We traded silly anecdotes for a while before, the alcohol and the food helping, we tackled more serious subjects. Tenten mentioned hoping for a promotion and her want of training a team of genin eventually. Once again, I promised her as much help as I could provide. I revealed my leaving the forces; it shocked her a great deal but she understood my reasoning and offered a "sorry". She promised to remain silent. She harped at length about how everyone thought she loved Neji - which she did, only not in that way. I told her of my long-lasting crush on Sakura, how I used to make an ass out of myself and how our experiences made it evolve into something greater yet not romantic.

I have to admit, Tenten's tease about me loving Tomiko left me feeling weird in the stomach. My denying it did not seem to convince her either though it seems to me like people take a rebuttal for an embarrassed admission as far as these matters go. She spat her drink when I countered by picturing Lee and her together so we're even.

I'm still not in love with Tomiko; it's just a silly feeling I'm going through because of Tenten's suggestion. Anyways. The evening happened smoothly and very nicely overall.

Today, I've decided to make good on another resolution of mine and visit the public library. The building stands over three storeys tall. The plan is resolutely modern; there's none of the slanted roof, rice panels and wooden framework so frequently found in the oldest surviving constructions of the village. After Nagato came to fuck shit up, a lot had to be rebuilt and Tsunade chose bricks rather than wood. Less flammable.

Hashirama Senju started the collection and entrusted a fund to expand it over time, saying - according to a plaque in front of the entrance - that "nourishing one's imagination with fiction is just as important as cultivating logic with treatises". Every theoretical work that later on found a place in the library came from his brother Tobirama.

There is nothing dangerous to be found here; every jutsu and book on chakra theory advanced enough to pose any sort of threat is not-so-safely locked away in the Hokage Tower. I'm not interested in that kind of reading today so I don't care.

A large reception and orientation desk occupies the entrance hall. I greet one of the workers behind it with a smile - the middle-aged woman swoons awkwardly when she recognizes me - and I ask her if there's any way to get a recommendation. For over half an hour, she bends over backwards for me, to the point it's both annoying and embarrassing. She's pumping my oxygen something fierce. When I finally assure her for the twelfth time that, yes, I'm sure I'm okay and that yes, I'll come back to her if I need anything, I finally breathe freely.

I've got a list of recommendations longer than my remaining arm and no idea what to do with it. I eye it with a grimace, trying to find any title that Tenten might have mentioned during our discussion yesterday. I find three books and decide to begin with them.

One is a historical romance set during the era of the Warring Clans. Another is a short thriller. The third and last is a drama. I purse my lips as I critically observe my finds. I mean, why not, I guess?

The library is an elegant polygon, supported by columns sculpted like trees to honour the Shodai. The ensemble folds around a large patio. The massive roof of glass and steel interlacings is a gift from Gaara and Suna. It filters the light perfectly. I settle in a corner and let myself sink in a large cushion before I crack the first novel open. I immediately struggle with the first few pages. Several kanji I don't know trip me up and I remember why I never took to reading.

Kanji are meaningful symbols that you memorize by rote, writing and reading them again and again. You go through entire lists of them when you're young; it starts way before the Academy begins and lasts all throughout. The task entrances absolutely no one, no one actually expects children to work diligently at it by themselves, which is why their parents and teachers regularly hound, bribe and negotiate with them in order to keep them on track.

I wasn't. No one offered me ice cream when I got a full mark on a kanji test. I didn't earn the teachers' good graces - like Ino or Sakura - by competing in kanji writing competitions. No one cared enough to motivate me to learn my kanji nor give me the discipline to continuously do so. It raises a vague feeling of disappointed fatigue, of irritated bitterness, within me. I don't smother it like I'd have done a few days ago. I let it flood and wash over me. I accept this knot exists and unravel it.

Ignoring my feelings had the added advantage of me not reacting like a standard human being. Working through this anger shows me the path is no less tricky. There is an urge to seek a culprit, to assign blame. I resist the impulse as I clean the gunk from my system. As often, Konoha stands guilty. No individual solely bears the responsibility here; society simply crashed disgracefully and failed lamely.

I'm used to Konoha doing that where I'm concerned.

I create a Kage Bunshin and send my copy in search of a dictionary while I keep reading. There exists no problem without at least one solution.

I trudge through the book as I'd trudge through a waist-deep pit of mud. I nearly lay the novel down several times during the day but something keeps me going. I'm more stubborn than a mule. I never give up, to the point of being insensitive to the feelings of others at times.

I won't offend anyone by learning how to properly read though so I keep at it. I take absolutely no pleasure; it makes me sweat, I shift ceaselessly in my seat, my gaze lifts off from the pages to seek something, anything, more interesting to latch on but I persist. My clone has come back with a dictionary and he reads it whenever I don't need him to look for a specific kanji.

When the library closes, I go home with all three books and the dictionary. I need to take a shower and ready myself for dinner with Oba and Shizune. I dispel the clone and wince a bit at the welling headache that pressures my skull for a few seconds before it dissipates. I create another replica. He knows what to do and digs in the pile of scrolls, manuals, homework and every other shit I kept from the Academy. Meanwhile, I enter my bathroom and relax under the flow of hot water.

I don a green shirt and the same white pants as last evening and I'm on my way. I'm holding a bouquet and a box of sweets that a clone of mine bought during the day. I've dared to ask Tenten and she recommended I bring a small gift with me. Apparently, it is good etiquette when you're invited somewhere for the first time; Gai taught her that.

An ANBU stops me in front of the mansion and asks me to drop the flowers and the sweets. I raise an eyebrow and ask him if we should test together whether or not I can grievously injure another human being with a bouquet. The masked loon laughs (nervously), says no, pokes me in the ribs and in the face to check for a Henge and lets me pass.

Shizune opens and I smile.

"Good evening, Shizune." I feel heat rush to my cheeks and my throat dries up. I thrust the bouquet in her arms. "I, err, I didn't know what to bring so… Is it okay?"

I've sent the clone (under Henge) to the Yamanaka flower shop. No way I'm dealing with Ino as words about my resignation float around. She remains the best one to ask about flowers though (or she is the only one I know). I trust her skills. Shizune confirms it.

"It is very lovely Naruto, you didn't have to. Thank you."

She ushers me inside and we hug one another awkwardly, kinda bothered by the large bouquet and my box of sweets. I chuckle, lay the dessert on a little gueridon in the entrance and take the black-haired woman in my arms. I keep the contact brief. As much as I'd like to call her family, we know each other only very superficially and I don't want to put her ill at ease.

Tsunade is waiting for us in the biggest living room I've ever seen. Not that I've ever seen any, actually but it's five times the size of mine. Everything, every single piece of furniture carries the signature of one trendy designer or another.

Tsunade herself is dressed in a costly looking Kimono. The seams alternate between light grey and tender green, which gives the whole an indefinable colour. There is a complex embroidery of flowers running around the garment. She looks gorgeous, I must admit. I fully get why my master never settled with anyone despite her rejecting him.

"Evening Oba." I'm nervous again; I scratch the back of my neck reflexively. "It's okay, right? To call you Oba? I mean, I can always-"

Tsunade removes my hand from my head and embraces me in a hug before she kisses my forehead, like so long ago when we first met. The only difference is that I'm as tall as her now, slightly taller in fact. My eyes sting and my chest threatens to explode. I swallow the knot in my throat and manage to smile.

"Let's sit, alright?"

I nod; I can't trust my voice. Tsunade sits across from me and Shizune on my right.

I know Tsunade and I are only distantly related and I know that ultimately, blood doesn't necessarily make for strong bonds but I'd still like for it to mean something. The Uzumaki were once a great clan; I don't want the last of them to stay strangers. I think all orphans dream of a family and I'm no different. The willingness of Oba to meet me halfway both excites and terrifies me.

It reminds me of the first time I ever made a flower bloom on my little balcony. One of the happiest days of my not so great childhood, it was both magical and worrying to see this little lily, beautiful but so fragile.

"I guess we need to discuss a few things. It's been long overdue, hasn't it?"

I nod. I truly want all three of us to grow closer but some rotten blood must be purged first, some wounds must be cleaned, tended to, cared for, some questions must receive an answer. If our relationship survives this evening, I'll do my best to bring it to new heights.

My voice comes out as a whisper when I've finally gathered enough courage to speak. My mouth is dry, my tongue weighs a ton and my guts twist chaotically like a Rasengan.

"Why did you never say anything?"

Tsunade cries a tear of howling sorrow and crushing shame. Her feelings barrel into my empathic strings with as much strength as one of her punches. The shock leaves me rankled and silently crying. She squashes it under her thumb and takes a deep breath to steady herself.

I wake up in a bed that doesn't belong to me, in a room much too spacious to be mine. My head pounds mildly. It takes me a few seconds to recognize the guest-chamber of the Hokage Mansion.

Right, Oba insisted I sleep here for the night. I lie down and exhale slowly.

We said a lot of things last evening. Some of them hurt but they needed to be let out. My feelings remain conflicted. Why didn't Tsunade ever say anything to me about the Uzumaki clan? Why didn't she ever mention the fact we are related, even if only distantly? Why didn't she give to a rootless orphan the means to embrace some? She knows that she cannot lie to me. I appreciate the fact that she didn't even try to.

Tsunade admitted that she feared I'd leave much earlier if I discovered what I had been deprived of. That my justified anger - she insisted on that word - would overwhelm my good disposition (that she suspected wasn't entirely normal). That I'd abandon the village in a time of crisis, forcing her hand as the Hokage to have me hunted because of my status as a jinchuuriki and the plan of the Akatsuki.

That I'd get myself killed before ever being ready and that she wouldn't have been able to survive it.

Then, after the war ended three months ago, Tsunade became afraid. She knew her silence, though well-intentioned on her part, had been ultimately manipulative. She feared I'd resent her but couldn't find the courage to face me, despite knowing the fact that things had been revealed to me.

It is hard to settle the turmoil of my emotions. Anger lingers like poison in my chest; my frame tenses under her bitter counsel. Disappointment impregnates my every thought and turns them into sour grumblings; I taste bile on my tongue. I believed Tsunade was "on my side" - whatever that means, I can't explain it either. Her not telling me anything hurts like betrayal. I can acknowledge her intentions and the logic behind her reasoning all I want, my emotions are still here. It'll take me a while to let go of it permanently.

I could never outright hate Tsunade. She saved my life when we fought against Orochimaru and Kabuto. She entrusted me with a dream and her most precious heirloom afterwards. By doing that, she became the first person to ever acknowledge me truly. Her gift was the first I've ever received and it went beyond a simple trinket; it meant I had worth.

Iruka's words and his giving me his hitai-ate during the Scroll of Seals incident never felt as genuine. Today, I know that it's because the buried part of me always suspected foul play, at least to a degree. A loyal shinobi of Konoha couldn't allow the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi to go haywire. That's not to say Iruka didn't have some affection for me but he also had to appease me and ensure my apparent loyalty as it had just been seriously shaken.

Tsunade was different. She merely thanked me for pulling her out of the spiral she had let herself be caged in. She merely thanked me for allowing her to believe once again. She didn't act out of duty but of real affection. Her kiss filled me with an ineffable warmth, one that I'd only explain years later when my blood mother appeared to help me confront Kurama. It acted as a balm for my heart and taught me - even if I didn't understand it at the time - what it meant to receive a bit of motherly love.

No matter what, she's my dysfunctional wine mom and I love her.

"If you realize that, why fold your head in eight over it all?"

I sigh at Kurama's question. "Because it still cuts. Everything turned out alright in the end but I can't help but think. When Mizuki told me about you, the shock nearly killed me. What if I hadn't met either Namikaze or my mother through the seal? What if Tobi had chosen to come and taunt me with the identities of my parents? What would I have turned into?"

"Wondering about such things is moot."

"I know. Is a "sorry" enough though?"

Kurama hums. "If you decide so, then I suppose it is. That is not what torments you."

I roll on my side and gather my limbs against my chest as I cast my gaze downwards. "But if it is that easy, why can't I… Why shouldn't I love Konoha or Namikaze?"

"Because I don't think it's the same. I saw the truthfulness of your words when we faced one another. I decided to let go of the past, including our past interactions and willingly gave your offer of friendship a chance."

I hug my knees tighter but chuckle. "You used to be so mean."

"And you used to treat me like a mindless beast of burden."

"I'll never apologize enough for that."

He answers me with a foxy smirk. "Maybe, maybe not. What I'm getting at is that if you want to love Tsunade, then love her. If you don't want to love Konoha, don't. I might have let go of my resentment towards Hashirama and Mito but it doesn't mean I'll ever come to love them. Yet, I've accepted you as a friend. Why should you force yourself to feel one way or another?"

His words fill me with so much soothing warmth that my eyes water for a second. My conundrum returns quickly enough, unfortunately. "Because it doesn't feel fair," I sigh. "She hurt me, so did Konoha." I gesture at the empty air before me. "If I forgive but still accept her as part of my life, shouldn't I do the same for Konoha?"

"Should you? Should sentiments be fair? I think emotions are ultimately driven by selfishness. But I'm only a thousand years old so what do I know?"

I laugh out loud and my anxiety melts into a smile. "Thanks."

"If you need a more causal justification, I suppose I may provide you with one. You said it yourself, Konoha never truly meant anything positive to you. Tsunade did. Before her continued lie by omission, before the pain unveiling it caused you, you loved her. You even acknowledge that she meant well."

"But she didn't do well."

"You make it a dichotomous choice when you don't have to," says Kurama patiently. "Both intent and action matter. I didn't have the most functional family and we hurt one another a lot." His tone turns weary and regretful. "Even before Indra became so twisted by Zetsu that we lost him."

I hug his paw and meld parts of my chakra with his. He huffs gruffly but his countenance softens once more.

"However, we apologized to one another, forgave our slights and kept loving one another. You can do the same with Tsunade. Or not. It is your choice."

I embrace Kurama around his neck, take a fistful of his coppery golden fur; love and gratitude overwhelm me, welling up from the most profound roots of my being. I feel for him something that mirrors whatever bonds me to Konohamaru. I've never been taught this most precious lesson and it brings with it a levity I've never known. It isn't that a weight has been lifted off me, it's that I was finally shown I could run, jump and reach for the sun. In my bed, tears burn my eyes and roll down my cheeks like liquid fire. My chest heaves in relief as silent cries tear through my throat despite it being painfully sewed shut.

"Thanks, brother." I sob.

"You're welcome."

AN: This concerns the next chapter rather than this one but do keep in mind that this is an AU and a Divergence. Some dynamics aren't quite the same as in the original because of various changes (past and current).

Leave a review and all this kind of stuff.