Author Note:

Hi All.

It seems I have managed to get a chapter out today but as mentioned previously, I can make no guarantees of having the chance each day.

It is because of my potentially sporadic schedule over the upcoming few weeks that I have uploaded this on the weekend rather than on a weekday like usual.

Anyway, no promises but I will continue to do my best to update each day.

Thanks for reading,

Cbehrills

REBIRTH OF THE LEAF – QUESTIONING PAST CHOICES

Later That Night, The Hidden Leaf Camp, Naruto's Hut

Hinata approaches the outside of the wooden shack nervously. These temporary accommodations were created by Senju Hashirama to house the villagers while the anticipated Captained Six challenge approached. That seems like so long ago to Hinata now as she looks over the fine wood. It seems to have aged very little and it has endured incredibly well, yet despite that, it feels old.

The shack that she approaches is the hut that has been assigned to Naruto, her lifelong friend and the man who was destined to become her husband in the future. Whether their journey to the future has changed this destiny, neither one knows, that is the source of Hinata's concerns. Coming to the future may have changed this fate that she had dreamed of for many years.

Swallowing her nerves, she knocks on the door and enters. "Naruto" she calls to her children's father as she walks towards him, "Aren't you coming to the party".

The party in question is the party to celebrate the village's survival, the survival of the people the invaders refer to as 'locals'. This celebration is only possible because of the hard work and strength of the seven people who fought in the Captained Six contest. More so than anyone, Naruto was instrumental in winning that contest. Many people pointed this out to Hinata, prompting her to visit Naruto and enquire about his absence.

"That, I have something more important to be doing, don't you remember". The grinning shinobi points to a guest visiting his hut.

Hinata is quick to recognise the guest despite the age difference since the last time they saw one another, this is Teuchi's daughter, Ayame. Upon recognising the guest, the next thing the Hyuuga clanswomen recognises is the smell. A familiar smell that she has not experienced since coming to the future, it's the smell of Naruto's favourite ramen.

Finally, Hinata remembers why she is here, what Naruto's important arrangement is. They had agreed to eat ramen together.

Ayame raises two bowls of ramen into the air as if to confirm this interpretation, bringing a smile to the face of Hinata. To her it is touching that Naruto remembered this arrangement. The 7th Hokage has had many issues to consider, his son's contrasting philosophical opinions, his disciple's near death during the contest, winning the contest against a General, even Himawari's Birthday should be higher up Naruto's concerns list than this dinner. Despite that, he has remembered it.

Ayame places the two bowls on the table. The chef offers her cheerful wishes before departing, "Enjoy your first date".

"Thanks" Naruto waves to his friend as she leaves.

His gave hovers on Hinata for a moment before he stands up and walks around to the other side of his small table. It is not an impressive peace of furniture, designed for functionality and nothing else but it is all that is required for this occasion. He pulls Hinata's chair back to offer her the seat.

"Thank you" Hinata mouths as she sits down in front of her bowl.

Naruto returns to his own seat before excitedly raising his chopsticks into the air. "Thanks for the head" he cheers as he digs into his favourite dish.

Hinata smiles to herself as she watches Naruto's enthusiastic mannerisms manifest themselves. It has been too long since he could freely act without thinking. Ever since arriving in the future, each of his actions have required careful consideration, each of his decisions have had the weight of thousands of lives behind them. This pressure is more than a 17-year-old should have to experience but he has thrown himself into it anyway. To Hinata, this smile, this behaviour is incredibly precious, especially after everything they have been through.

As the conversation between the couple comes to a halt, they notice the loud music that has become a backdrop to their meal. The villagers are singing songs loudly and joyfully, praising their shinobi and lady luck for saving them from a terrible ending to their life. The music has no rhyme or rhythm to it, instead it is merely the delirious chants of a village intoxicated by the miracle of their own survival.

"Sorry about the choice of music" Naruto sweatdrops as he looks towards the door.

"I really like it".

This isn't a lie. The situation has changed the meaning of the music, it is no longer about the rhythm or the melody, instead it is about the emotion behind it. The emotion is, in this moment, at an all-time high for the villagers of the Hidden Leaf.

Naruto flashes a smile, understanding and sharing the sentiment, "I see, I'm really glad".

The villagers stop singing, as if to ruin the moment but then another voice raises above the crowd. The voice announces that a special guest will be singing for them today, giving them, a wonderful performance inspired by a professional musician. That is promising, up until the genre is announced. The special guest is going to rap for the villagers.

"Don't tell me it's…". Naruto begins shouting to Kurama.

"There is only one person it could be" the nine-tails replies with an amused look on his face.

The song finally begins and as both Naruto and Kurama had expected, the lyrics were truly dreadful and uninspired. The situation is comparable to a fan kicking a professional from the stage and performing her music really poorly. This tells Naruto all he needs to confirm his suspicions, Boruto is singing.

Upon the start of the song, Hinata turns around on her chair, looking towards the wall between herself and the performer. She clearly recognises the voice and upon identifying it looks to her Hokage with a questioning look.

"Apparently Old Man Bee taught him how to rap" Naruto says as he points in Boruto's direction.

The Hyuuga clanswomen begins to laugh hysterically. As if she didn't know, there is nobody other than Killer Bee who could inspire rap this poor.

"You wouldn't believe it but Himawari actually likes this music". Her father shows little sympathy with her tastes as he rants about the change in culture the future has experienced, "It looks like it actually caught on".

The mother of the family takes a moment to reflect on the accomplishments of her children. "They are incredible, aren't they?".

"Himawari looks just like you and I've started to see a lot of your habits in Boruto as time has gone on".

"I've noticed the same thing. They share your drive Naruto, your desire to succeed, no matter what their platform".

A smile adorns the face of the blonde shinobi, "I guess they are our children after all".

"Yeah…". The pause in Hinata's speech drags on as her smile turns into a frown. She looks Naruto dead in the eyes and asks him a question. "Will he be OK?".

Naruto starts at the change of tone.

"Boruto, earlier he seemed really angry at you" Hinata explains as she fidgets with her fingers, "The way he was, it reminded me… well, it reminded me of Sasuke at the end of the war".

Naruto smiles as he comes to a quick answer. "He will be OK".

"How can you be so sure?".

A quick scratch of his chin helps the 7th Hokage to explain himself, to formulate a reply that will convey everything Hinata needs to know.

"Because I'm his father".

For the first time since raising the subject, Hinata's mood improves, her lips curl slightly as she considers Naruto's point. He is right. If Naruto refused to let Sasuke lose himself for so many years because they were friends, then there is no way he would allow Boruto, his own son, to lose himself either.

"Naruto" she whispers.

"Yeah?".

"Ramen tastes much better with you".

"I feel exactly the same way, Hinata".

A Forest Clearing

The calls of birds and insects fill the air and the surroundings are lit by the full moon hovering in the middle of the sky. The second sun is the perfect medium to illuminate a meeting of shinobi. A crisis meeting in a time of peace.

Tsunade looks to her left, her eyes resting on the son of her teammate, on Orochimaru's son, on Mitsuki. Behind the scenes, Mitsuki has played a vital role in the Captained Six challenge. It is Mitsuki's hard work that facilitated the transfusion of power from Obito to Kakashi, a power that would prove vital in the final match.

Then she looks to her right with irritation. "I told you, you don't need to come with me, Dan".

Dan shakes his head with a smile on his face, dismissing this ridiculous suggestion even quicker than Tsunade has attempted to dismiss him. "And I told you that I'm with you all the way. No matter what, I'll stand by you, Tsunade".

The 5th Hokage comes to realise that there is nothing she could say to dissuade her partner, such is his determination to support her through this difficult time. "Thank you" she sighs.

"So" Mitsuki asks with an intrigued, wide-eyed smile, "What did you want to see me about?".

"Mitsuki, was I really the Hokage?".

Dan knows this is an issue that Tsunade has been struggling with, due to her lack of participation in the contest. All the other Hokage had been involved with fighting at one point or another. The 1st and 2nd competed, it was agreed that the 3rd would fight only for him to pass the duty on to his granddaughter who he trained. The 4th would have fought if not for his poisonous injuries, he too passed the duty on to a grandchild. The 6th had competed and been vital in the contest. The 7th had been the most instrumental of all, the man who made the breakthrough thought to be impossible. Lastly, the 9th, she had fought and won.

All the Hokage had been directly involved, but her.

"You were the 5th Hokage" Mitsuki confirms.

"I did nothing" Tsunade notes as she screws her fist into a tight ball, "While the other Hokage were fighting or training, I did nothing".

"You know that's not true" Dan snaps as he walks up to Tsunade, coming eye-to-eye with her he places his hands on her shoulders, "You were the one who brought Naruto back to full strength, you played a vital role in our survival".

"But it wasn't enough was it" Tsunade shouts as she pushes Dan back from her, "Even with my help it wasn't enough, he had to understand the enemy's power before he was able to win".

She collects herself, cooling her rage for a moment before looking to Mitsuki, "I want to fight".

"And you want my help" Mitsuki seeks to confirm.

"Mitsuki, you were the one who helped Kakashi with his training". The 5th Hokage reaffirms Mitsuki's role as a trainer, the transformation he created in Kakashi's capabilities was arguably the most dramatic of the entire contest, "Please, help me to be strong too".

"Tsunade, it's over" Dan smiles as he places a hand back on Tsunade's shoulder, praying that this time she won't push him away. "The invasion is over".

"And what if they change their mind" she swings her arm out to the side, knocking her partner's hand from her shoulder once again, "Or what if their deception doesn't work. Surely, even if nothing comes of it, they still pose a threat to us".

"Quite right" a masculine voice comes from over her shoulder. She turns around to see the source of this voice, a man who is very familiar to her, who has shared these thoughts she is having many times.

It's Hashirama.

"Grandfather…".

"You feel it don't you, Naruto made the wrong choice" Hashirama declares as he joins the group, increasing their numbers from a trio to a quartet, "We should have killed Clyde and his men".

Tsunade cradles her head in her hand, she had not wanted a philosophical debate when she had come here, she only wants to help, to fight, not to talk. "I don't know what to think" she admits, "But I want to be able to fight back should the worst happen".

"Don't you believe that Clyde and his men are honourable" Dan asks as he holds his arms out to his sides.

Kato Dan shares similar feelings to Naruto on many and most subjects. Each of the carries on the will of fire that Hashirama first instilled in the Hidden Leaf Village, each of them does not believe in killing where it is not necessary and neither of them believes in giving up. In his mind, it is important to remember that Clyde asked Naruto not to spare himself, but to spare his men before quitting. These are not the actions of a villainous man, these are the actions of someone who walks the path of righteousness.

"Then let me ask you a question" Hashirama turns his shoulders to face Dan, "If they are able to deceive the other generals to protect us, if they are truly honourable, why didn't they do that in the first place?".

Dan closes his eyes and lowers his head, after three seconds he gives his reluctant reply. "I cannot answer that".

"What about you Mitsuki, do you trust the invaders" Hashirama questions, "Do you trust the general and his men?".

"No" Mitsuki smiles, "I trust Sarada".

Everyone has said their piece, everyone has made their opinion known and there is nothing left to discuss among them. Mitsuki quickly agrees to help Tsunade with her training, so that she can be ready if any other trouble arises. Each of the foursome head their separate ways, each with a new understanding of the opinions of their counterparts, each of them with a newfound respect for the viewpoint that differs from their own.

The Same Place, Later that Night

Hashirama chooses the same place to meet his pupil. Amongst the trees swaying in the wind he reunites with Uzumaki Boruto, alone together for the first time since Naruto made the decision to let Clyde and his men live. Since Hashirama gave advice to Boruto on how to overcome his obstacles, Boruto has reached a new level of power. By following the 1st Hokage's advice, by giving into his rage, he unlocked the Tenseigan and won his match in the contest. Following Boruto's increase in power, he requested Hashirama take him on as a pupil, they were united by their common ideology that they should carry out the wishes of the dead, that they should exterminate the invaders.

"You still doubt my father's decision?" Boruto questions his master with a raised eyebrow. It's not that he doesn't agree, it is simply that any agreement reached on this subject would be of little use to them at this moment.

"Of course" Hashirama replies without even looking at Boruto, "They could still change their mind and decide to kill us. Naruto is just like me, he will drop his guard around someone he considers a good person and then the leaf would die".

"I suppose so" the shadow Hokage admits.

The wood-release user turns to face Boruto and raises a clenched fist in front of his face, waving it once before dropping it to his side, "We need to prepare Boruto, we need to be ready for their next attack".

Boruto simply nods. Preparing for another attack is absolutely the most sensible thing to do, not even Naruto and Sarada would argue with that.

A shake comes from the nearby bushes.

A surprise arrival emerges to the shock of both Boruto and Hashirama.

It is a captain!

The captain has a crazed look in his eye as he leaps towards Boruto, his hands both stretched out in front of him as he thirsts for the blood of the man who just yesterday was a sworn enemy. Again and again he calls his enemies name, "Uzumaki Boruto! Uzumaki Boruto! Uzumaki Boruto!".

For whatever reason this captain is attacking him, Boruto isn't going to stand still while he is attacked. With a thought, his eyes flicker, switching from their normal shade of blue to a pattern of blue and white. His Tenseigan activated, Naruto's son raises his hand until it is parallel with the enemy, he prepares to use the Tenseigan's power of repulsion to throw his enemy away.

Before Boruto can activate his powers, a familiar looking captain leaps from another bush and tackles his crazed counterpart to the ground. "Are you insane!" the newly arriving captain shouts. The voice and face come together and Hashirama finally realises who this man is. It is the man who accompanied the shinobi to their hill, it is Captain Dred.

"Let go of me!" the crazed captain screams as he claws towards Boruto, "Let go of me, Dred!". No matter how much he stretches and claws, it is hopeless, Dred is the captain closest to reaching the Colonel level, there is no way he would be overcome by a fellow captain.

"Sorry, this attack hasn't been approved by our superiors" Dred shouts as he drags the crazed captain away from Boruto and Hashirama, two people who firmly believe he should die, "This guy is acting by himself, he's acting against our orders".

"It's because of him" the captain yells hysterically as he points at Boruto, "It's because of that guy".

"Why" Boruto asks curiously, not knowing any reason this captain should have a personal grudge against him, "What have I personally done to you?".

"I've met you before, Uzumaki Boruto. I've killed you before, Uzumaki Boruto" the captain once more tries to break free of Dred's grip and lunge towards Boruto but he is unable to, no matter what he tries, he cannot attack. "You're a damn ghost, you should be dead, you should die!".

A series of images from Boruto's past come flooding back to him, to one of the most emotional moments of his life, the moment when he woke up surrounded by a collection of his allies corpses. That day he had lead them into battle against a group of captains and only he had survived.

"I remember you" Boruto gulps as he runs his Tenseigan's gaze over the captain's face, "It was that day, you were the one who killed all of my subordinates".

Hysterical laughter, as if he doesn't value his own life, the crazed captain laughs in Boruto's face about the deaths of his subordinates. "That's fight, you lead the fight for the locals, and I lead the fight against you".

"But you died" the captain laughs to himself, "You died, you all died, I killed you myself. You're a ghost!".

"I never died" Boruto explains, "I was the sole survivor".

Dred finally manages to start dragging his comraded away, but that doesn't stop him from kicking and screaming. "No, you were dead, dead. You definitely died, Uzumaki Boruto!".

"You are a ghost, Uzumaki Boruto!".

As the sound of voices finally leaves Boruto's ear, a hand claps him on the shoulder, turning around he sees the calming expression of his master. "Are you OK?" Hashirama asks genuinely, "That guy did kill your friends after all".

Boruto cradles his forehead with his hand. "Yeah".

'Still, it makes no sense'.

'It never made sense that I survived that day, there is no way the enemy would let me live'.

'He must have been right, he must have checked. That day, I must have died'.

'But if that's the case… how am I here now?'.