Harbinger

by tigerowl

Naruto's friendship with his teammates Gaara and Haku is put to the test as they prepare to deal with the threat of the Akatsuki. The secrets Jiraiya has kept come to a head, and Naruto must shoulder the responsibility of protecting much more than the Leaf Village. Continuation of Forlorn. AU NaruHina, GaaSaku, NejiTen, ObiRin, OCs *Taoism, Self-Indulgent World Building, longfic

40. Anathema

Note: In this chapter— Neji and his uncle experience the unchained spite of the hawks in the Hyuga clan! Naruto's Sage Training takes an unexpected turn! A tense meeting with Kurama and a never-before-seen Toad Sage!

Chapter 40- Anathema

Chapter Soundtrack: "For the Best" by Gregory and the Hawk

Low rumbles traveled down the long corridors of the Hyuga house. It was the morning after a propitious introduction between Tenten and the head of the clan. Many clansmen had set out to attend to tasks and mission assignments, Neji being no exception.

He could hear distant discussion; voices in the far parts of the house as he prepared to depart for training with his team. Neji neared an exit to the Main House's engawa and then stopped, feeling a prickle of intuition.

A short silence in the home was broken by shouting that rattled the rice paper door beside him. Wide-eyed, Neji tried to imagine what on earth the source of commotion was. He peered uncertainly down an interior hallway, hesitant to confirm the feeling in his gut. Something was amiss.

Perhaps against better judgement, he followed the passages of the house toward the sounds of discord. Neji arrived at the portion of the home that Hyuga Main House elders inhabited, stopping guardedly near the closed door of a tea room. He wondered if it was acceptable to use the Byakugan and determine who the arguing parties were. One of them, by the sound of it, was his uncle Hiashi.

Then, the door slid open after a minute of quieter discussion, and Neji blinked in surprise as the tall Elder Haburo exited the room. Neji glimpsed his uncle seated at a low table with other elders, ready to rise and leave as well. Hosuke commanded Hiashi to remain, as those gathered were not done conversing with him. Haburo shut the door and leveled his gaze on Neji.

The old man's face had lost nearly every trace of fat and elasticity it knew in its youth. Lines were deeply etched into his skin, and his sharp, white eyes drooped noticeably at the corners. His gray hair was tied in the traditional style, but today Haburo was dressed in dark, modern clothing as if to attend a village conference.

"Great grandson," Haburo let out a small sigh as he greeted Neji, "Walk with me. I am stopping at my office."

As far back as Neji remembered, Elder Haburo had never spoken to him one-on-one before or acknowledged the fact that Neji was his direct descendent on his grandfather's side. He felt wary of the old man who he had no threads of a relationship with. He followed half a step behind Haburo.

At the office near the back of the house, Haburo tottered inside on tired legs and moved to the far left window, pulling up blinds. He waved bony fingers at Neji, signaling that he shut the door. He reluctantly did so.

"Come here, Neji-kun, and get these shades." Haburo pointed out the long wall of windows, "Let some light in here. I need to see where I'm going…" As directed, Neji lifted shades and carefully watched the old man circle around a formidable desk. It was littered with correspondence. Haburo proceeded to organize it.

"I am sure you are wondering…why I have never stopped working? My peers are lazy in their retirements…and I am too motivated to sit idly." He licked a fingertip to flip through a multi-page report. He glanced up at Neji again, with the faintest, ghostly expression of affection on his face.

"You are 17 now, your uncle tells me. You are of age to fully assume responsibilities in the Hyuga clan." Haburo noted, "Ah. If I could remember that age…or what it felt like to be strong and young…17. Then, I was busy fighting wars, and providing for my late wife and first child. Days that were bloody and overcast...leaving us weary. Shortly after that I became head of this clan." He dropped documents in an outgoing tray, "Things happened so fast."

Weirdly, Neji could kind of relate. Haburo detected the empathy on the young man's face.

"Do you feel that things move fast, Neji-kun?" Haburo asked him.

"At times it does feel that way." He conceded.

"Ha! And imagine being my age while feeling the speed of life— I turned 90 this year." Haburo was dryly amused, "You have an adult perspective now, and you are interested in finding a spouse and assuming your duties as clan leader, I understand. It will be upon you quicker than you know."

Neji maintained a respectful distance from the desk, regarding the elder who was a conspicuous and persisting antiquity of his bloodline. Neji took a moment to think about how he had snorted and rebelled at the last meeting with clan elders, wondering if that behavior left a sour impression on them. Haburo had been willing to advocate for him, more so than Hinata, at any rate. Neji wondered how Haburo felt now. He seemed willing to talk and express himself. Maybe this was a resource he had overlooked? Hyuga clan elders and their viewpoints, so often vilified by Hiashi and Hideyasu…Neji was not so sure he could ignore them after all.

"Have a seat." Haburo motioned to him again, and they sat in chairs on opposite sides of the desk, "There, that's better. You look me in the eye, Neji-kun. Quite unlike little Hinata and Hanabi…who dislike me so…"

"They have different preferences in the company they keep." Neji spoke on their behalf, "I don't think they have any personal objection to you, Haburo-sama."

"Yes, perhaps. They are social in outside circles, I can see. Fujita-kun is skittish as well." The old man tapped his chin, "What a generation. Like sparrows that scatter..."

Neji tried to keep his face as inexpressive as possible while trying to figure out what this was about.

"Neji-kun," Haburo announced, "Frankly, you are one of the softest people I have ever met."

A bolt of alarm woke Neji up a bit more. He didn't understand.

"You have been pampered and well-cared for by your foster guardian, raised up from the Branch and treated as an equal…" Haburo's mouth slanted in irritation, "How do you expect to repay the kindness of elders who gave you that chance…to live such a life? Have you ever given that thought?"

No, he had never given it thought. Neji hardly knew how to form a sentence involving that admission. He stayed mum.

Haburo sighed while rummaging around a drawer for something, "And your cousins are recalcitrant and ungrateful for their freedoms. So very spoiled…" He tipped a bottle of peppermint spheres into his palm, "None of you have ever spilled blood in a war. You have never subjugated Branch members engaging in an uprising. Never traded your lives for a greater cause; never for more than the instant gratification that young people seek…"

Neji watched in astonishment as Haburo scooped a few peppermints into his mouth. He was very nonchalant about his disapproval.

"When your uncle called for a meeting this morning, while thinking on my way there, I realized that my grandson Hiashi facilitated this bloated privilege that my great grandchildren misuse. So I was compelled to silence Hiashi's request before he could even make it— just as soon as I sat down." Haburo elaborated serenely, "The last time I granted Hiashi a favor was when he and Hizashi discussed repayment to Kumogakure in the death of that idiot emissary on our property."

He was aware of Neji's shocked staring but continued shamelessly, "I sympathized with Hizashi's sacrifice and respected it. By elevating you to the Main House of our clan, I believed it was a gesture of gratitude to Hizashi that you would one day reciprocate to the Main House. Though you haven't yet done so…now I know how I want you to return the favor, Neji-kun."

It was about then he tried to speak up, as if to mention some feeble example of a contribution, but Neji was cut off again.

"You will bring our clan back to its former condition and leadership. Back to strength. Neji-kun, you will complete Sealing lessons under my tutelage to understand our restraint seal, and how best to control Branch members. You will also honor the covenant I recommended." Haburo reiterated, "We elders agreed this morning that you will select from and marry within the Main House of the Hyuga clan and carry out your duties. This shift in ethos will combine your talent with the clan's vision of the future."

"Whose vision of the future—?" Neji continued to speak even though Haburo raised his hand to silence him again, "Yours? I intend to repay the Hyuga with kindness, but such a choice leaves me no choice at all—"

He felt a slight poke near his ribcage from Haburo, which had traveled through air. The old man's Jyukken was subtle and mild, but it made his point clear. Shut up. Neji did.

"You do not have to abide by the vision if you do not believe you can serve as the leader this clan needs." Haburo assured him, "You can repay your debt by rejoining the Branch Family, Neji-kun. That is what you were born into and that is where you belong. Only by my intervention is that not the case." His voice hardened, far less amicable, "Choose wisely. Your decisions will affect your immediate family, one way or another. I have had it with Hiashi and Hideyasu's games— your games by extension. Such are frivolous rackets, and that is not in the Hyuga clan's best interest. It has been in your interest. You will no longer shame the Hyuga with your personal pursuits."

The silence in the dusty, sunny room was razor-sharp. Neji seethed in dread.

Haburo spoke again with a hint of smugness, "Did you really believe you are better than all the rest of the Hyuga clan? As a prodigy with talent that we, supposedly, have not seen before? I assure you it has been seen before." He went on, "Did you really think you have dreamed up a future for this clan that no one before you has envisioned, Neji-kun?"

The old man leaned forward over the desk, watching the youngster, "You are not the first to think that the Caged Bird Seal should be done away with. Not the first to be raised from the Branch to join the Main Family. Nor the first, reciprocally, of the Main who will have been relegated to the Branch." Haburo, for his age, was intimidatingly sound of body and mind; it was clear when he stood from his seat and loomed above the clan heir, "Decades and decades of leadership in the Hyuga clan have seen all kinds of wanton stupidity like yours. You dared threaten me and my peers, claiming death was a gentler option than what we suggested to you?" He scoffed at Neji, "That is something your father also thought, no?"

Neji bristled furiously, "Do not drag my father's memory through the mud of your rhetoric, great elder."

"Oh Neji…tens of others just like you, before you…more skilled than you, more popular than you. They are gone." Haburo pointed out, "I am still here."

"Does that honestly speak for their incompetence, or was it your sacrifice of those who came before me?" Neji wondered boldly.

"See for yourself." Haburo offered, "Our brothers in ancient blood, the Uchiha clan…who refused to fit their clansmen with failsafe seals to avoid violence and calamity…" He happily shamed the Uchiha for comparison, "And where did it get them? Where did their lack of control deliver them to? Self-discipline and caution are the hallmarks of longevity. That is what the Hyuga clan has known as we watched our brother clan burn itself from the inside out…destroyed by its own heir, no less."

He was grinding his teeth and considering a verbal onslaught to unleash on Haburo. Unfortunately, no good points were coming to mind. Neji felt a landslide of helplessness slip down his esophagus into his stomach, roiling his insides.

"Think on it." Haburo told him. With his bony hand, Haburo pointed to the door, marking Neji's cue to get out. Woodenly, Neji rose and left the office.

The only thing he could think to do was to return to where he last saw his uncle. Thankfully, or maybe not thankfully, all of the other elders had vacated the tea room. Hiashi and Hideyasu were still occupying it, Neji glimpsed with his blood limit. More than likely they were reeling from the same news.

Neji quickly entered the room and shut the door behind him, just in time to catch some of Hiashi's vocal fretting.

"He's leveraged my daughters." Hiashi lamented what had come to fruition, ignoring Hideyasu's 9:00AM pouring of wine into a rather large glass, "My grandfather, understanding soul that he is…he will send my children to the Branch if he does not see my nephew do his bidding."

"Here. Come on now." Hideyasu caught a flailing arm and fitted the wine glass in Hiashi's hand, "I need you to let this slow you a little, Hiashi-sama. Then we can get constructive."

Neji was bewildered by the sight. Was this a coping mechanism he had never witnessed before? Had they just been good at concealing it?

Hideyasu noticed Neji's arrival, "Oh, gosh, Neji— here." He poured more wine.

"It's morning." Neji reminded him. He moved around the low table to take a seat beside Hiashi, who was sadly sipping the alcohol.

"I know. This must be what mornings in Hell feel like." Hideyasu imagined. He helped himself to the drink that Neji turned down.

"We are all…more disposable than I realized." Neji admitted, stilted.

Hideyasu and Hiashi turned to him at the same time, equally rattled.

"…was that the point?" Neji asked quietly, "That the Head of the Hyuga…is in fear of disobeying our elders? Enacts their will out of necessity and self-preservation?"

"I'm sorry." Hiashi shut his eyes, trying to calm down, "That is the way."

"Will Haburo-sama…do that to Hinata-sama and Hanabi-sama?" Neji ventured further.

"He can, and he would create the necessary justification for it to quell outrage." Hiashi confirmed, "My grandfather…sent Hideyasu's sister, Hizome, to the Branch for disobedience. It happened when you were a child, Neji. As recently as then."

"And he's threatened my other sister, Hikamei, and I with that promise as well." Hideyasu spoke mournfully above his glass, "Now you can see why we don't get much done in terms of forward progress."

"Were you going to…explain this to me?" Neji was a bit perturbed.

"Yes. I had no idea that today would be the day." Hiashi admitted, "I have no more leeway with my grandfather. I cannot call his bluff. He has no qualms moving us to the Branch so that he can puppeteer a new leader…someone more pliant, like Fujita or Hanabi, if he so chooses."

"Well, not Hanabi." Hideyasu laughed morbidly, "She's as good as Branch-sealed, with that mouth."

Neji tried to grasp this new reality, "How do I stop it?"

"He must have told you how to do that." Hiashi guessed, "Grandfather spoke with you, didn't he? Surely he gave you his terms. Those are the only terms that will ensure the safety of my children. If you choose an option other than what he provided…"

"I won't." Neji spoke protectively. The situation was godawful, but he at least had the power to keep his cousins out of the crossfire.

Hiashi's shoulders slackened a little. He set his glass down on the table and let his eyes stare off despondently.

"What did he ask you to do, Neji?" Hideyasu inquired.

The words flooded back to him. The putrid, degrading demands. The insults. He had never felt so small in his life. Neji did not say anything for a while, still digesting what Haburo expected of him.

When he had the willpower to speak again Neji asked, "Did you mention Tenten at all?"

"No. Not by name or explanation of eligibility. I was told to drop the subject in favor of hearing out my grandfather's message." Hiashi informed him, "I have no illusion that they would have reacted favorably, had I been allowed to address it. Please forgive my failure."

"There is nothing to forgive. It is no failure of yours." Neji wasn't sure how he was supposed to console anyone else. He was on the verge of a mental derailing himself.

"She would have been a refreshing opportunity…" Hideyasu sighed and polished off the wine glass, "I was glad to see Tenten here last night. Fujita and Kayato couldn't stop talking about it…now what do I tell them?"

"The truth." Hiashi offered somberly, "Do not let anyone in our family misunderstand. This extortion is what our tradition is rooted in. Don't let our children live their lives ignorant of this practice." He glanced at his nephew again, "I never wanted for you…to enter an era of disappointment and disillusionment because of our clan, Neji. I regret not being able to prevent any of this. I hope you understand that I won't risk the futures of my daughters. I hope you can come to terms with what my grandfather asked."

"You won't like it." Neji warned.

Hiashi's face dropped. Hideyasu took the cue to pour another glass.

"I will see it done, but I…" His voice cracked slightly, "I am expected to serve the Main House and its interests only. I will be…trained in proper use of the Caged Bird Seal. I will choose a spouse from the Main House. If I decide not to meet those requirements, my alternative was to join the Branch Family." Neji bowed his head, "…I need some time to think. I don't know what's right."

"Dear God." Hideyasu spilled a spot of wine on his pants, horrified, "No matches with the Taketori? The Sarutobi? The Senju? Anyone else? Our own blood…"

"Yes."

"So he does intend to control Hinata and Hanabi, in some capacity." Hiashi observed, cooling off as he realized what the scheme was, "And he's denied you other options."

"Utterly." Neji took a breath.

"I am not one for advocating for a particular match, however…" Hideyasu rubbed the back of his neck anxiously, "Hikamei is 36 years old. Overdue for marriage, in Grandfather's opinion, although she never had interest in being wed…perhaps she will agree if you explain to her how dire our circumstances are?"

Neji just looked at him. He could hardly believe they were entertaining the arrangement.

"I respectfully ask that you do not consider your cousins." Hiashi added, "But do consider the importance of you remaining in your position. No matter what is said, elders underestimate what you will be able to do as a leader of this clan. Neji, I believe it's best if you endure and see to the changes we so desperately need."

Hideyasu chimed in, "Haburo-sama is old and he won't live forever. No one else on our council of elders is so strict and conservative. The rest will be more open to listening to you and finding middle ground."

Hiashi nodded, "This is an important time for someone like you to stay engaged with our clan. Do not surrender your potential influence because of Grandfather's threats."

"I will bear that in mind." Neji agreed.

"Very well. Take this day to…rejuvenate. Or at least make sense of our 'great nobility' and how we of the Hyuga contort sense into fear. I pray you won't let that continue to be the legacy of our clan." Hiashi advised.

Upon leaving, Neji figured that Hiashi and Hideyasu did not care what hour of the day it was. They would consume the wine down to the last drop in the bottle. They had finally shared the heavy burden with him of what it meant to be the heir of the Main House. What it took to navigate the whims of draconian elders and conforming to their standards. Old men that perhaps even threatened and intimidated each other into keeping their timeworn ways.

Neji finally made it to the porch and tapped his shoes on outside. He had already made up his mind that he could not face his team like this. Not while he was a prisoner of his own brain. He went through the motions of Baguazhang on the house's lawn in an attempt to relax and hear his thoughts more clearly.

How had he not seen the big picture for so long? He'd been wrapped up in other things, Neji conceded. Haburo had some valid points. He had never given consideration to the thoughts and ideas of clan elders. He treated them as old, fragile satellites instead of resources. Only now did Neji understand why no one could rely on them as fountains of knowledge. They sought to control every facet of the Hyuga. Not just the Branch, but every last person on the playing board, moving chess pieces around according to their strategy. Haburo was a remarkably skilled player.

His first and strongest instinct, Neji noticed, was to remain. To keep going. To not be cowed by this threat and setback. Either he was brave by nature or it was bravery born from pride. He was smart enough to learn the game too. He would become leader and manage what he could, and have patience, waiting for the day Haburo went to sleep and never woke up. That was when he could campaign for bolder changes with elders, and not a moment sooner.

Yet the drawbacks of this decision were incredibly limiting and painful. Neji thought about it; palms up, arms bent, stepping in easy circles that Wong Leung had demonstrated.

Naturally, being forced to choose a partner from among three Main House peers meant that he could potentially damage the aspirations and well-being of his cousins. Not that he would ever sanely consider them, but it felt worse that Hikamei, who he barely knew, would have no choice but to agree or be complicit in Neji's poorly made match with a closer relation. It bordered on a cruel joke, on Haburo's part.

What came like a rushing undercurrent in his thoughts was the complete ineffectuality of Tenten's presence. Since he had already chosen to remain clan heir, Neji had automatically written her off. He pondered over it, surprised to conclude that she would agree with him if he told her all of this. She would understand why he couldn't stay in her life, or at least, not in the intimate way they had established. As a practical person, Tenten could look at the facts and encourage him to continue on the path he'd embarked on. She always had. Neji felt confident that she would not advise him otherwise.

He felt queasy. Neji had not bothered to eat anything. He also felt that maybe his train of thought was altogether wrong. Trading the future he wanted with someone he loved for a blood relation more than twice his age…was probably a horrible idea. No matter the benefits, there was going to be a catastrophe at some point related to his personal feelings.

Neji stopped practicing forms and stalked off. What a tragically beautiful summer day it was, a perfect day for his clan elders to smother hopes and dreams with verbal feces and intimidation. He left the Hyuga estate and went up town; taking side streets to be sure he would not encounter any of his teammates. They would be done waiting for him at the training field and out looking for him by this time.

He arrived at the village's central cemetery for departed ninja. Neji, half-crazy with anger, stopped at his father's grave and dropped his hands at his sides, accusing the headstone and symbolic, empty space below, "You did this."

Birds chirped in the peripheries from manicured trees and shrubs.

"You facilitated all of this. You put the idea in Uncle's head to foster me in the Main family. You traded yourself to Cloud. You wanted more for me, and then I was given more than I could possibly handle…more than anyone can handle, it so happens." Neji balled a hand into a fist, "Father, you are not as selfless and good as I remember. Now I see how willing you were to let me hurt."

On the far side of the cemetery, a well-dressed man was laying a bouquet of flowers on the headstone of the Fourth Hokage. He had not noticed Neji at all as he set out in the direction of town again, leaving the graveyard empty. Neji stood alone in the space, processing rage and frustration.

"What were you thinking? How could you be more willing to die as a decoy than to live for me? What could I have gained in your absence, after you assured me you would stay with me? Insecurity. Acrimony. Skepticism. The sense that you're a liar. The sense that mother didn't die the way you said she did. Maybe everything you said was to make things easier in the moment." He dug his heel into soft soil, incensed, "You've left me this mess. So I can stretch myself thin trying to fulfill some obligation to you— to make you proud, to honor your memory. At how many people's expense will I achieve that? How many people I care about will be hurt because of what I must do?"

Neji added a clipped barb, "How can you rest peacefully in Heaven watching this mortal devastation?"

A summer breeze seemed to answer, rustling tree tops. It cooled him off a little.

"What did you want for me?" Neji wondered, "I have no idea…I thought I did. Am I supposed to learn of your intention now? Should I look back on these events and reflect, and then tell you what I've learned?"

He wandered into the hypothetical.

"That all ways are wrong ways. That our clan is despicable. That as much as I want to help it, I want to erase it. And…" He took a breath and shocked himself, "That is…what they also think." Neji wondered if he was insane or if he had found common ground with his elders, "So that is your point. I am the architect of these problems far more than you are. We all must be held accountable. How does anything I do matter, then?"

The anger seemed to evaporate and was replaced by something else; something he had not felt in a long time. Neji recalled what it had been like to settle into a three-man team without Tenten. How he had felt anxiety, longing, and sorrow, but then it had felt manageable by comparison. Now the weight of everyone he missed was oppressive, stinging his eyelids, making it hard to breathe.

"Why do I love someone if I cannot have her? Why was I hopeful? How do I reconcile with the end of the most important thing I've done?" Neji tried clearing his throat, staying somewhat dry and calm, "I don't want to end it to start something meaningless instead."

Rather than saying it out loud, Neji apologized in his head to Hyuga Hizashi. Hardly anything was his father's fault. He walked briskly out of the cemetery and would have felt stupid if not for the fact he felt much, much worse than stupid. He was frail and heartsore. Having a one-sided, accusatory conversation with his dead father was probably more normal than he wanted to own up to.

He traversed streets and back alleys, staying unseen. Starving near mid-day, Neji stopped near the central quarter of the village beside a freshwater stream. It was an area where Wong Leung had made him and Lee perform ridiculous balancing exercises in the past. He halted on the bank and controlled his breathing. For all intents and purposes, he had un-made up his mind. Neji had no pull in any single direction, as every course of action was distinctly unappetizing. What was he supposed to tell his uncle in the next few days? Roll dice and assign a decision? He was getting to that point.

Neji realized there was one thing that would take his mind off of this detestable subject. He sank down into a balanced prayer crouch on one foot and folded his hands. His least favorite exercise would distract for a while.

Several blocks south, the gathering of old timers playing checkers timed out for the day. The geezers dispersed from their playing tables in the Han Ethnic Quarter, destined for other parts of Konoha. Wong Leung bought the day's paper from a local newsstand (printed in Nihongo) and walked toward home. Of course, he spotted someone familiar beside the stream near his house. Wong curiously ambled over to see why Neji was by himself as opposed to working with his team.

Wong Leung stopped behind him and got no reaction, though he was certain Neji had detected his presence. Kitten-paw, he greeted Neji with a Hanwen nickname. That did not register so Wong tapped Neji's shoulder with the rolled up newspaper. He rose from his crouch and shook loose.

"Neji." Wong Leung greeted again, "No team?"

He shook his head. It was obvious to the old man that he was upset, and did not want his teammates to witness it.

"Troubled?" The old man wondered.

"Shifu…" Neji took a chance and opened up, "I have to make a choice, and the only two options I have are terrible."

Wong raised his eyebrows, "Oh?"

"This is something I should deliberate on before bothering…Lee and Tenten." He explained.

I know how such a thing feels. Wong related in his mother tongue, adding in Nihongo, "Do you know what I said?"

"That you have also felt that way." Neji presumed, gleaning a few key words of Hanwen.

Yes. Wong Leung nodded, Could you tell me about it?

No, I can't. Neji sighed and used minimal Hanwen, shoulders slumped.

It would be too long of an explanation. Wong understood, So then…I will tell you of my own terrible choices that I had to contend with in the past, and which one I chose long ago.

Surprised, Neji wondered if he properly understood what had been said, but Wong Leung indicated that he had.

At a time like this, don't you wish to know how I made my decision? When I was younger I was much more foolish. Wong Leung went on, And I still had Lee's father with me, then. My only child. His name was Wan Kam.

"Lee's father?"

Another nod, Oh yes. Wan Kam was a street fighter and con artist in his youth. He was a hedonist who used my Wushu to profit. Wong Leung recalled, Wan Kam was beloved to me even when he did wrong. He would pretend to learn from his mistakes to make me happy…but in time I often discovered that he hadn't.

"He was dishonest."

This part may be a bit more difficult for you to understand, but let's see…Wan Kam was always looking to line his pockets. While we lived in the Kingdom of Han, in Shanhu, my son convinced me to join his business venture in Nihon. The Third Great Ninja War was raging and had created opportunities for foreign merchants and businessmen, Wan Kam explained. He said I would attract many Wushu students there if I opened schools, which were not doing so well in Shanhu at the time. Wong Leung checked to see if Neji was getting it.

"You came here for opportunity." Neji gathered.

That's right. To the Fire Country. It was a long journey, and after we arrived in Tanzaku Quarter and completed deals for the buildings we would renovate for my schools…I learned that the property was all ill-gotten. Wan Kam had not told me that it had been stolen or that previous owners had died in war. The old man folded his arms behind his back, I found it completely unethical. It made me hesitant to finish opening my schools. And in no time at all, legally bound owners returned to discover our squatting and had us removed. I could not speak Nihongo or find work. Day laboring was all that I could do to feed my family.

Neji had for the most part understood, and wondered, "What did your son do at that time?"

What he did best. He and his girlfriend Pui Yee conned money and stole from many victims in this country. They partook of drinking, debauchery, and frivolous entertainment. My son sponsored music events and illegal fighting rings. Tasteless, loud music that he thought was a window into the rest of the world. Wan Kam thought that I did not look at other continents and nations and see opportunity in them the way he did. But I knew all he looked at were the popular drugs and Rock music of those countries. He smiled sadly, I knew I was losing him. When I pleaded with my son to follow a virtuous path and make an honest living…he always blamed me for everything.

Some of the concepts were a bit too abstract in the language for Neji to fully comprehend. He got half of the gist, supposing Wan Kam did deceitful things to survive, and that he also had a spouse.

Then he was a father. The least thoughtful one there ever was. He named Lee after his favorite music. Said he would take him around the world and show him the sights. Make him a Wushu star… Wong sighed wistfully, It was not long before Wan Kam grew tired of the responsibility. He and Pui Yee quarreled endlessly about the difficulty of raising a child. When they finally agreed to sell Lee to a buyer in the Tea Country, I could not take it anymore. I had a physical blowout fight with Wan Kam, trying to instill virtue and compassion in him in the exact wrong way. He felt no remorse over hurting me that day, breaking my bones and spirit… The man's lips quivered emotionally, My son told me…he never needed me. That he always hated me. He could make his own way. He shut his eyes, And in exchange for the last bit of saved money I had, Wan Kam gave Lee to me.

Neji watched the man and swallowed thickly. Little of that was lost in translation. He especially noted the part in which Lee was handed off like a bargaining chip to a heartbroken man.

That was the money I had worked for…to go home. Home to Shanhu. To get away from this place…and its strange ways and selfish people. But I…could not part with Lee. Wong Leung ran his hand under his eyes, dabbing at moisture, So I gave up that hope. I let Wan Kam and Pui Yee take my money to conduct their deals in the Kingdom of Han and Sindhu. At least then I was free of them…but I had to settle down and learn how to adapt to a place I did not call home. It was frightening to raise another boy after I had…raised such a rotten one once before.

Neji shook his head, "Your son's cruelty is not a reflection of how you raised him. Not if Lee is anything to go by."

Wong Leung chuckled through his tears; Do you really think so, Neji? I have never been perfect. Certainly not a perfect parent or teacher…and at that time I had thought I made a mistake not taking my chance to return home… But I realized that being with Lee was the right choice. I impressed upon him strict rules and morals, and made my love for him…quieter, subtler... He concluded, Though I have no doubts that my grandson loves me. No matter how grizzled I've become...I take great comfort in that he never once said he didn't need me.

Neji stewed on what he had understood: that there was clearly love between grandfather and grandson. He watched a cupped leaf float down the stream, hearing Wong Leung make a rattling sigh as he relaxed.

"Do you hate being here?" Neji wondered, "That you can't return home to what you knew?"

I don't really hate this place. Not now. Wong Leung admitted, I hated that I felt worthless for so long. That my son hurt me and made me believe…no one would care who I was, where I was from, what I thought…that the Hidden Leaf Village would never need the likes of me. The way Wan Kam didn't need me.

"You can still open a school if you want to." Neji reminded him.

With what money, Kitten-paw?

"Mine. Ours. Whatever my team can provide for you, it would be adequate thanks." Neji shut his eyes, "Dreams should be chased."

You sound as if you are planning to stop chasing your own dream. Wong Leung noticed, Don't sell me dramatic words of support only because you are going crazy with grief. Come now, boy. What's happened to you?

He didn't want to spell it out for the old man, but could share partially, "My ignorance finally caught up to me."

"Ah." Wong said.

And… Neji recalled a useful phrase in Hanwen, I am afraid.

Your clan has…high standards and expectations. Though your uncle is a decent enough man… Wong observed nonchalantly, But there may be some that want you to think you have no value. No choice. The way Wan Kam made me think for so long.

They exchanged a glance.

Do we really want to believe that? The old man asked.

With a wane smile, Neji shook his head and accepted Wong Leung's reassuring clap on his shoulder.

Take a hot bath, eat dumplings… Wong recommended as he strolled back in the direction of his house, And tell whoever is afflicting you to fuck off all the way back to their first ancestor.

Neji guessed that the parting remark had incorporated profanity, but it had been too sophisticated for him to decipher. He peeled away from the stream and set out for the Hyuga estate again. Neji had no motivation to train or to ask for a mission to distract himself. Though Wong Leung meant well and provided him with a listening ear, he was feeling marginally worse after hearing the anecdote.

It was rather strange sitting in a tub in the Hyuga's communal bath in the early afternoon. His tense muscles fought him, refusing to loosen. Not a single soul dropped by the bathing area while he sat there for a long while in silence, meandering through his options.

After that ineffective remedy, Neji dressed and wandered aimlessly around the clan property. He passed by the farthest yards where he had practiced Wind Release with Hideyasu, regarding the stumps and chips where trees had once stood. Neji circled 'round past the Branch quarters, noticing Hideyasu's youngest sister, Hizome, who had been expelled from the Main House.

Hizome was seated on the porch and wiping her youngest child's hands clean with a cloth. Frowning, she nagged at the boy, Tsukuru, to read his Academy Entrance Exam guide more and play in the mud less. Her elder son, Hirokazu, muttered at his brother and ushered him along into the house. With a stern look still on her face, Hizome turned and stared at Neji as he stood on the gravel path.

"Did you drink with my big brother this morning?" She snarked.

"I abstained." Neji confirmed.

"Good. He'll become a lush while resisting the pressures of our elders. Hideyasu hasn't stopped by to tell me what the problem is yet…" Hizome cocked her head at Neji, "But I bet I can guess."

He felt more resigned to it, "You'll find out soon enough."

"I suppose that I will." She was the feisty type, starting to grin, "Don't look at me like my life is horrible. I've lived exactly as I want to. What more can those old men do to me? Kill me? Lock me away? My husband is in the ANBU and he would be delighted to intervene."

Neji crossed over to the porch and sat beside her, "Is he the reason why you were expelled?"

"I am the reason why I was expelled." Hizome corrected him, "I was told to do many things I had no desire to do. So I married without permission and lived away from this estate…and when they dragged me back for my insolence, and I refused to apologize or dissolve my union, I smiled at Grandfather as he attached a seal to my head." She tittered to herself, proud, "Now look at my three boys! Nyozeka, Hirokazu, and Tsukuru…I can't enjoy life without them. Their father is fiercely protective of them."

"I should like to talk to him, sometime." Neji noted of her husband, whose name he did not know.

"He's busy. I apologize I've never properly introduced Masanari to you, Neji-sama." Hizome sighed, "Are you…preparing yourself? To join our House?"

"I think…I might be." He admitted.

"Ho ho! What have you done?" She snickered in amusement.

"Nothing yet." Neji pushed up from his seat to stand, "But like you, there are some things I cannot agree to do even when our elders mandate it."

Hizome waved a hand to get his attention before he continued on, "Neji-sama. Do you think I still matter even while I am a member of the Branch?"

His eyebrows raised slightly, surprised by the question, "I do think that. You and Hirokazu, and all of your family. All of you matter."

"Then you will matter too." She stated simply. Hizome returned to the house.

Neji carried on to the Main House. The day was wearing thin, and he wondered only for a moment what his team thought about his absence. He stepped on to the engawa of the Main House to his corner room, slid the door open and shut it with a soft clack. He lethargically rolled front-ways onto his bed and then fell still.

Neji acknowledged that he was unaccustomed to coping with this level of turmoil. He turned his face to the side and breathed slowly. He could acknowledge something else after reflecting on his feelings.

He was incredibly selfish.

It was a work in progress. Neji certainly was invested in the well-being of others and advocating for them, and at the Tournament he had been determined to help as many people as possible. But in the end, these steps forward towards selflessness and compassion concealed his desire to keep everything valuable he had attained: his status as heir of the Hyuga clan, his influence in the Main Family, the respect of his friends, and the woman he loved. Once one of these critical stations was compromised by Haburo's threat, Neji had been quick to throw away the other gains he had made.

Neji tapped his thumb on the bed spread, growing frustrated with himself. It was deplorable. How he'd straightaway cast aside his free-will choice of Tenten as a companion. He had done so as if she had never endeavored or struggled to stay by his side— as if she had never had pains or losses of her own. What he believed was the unthinkable option, joining the Branch, was easier to evaluate after shedding the initial panic he experienced that morning.

Life would resume, albeit on a lower social rung. This did not disagree with him since he'd had humbling lessons over the last few years. Tenten's companionship was also a boon to him, and simultaneously negated one of Haburo's bids to control Hinata and Hanabi's future matches. Even Hizome's explanation of what had happened to her was comforting. She was doing well. Though she was still at the mercy of elders and had to curb her willfulness for the sake of her family, Hizome was satisfied with her choice. Neji was aware that whether or not he was in the Main House, he would be subject to Haburo's tyranny in some form.

But why was it still so frightening? Why did the prospect tear at his guts so, if he could rationalize that life would still be worth living?

Neji thought back to childhood, on the day that Hinata had frantically, in her chirping, squeaky voice, tried to remove him from harm's way after learning what fate awaited him. That she and her gaggle of misfit friends had been concerned about his imminent subjugation. Naruto hardly knew him then, but had gladly vouched for him and his chance to be free.

It was then Neji felt the distinct feeling, the childhood terror that still lingered…that he understood no one could protect him this time. Naruto and his fellowship would not parade onto Hyuga grounds to defend him again. And no amount of convincing on his uncle's part, or honoring the wish of his sacrificed father, was going to sway Haburo.

Knowing the root of his fear, dated and irrational though it was, seemed to clear the decision up adequately.

Neji rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He would do it. He would join the Branch. He would stay with Tenten. He would deny Haburo some of the satisfaction he wanted in pairing off his troublemaking great grandchildren.

Shortly after that he shut his eyes and continued to ruminate on the knee-knocking uncertainty of it all, Neji slipped from consciousness. He slept, worn out from worrying and thinking.

Later, he woke in the evening and sat bolt upright. Neji blinked hard and fussed at his eyes. His heavy heart had completely wasted the day and made him useless. What could he expect to achieve tomorrow?

"Neji-sama," A voice spoke through the door.

Neji acknowledged the visitor, and the bedroom door opened when Kō poked his face in, "Are you feeling well?"

"I am not." He was honest.

"Your family has already taken their evening meal. Hinata-sama told me you were asleep." Kō informed him, "I'll have dinner arranged for you in the first floor tea room, if you're interested in eating."

Neji could feel his churning, empty stomach on the cusp of growling, "Not in the tea room. I will eat in here."

Kō covered up his stupefied look quickly, "Oh. If you prefer that, certainly. Is there anything specific you want?"

"Rice and herring." Neji went to his standby favorite comfort food, and then added, "And dumplings."

Kō smiled a little, "Of course. I'll be back shortly."

Wong Leung had said to eat dumplings. Maybe good could come of the suggestion. He lazed about on his bed for a moment before rising, raking his fingers through his disheveled hair to order it and retie it.

Well. He felt awful. Just about as awful as he had ever felt, if memory served. Though the trepidation of his choice to join the Branch Family was abating somewhat, Neji wondered if actually talking about it would clear away the last of his reluctance. He glanced out the window and saw new dark. He had missed sunset. Who would be available to listen to his dirge of discontent? Certainly he could not subject Hinata to it, and Hanabi lacked the maturity to sit through his reflection if it lasted for more than three minutes.

Perhaps his uncle and Hideyasu were anxious enough after the day's events, and it would be premature to share this decision until they checked in with him first? Neji rubbed his forehead and exhaled roughly. If he spoke to Tenten about it, he would have to prepare for an argument when she would inevitably tell him to forget it and hold his head high; to move on from her. Though he wouldn't listen to such a demand, Neji was concerned that Tenten may resent his motion of surrender in joining the Branch. She was nearly as hard-headed as he was.

Neji shuffled things around on his desk and then stopped. Oh.

Lee.

Lee would listen. Lee had always listened. And he could provide objective insight on the matter while still sharing in his pain, because Lee was the 'empathy extraordinaire' of Konohagakure and also happened to be his friend. Underneath the youth, enthusiasm, and teary-eyed dedication; Lee was the best friend who he could not do without.

"Huh." Neji said to himself, crossing his room and thinking that maybe Lee had better things to do right now. Like have supper with his fantastic grandfather. Or generally unwind from a long day of training that Neji had skimped out on.

But since he had helped carry Lee home on the night of the festival, when he'd been too high to put one leg in front of the other to walk…Neji imagined that Lee wouldn't mind paying him back this evening.

At the porch exit, Neji slid the rice paper door aside and startled. Outside, Lee also looked spooked. He had his hand poised to knock on the frame and announce his presence on the engawa. Since Lee was able to close his mouth first while Neji continued to gape, Lee greeted, "Neji! I was compelled to come over. Grandpa said you were…despondent."

Neji surveyed with the Byakugan briefly to confirm that Tenten was not around. Then he rested his eyes and moved aside to let Lee into the room. Neji shut the door and groaned lowly. The coincidence bordered on a psychic connection.

"I did not tell Tenten I would be here, although I do not think it would matter to her." Lee filled him in, "After training today she had many orders to fill at her shop, and was eager to complete them. She imagined that you were occupied today, so at first I thought nothing of your absence…"

A small, low table at the edge of Neji's room was a reasonable place to take a seat. Lee noticed that the zabuton on the floor were still fluffy like new, as if no visitor had ever sat on one before. Neji sort of collapsed beside him onto a cushion, very unstable-looking physically and emotionally.

Lee dropped his voice to a whisper, "Was the introduction…poor? Did Tenten make a mockery of the event?" He was referring to the 'meet the uncle' dinner Tenten had recounted to him.

"Hardly." Neji sniffed, "She was impressive and it nearly made me look bad."

Lee laughed quietly.

"None of that was the problem." Neji assured him.

"Then…your uncle did find her to be agreeable? Ah! I am very relieved to hear it."

"In spite of what my uncle thinks of her," Neji leaned back to rest on the nearby wall at his back, "There were other complications that made her ineligible."

Lee just stared at him. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Kō opened the door with his foot and stepped into the room while balancing a tray of food. He did not seem very surprised that Neji had a visitor. He gave Lee polite salutations before setting the food down and excusing himself, asking Neji to feel better soon.

Luckily, extra food items had been brought in addition to what Neji had requested. At first, Lee graciously declined Neji's offer to share dumplings as he began to explain, between mouthfuls of herring, what his great grandfather Haburo had imposed upon him that morning. Neji recounted the details of that, then the AA conference with his uncle and clan steward that followed, and other odds and ends of his extremely unproductive day.

Highly concerned and listening carefully, Lee began to wolf down dumplings even though he'd already eaten dinner.

When Neji finally came around to his final conclusion, Lee was stressed and looking at him with wide eyes.

"I decided that it's better to be with her." Neji spoke the words calmly somehow, "Joining the Branch Family seemed like a painful decision…but being with Tenten is not painful. I will be humbled and continue to work for improvement in my clan. Maybe this is what I needed all along."

Shiny-eyed, Lee spoke, "I…understand."

"I'm not sure how to bring it up to my uncle." Neji admitted before a sip of tea, "This may not completely resolve the challenges the Main House faces, but it should be a start."

"I…" Lee's voice warbled, "I am disturbed by the climate in your clan…that stunts freedom and change like this."

Neji shrugged and drank his tea. It would take time to figure out how to fight back. For now, he'd come up with the only solution that made sense to him.

From his seat beside Neji, Lee folded over above the table, adding, "And I cannot abide seeing you so upset." His face was genuinely anguished, "Your worries worry me too. Neji…I always did respect you, even when we did not see eye to eye. Now more so than ever before, I respect you…though I never…wanted you to give up the things that were important to you."

They had an unusual and amazing staredown, feeling the exact same way. Complete, mutual understanding.

"You worked hard to be the heir of the Hyuga clan. How is it that we can attain the things we strive for and then just…" Lee stared off at the wall, overwhelmed, "Have no choice but to give up?"

"That doesn't mean I can't strive for other things. I have no intention of moping or being cynical, because of this." Neji attempted to console him, "I'll have more important aspirations now. I could be freer than I've ever been."

"But what if your dishonorable elder tries to intimidate you while you are in the Branch? If he hurts you? Tries to stop you from advocating for change-?" Lee raised good points.

"Then I keep trying until I am dead, or he changes his mind." Neji supposed.

Lee was frowning but could not disagree. Worn out from the recap and conversation, Neji tilted and leaned his shoulder on his friend's. It was literal and figurative support. Lee had definitely helped.

"You have been a good friend to me." Neji acknowledged, "Better than I deserved, Lee."

Lee sniffled.

Neji further observed from Wong Leung's story, "I am grateful that you were never able to join your parents on their sybaritic journey around the world. You've been needed here." He clarified, "I need you."

"Eh…hem." Lee was choked up and cleared his throat, "I am surprised to say…that I am also glad I could not join them."

After gathering empty dishes onto the tray and deciding to call it a night, Lee wondered before he left, "Should I not tell Tenten about the things we discussed?"

"No," Neji shook his head, "I will tell her myself tomorrow. She needs a full explanation."

Lee gave an affirmative bob of his head and bid Neji goodnight, setting out into the dark from the side door of the room. After that, Neji transported his tray to the kitchen of the household and left it near other settings to be cleaned. He looked around the house for his uncle, but ran into Hideyasu first in the corridor.

"Ah, Neji," The man seemed tired but somewhat content, "How are you doing?"

"Anxious…but lucid." Neji told him, "I want to tell Uncle that I will be joining the Branch Family."

A shocked expression froze on Hideyasu's face, and he took a moment to process the statement, "That is…your choice to make. We all know that."

"I will tell him now." Neji was about to continue on but Hideyasu barred him with an arm.

"Now is not a good time to speak to Hiashi." Hideyasu warned him, "We've been…well, all day it's been a circus of distress."

"Then when should I—?"

"Wait until after the full clan meeting in two days. It was pushed up to 10:00AM on Tuesday and so…Hiashi can take the rest of the day to digest your decision, after that." He recommended, "Your uncle probably won't be too upset or try to stop you, Neji. It is brave to fly in the face of what my grandfather says…and no matter what; I know you can help change things around here."

Neji thanked him and was surprised when Hideyasu attempted to scurry off towards his wife's dressing studio. Neji followed behind him, "Don't you have time to tell me what to say? How do I address it with Uncle or our elders? What if they protest-?"

"Now, now, Neji…not tonight." Hideyasu waved him off, "I have quite a bit to attend to at the moment, and an appointment first thing in the morning. Everything can wait until after the clan meeting. Rest assured that I will help you."

With that, Neji had to accept that he would not get everything addressed in a single day. He turned back to his room, snapped off the lights, collapsed in bed and knew no more.

---

Earlier that same day, shortly before noon, Naruto was devoting daylight hours to showing Hinata around the Toad Valley. Rather, he was touring around while on a break from Sage Training, and Hinata saw the sights and made small talk with their minds overlapped.

Naruto heel-toed across the thin trunk of a bouncy, horizontally bent palm tree. "Have you started taking missions yet?" He asked himself, but it was directed at his cognitive companion.

Only one mission so far. Hokage-sama has devoted much of our time to resolving Tournament clean up and reporting. I think next week she might give my team a tracking assignment.

"That's not a bad start." He hopped away from the rubbery tree, down to grass, "Are you still wearing that amazing outfit, Hinata?"

I-I-! It was damaged so Kayato-san is going to sew the tears when she can…but it's summertime so I'll still wear shorts and sleeveless tops.

Naruto's lips curled mischievously, "And your vest?"

Yes, but I don't think I want to wear it all of the time. Mostly for serious missions.

"I can just imagine how good you look..." He snickered with his eyes shut, listening to her stammering, bashful reply.

They passed behind the back of an enormous house that sheltered the mountain's largest toads. Hinata marveled at the assault on her senses: big and small houses and plants juxtaposed, sharp scents from the citrus grove around the bend, the constant vibrato of cricket song, the tickle of butterflies roosting on Naruto's shoulder. Though she dared not look down to see how Naruto was dressed for the muggy summer heat, Hinata had a sense his shirt was little more than fishnet material.

Naruto noted, "Man, this is like the hottest day ever since I got here. Are you doing okay?"

I'm fine because you're fine. Hinata paused to amend, I think.

"Phew. Hot. I'm on my way to the lotus pond and just wait 'til you see those flowers, Hinata." Naruto chirped merrily, "So! Has anything interesting happened at home lately? I feel like I'm just about on the verge of Natural Energy balance."

That's wonderful news, Naruto-kun! The only interesting thing that happened was…yesterday, Neji-niisan brought Tenten-neesan home to introduce her to my family. Hinata's voice trilled excitedly in his head, Dinner felt a little too formal at first, but later I could tell that my father liked her very much.

"Well that's good. Then Neji won't have to sneak around to date her, right?" Naruto reasoned.

No he won't, and not just that…I think Neji-niisan always wants to be with her.

"Yeah, he's pretty stubbornly steadfast. I'm still kind of shocked that Neji got a woman to put up with him at all." Naruto observed, just slightly off topic.

Naruto…I mean that he might want to settle down with her.

Naruto accidentally kicked the top off of a large mushroom as he walked, "Wha— seriously? Neji? He has a heart that beats warm human blood—?"

Naruto-kun, don't joke! He really does love Onee-san!

"This is just sooo weird!" Naruto laughed, "You don't think he's gonna get married before I come home, do you?"

Oh no, no, no! All of this takes time. But I can tell that he has thought about it already.

"Wow!" Naruto was pleased as pie, "Good for him. I can't wait to tease him mercilessly."

Hinata's giggles echoed between his ears. At the end of the path, Naruto was happy to show his girlfriend what the pond looked like in the daytime for a change. Marvelous, pink lotus flowers floated serenely on the water's surface. A snow white heron waded in the mud and pond grass, looming above unsuspecting fish.

"Might as well show you what I usually do when I come out here!" Naruto pulled his top off and stripped down to undershorts, "Hinata, have you ever cannon-balled before?"

She was dizzied by the sudden disrobement, Oh, I…um! I-I've never-!

He left his clothing on shore and hurled himself into the pond with a running start. Hinata switched between tittering nervously and laughing, a faraway, disembodied sound that Naruto heard as he surfaced. He stroked over to a giant lotus petal, "Sorry if that was sudden. I just can't stand sweating my butt off all day. It's worse when I'm trying to meditate and, you know, I can't do anything about it."

As he had seen Jiraiya lounge around in a similar manner, Naruto relaxed in the curve of the petal while Hinata commented on the aroma and oddness of such an enormous plant.

I wish I had this at home. She sighed.

"I know. There's a lot of neat stuff here." Naruto agreed, "I'll try to remember to bring back some of Ma's amazing plants, or ask her to bring them over to you. They're great for medicine. I haven't had a single rash here that couldn't be fixed."

Hinata liked the idea, Please do! The bulbs you sent me are doing very well.

"There's more where that came from!" Naruto pinched his nose and front-flipped into the water again. He surveyed with open eyes the transparent, green-tinted aquatic environment, then fixated on an axolotl paddling above multi-colored pebbles below. Hinata squealed and demanded to know what the creature was. It was cute.

Naruto came up for air again, swimming for the stony bank, "You know, I don't know what you call that thing…but Kosuke said he's a nice guy…"

That would do. Naruto made land and clambered up stones stacked beside the pond's falls.

Climbing upwards, he took care to avoid slipping. Naruto made it up a small incline that recessed into a shallow, eroded den of marble, overgrown with vegetation. He snuffed a bit of water up his nostrils after passing through the curtain of the waterfall, but Naruto shook his head to clear himself once inside. "Whew. Gotta make sure I don't break my neck coming up here. Toads make it look easy…" With careful footing, Naruto maneuvered over smooth stones and took a seat on a flat spot, looking up at the cavern ceiling's skylights that let in sunshine and drops of excess water.

This is…beautiful. Hinata adored the charming, dripping hideaway, Do you come here often, Naruto-kun?

"Just twice after Kosuke showed me." Naruto confirmed, leaning back and stretching lazily, "If I want to get Ero-sensei off my back I know he can't follow me here. He can figure out where I am, but he'd prefer not to slip, fall, and drown just trying to get in here."

You don't avoid him all the time, do you?

"No…no. Everything's alright now. He explained a lot of things to me that…upset me. But I'm glad Ero-sensei told me." Naruto acknowledged, "Like my parents and all of that."

Hinata was thoughtfully quiet before asking, Who were they?

"Uh…" Naruto tapped his fingers to his chin, wondering if full disclosure of the matter would confound her, "How about I tell you everything I know once I get home? I do want to tell you, Hinata. It's just…a long, crazy story."

I see, of course! She was agreeable, as always, Naruto, I'm going to have to repot many of the indoor plants you have. Sakura-chan said she would go to the apartment with me to help! Wait until you see it! It looks very nice.

"What looks very nice?" Naruto yawned and made himself comfortable, laying back and stretching his legs out.

Your apartment. Gaara-kun paid for renovations.

"Renovations?" Naruto was cross-eyed at the news, "Like, cheap ones? Or good work-?"

Quality work! The wall that divided the living area and kitchen was knocked down. And the floors and wall paint are new…everything is so pretty!

"Good grief, that guy doesn't tell me about anything! What if I had color or design preferences?" Naruto complained. He was unaware that was exactly the reason Gaara had never asked for his input.

I think you'll like it. She ventured.

"I probably will." He half-thinkingly scratched an itch on his stomach, adding, "Thank you, Hinata, for taking care of all that. I owe you some gardening assistance when I get back."

He got no answer and realized he was looking down at his hand, or more specifically, Hinata had taken over to have a look. An itch seemed like a mundane thing to pay attention to, but Naruto considered the logistics of a visitor sharing in his experiences.

"Did that feel itchy to you? Like…you noticed it when I did?"

I think so…

"So maybe you…feel everything just as I'm feeling it?" Naruto was kind of embarrassed by the prospect. Passing gas and other such nuisances were out of the question. He would have to politely ask Hinata to cease the jutsu before something like that took place.

I think that's how it works. It's as if…I am in my own body, almost. It's still very different, but many things work just the same.

"Right..."

Also, you need to eat.

"Yeah, I'm kind of hungry!" He laughed, amused that she had acknowledged it.

You… Hinata trailed off and was silent.

Naruto was not especially concerned when his itch-scratching hand took a trip upwards, but he pursed his mouth and swallowed hard when Hinata replaced it on his neck. She was feeling around through his senses. If he truly thought it was too weird he would have objected, but not another soul was around and Naruto, for his age and inclination, was feeling indulgent.

Hinata rubbed Naruto's hand beneath his chin, detecting stubble. He was not at all like he had been when she'd last seen him. His hair fell in long spikes past his ears, overgrown even after he claimed it had been cut two weeks ago. When he spoke his voice was deeper, rarely cracked, yet it had the same upbeat and merry tone she knew well. Walking around the valley in his body from a first-person perspective revealed Naruto's new height and muscles coiled with strength. What a shame that he was away from home, endeavoring to learn Sage Arts when she would have liked to witness such changes with her own eyes and fingertips.

You shouldn't be so far away from me. Hinata thought at him.

"I know. I don't want to be here. It'd be stupid to just give up this training when I've come so far…but I think about it all the time." Naruto admitted, "Hinata…I want to spend every day with you. In person. Don't get me wrong, I like that you can use this jutsu and talk to me…it beats the heck out of waiting for letters. And I like those too, you know? I…I just want to…"

His breath hitched when she directed his hand southward, over the slick shirtless skin of his chest. The input was not more than he could bear; little different from the feeling of touch while he dressed himself or inspected a suspicious freckle. But Hinata's roaming was bold— over the navel, then his hip bone, stopping at his waistband. She did not touch anything more after that. She seemed to hover in his consciousness on standby, fluttering like a hummingbird and considering him.

Hinata pointed out simply, I've never done that.

"No, I don't think you…we never…" Naruto caught his breath, still keened back in the marble hollow, "But…uh…" He cleared his throat, "You wanted to?"

I want to touch you. If I can't do it at home, I'll touch you however I can. I've missed you! I wanted to know— She was belatedly embarrassed by her actions, A-Ahh, I'm sorry, Naruto. I'd thought I was rude and forward in my letters to you even if I was truthful…but I shouldn't take advantage like this. Not in a physical way…

"What? No, none of that ever bothered me! Keep writing honestly about your feelings," Naruto encouraged, "And this doesn't…bother me either."

It doesn't?

He gulped. Her voice was so clear in his head. Naruto could still picture her perfectly in his mind's eye, when he had seen her likeness that day at the Tournament. How could he be so lucky? To love someone beautiful and good? Someone who never failed to reach him?

Then, remembering her appearance that day was a slippery slope: her attire, her hair, her eyes and lips, her hands poised as she stood to fight— these were not conducive things to think about. As a red-blooded male, reacting to this particular line of thought was inevitable. Naruto shifted and grimaced, making a pained sound in his throat while wondering if maybe, maybe, she wouldn't notice.

Surely Hinata wouldn't perceive his pounding pulse or hypersensitive nerves. Even though she was not doing anything currently, even when Naruto knew better than to combine the vision of her with that stray touch down his stomach…he was fit to snap. He thought it idiotic on his part, after he had established that if she could feel an itch…she could definitely feel arousal too. Not that she would recognize or understand it, at first.

Are you alright, Naruto?

He was splayed backwards, pointedly not looking at himself for fear of giving away the boner.

"Yeah, just…you know…" His voice cracked terribly, "I feel fine. I wonder if you don't have anywhere to be today?"

Father cancelled training with me this afternoon. I might garden or go somewhere with Hanabi.

"Yeah, yeah, not a bad idea."

Naruto. She was noticing nerve endings that she had no exact equivalent for.

"Maybe we should call it a day and I'll…get back to training. I can beat the heat in here and try meditating—"

You feel good.

Naruto struggled to reply to the flat observation, "Uh…so…"

Hinata made no comments. She merely listened and perceived the intense feeling.

"Pretty much a day in the life of a man…is to be annoyed by this every couple of hours…" Naruto hoped she could make the effort to understand such a plight, "I'm not trying to be weird, or to take advantage somehow, like you said-! Please know that, Hinata! This is-! It's just stupid, involuntary stuff that had better not happen when you use your jutsu and I still messed that up—!"

Hinata made a hushing sound. She wanted him to stop talking. Very puzzled, Naruto shut his eyes and mouth, in denial that she had totally caught him and he had no idea what to do about it.

His breathing was uneven. Hinata helped steady the rise and fall of his chest. After a moment she told him, I…know that this is normal.

With his eyes shut, Naruto griped, "I'm still mad at myself."

It wasn't on purpose. I know that… Hinata's voice straddled the fine line between swooning shyness and delivering consolation, Did…um…did I have anything to do with…it?

"No. Yes. Don't ask me that. Let's maintain the façade of innocence at least until I get home…" He whimpered and apologized again, "Sorry. I won't look. I don't want you to look. I'm such a-"

Bliss. It was only half a second of too exquisite a feeling before Naruto lurched back, reeling. He was not sure if it had been an inadvertent touch while reordering his limbs, an unconscious, willful act on his part, or if Hinata had experimentally felt around for the source of sensitivity with his own hand. In any case, Naruto thrashed his arm and yelped, his eyes snapping open. He bumped the back of his head on stone.

Naruto, I'm sorry-! Is your head alright? I didn't…mean to…

Naruto didn't really buy it, or rather, didn't want to believe she didn't mean it. It was hard to feel ashamed when no other soul was around to decry the nature of their encounter or his physical state. After all, human beings apologized enough for their bodies and things beyond their control— it didn't seem apropos to apologize to a bodily intruder…however welcome she was.

Naruto rolled to his knees and rubbed the back of his head until the sting subsided. "Don't be sorry," He had mellowed and allowed himself to pine a little, "I don't want to be sorry. Maybe you'll still love me if I admit it. That I think of you and get like this. That I'm a dog. You make me feel this way...I want you to touch me."

There was something high-pitched about her silence in his head. Hinata supposed that maybe she had overstepped bounds and was also not going to face any consequences for it.

She could feel heat in his cheeks as he flushed. He was making a serious face and staring out into the cavern.

I don't know why you ever thought…Hinata took a moment to compose herself, That I'd dislike it…

"When you hang out with Ero-sennin you don't see a lot of green light signals."

Her voice dropped and seemed sharper, Here, if you want. I will! I already thought about it, Naruto-kun. I'm worse than you. Let me, if that's what you're wishing for. Or I'll stay as you—

"No, no, no, this is just a bit too far beyond the natural order of things…and I know better. Just because I want you to do something doesn't mean you should!" Naruto informed her, "In person in our own bodies, well that's different…but I don't think this should be a spectator sport…ahh, I don't know."

Hinata was perplexed, Oh.

"We're both bad." Naruto mused, "Distance will do that. Bad influences too, I guess."

Is it really so bad? If we feel the same way?

"This isn't what your ability is for. And I shouldn't be an idle chump while trying to justify why I'm not home with you right now." Naruto reasoned, "How about I calm down and we can overlay again later? This is something we should totally discuss in more detail once I master Senjutsu. I swear...I will come running after that. Straight back to you. Like, brace yourself."

Hinata laughed in his head.

"Is that okay?"

Yes. All of it is. I learned something new, really. And…I miss you very much.

"I know. I miss you."

I should be going then. She sounded playful, When I'm gone…will you still think of me, Naruto?

"Silly question!" He was grinning, "You're my favorite daydream."

Rather abruptly, Naruto felt the severance of the overlap. Though he could feel the twinge of happiness and satisfaction Hinata's consciousness had left behind, she had given him his space. He crumpled backwards against a marble wall and exhaled shakily.

Though it was only natural for him to become closer to her, Naruto understood he had to capitalize on his time among sages. Even if he spent hours fooling around and chatting with Hinata through the conduit of her jutsu, Naruto realized it was still a subtraction of time he could spend face to face with her in Konoha.

"I have to get back to work. Either I'm a Sage by next week…or I really am a useless, salivating dog." Naruto tried to self-start but then looked to his left and right. The convenience of being alone was becoming a rarity.

And he'd only need a few minutes.

---

A short while after that, Naruto was still shirtless and had reported to the Toad Oil pool to be supervised by Fukasaku for training.

The old toad raised a fluffy eyebrow at him, "You've been up to something, Naruto-boy…"

"What? Me?" Playing it off was tricky because Naruto was sure he'd made a weird face.

Fukasaku frowned at him, "Yes, you. If we had begun training earlier this morning we could have avoided this heat. Where have you been?"

"Avoiding the heat." He replied conveniently.

"And now you must meditate in it anyway."

"Yup." Naruto sat cross-legged at the top of the steps beside the pool, "Sorry, Pa. I should've brought you some ice or something while you wait."

"Ma will bring me some frozen grasshoppers in a while. Our favorite treat on days like these…" Fukasaku settled down on a grassy patch and got comfortable, "Concentrate now, boy. I know you nearly have it."

He shut his eyes and cupped his palms in his lap. For some reason, the heat made relaxing a bit easier. Or, maybe it was the last traces of serotonin in his bloodstream that had calmed him.

Naruto exhaled and then entered his routine. He became conscious of his body starting from the toes and up, incrementally, acknowledging and then separating himself from physical feelings. With each increment, he felt more of what was outside. The rustle of arenga palms that sheltered toad statues, the energy and heartbeat of Fukasaku nearby, particles of pollen floating in air, the breeze in time with his breathing…

The heat was little bother, it turned out. Naruto lost track of time. His awareness expanded farther out, reaching new limits in the valley. He noticed rock spires in a field. He noticed a polished stone amphitheater beyond the residences of the valley's largest toads. He noticed the exchange of food from a mother bird's crop into the waiting mouth of her chick in a nest in a poplar tree. He was the mother bird. He was the chick. He was the tree. All energy felt as if it were one continuous, shining current.

Naruto let the current in, slowly, absorbing each bit thoughtfully. Life was a curious thing. It was so temporary, vast, and vibrant. Everything would die and start anew. Energy that had always been in the world and always would be.

He felt a trickle-down effect from non-living things. It was a deeper, stranger feeling. Microscopic amounts of water in every cell in the things around him— the rays of the sun warming him. Like she did. 'Hinata.' She was life too. She was a part of the current. He wanted to feel her the way he could feel everything else so vivid and alive.

And when he stretched and searched for that energy that he knew was so distinctly hers, Naruto felt himself get stuck. Beautifully stuck. It felt so good and simple. He was a blade of grass. He was in the flow of Natural Energy and maybe this, he wondered briefly, was the answer to everything. He was stuck. He was brimming. It felt like there was so much to know and un-know. Then, Naruto thought nothing more.

Fukasaku, by chance, glanced up from his Sudoku booklet and stared hard at Naruto. For a moment, he could hardly believe his bulging eyes. The boy was mostly stone. He was petrifying in the likeness of a toad while being over-saturated with Natural Energy.

Horrified, Fukasaku sprang and beamed his cane over the top of the young man's head. It made a harrowing crack sound and splintered the walking stick. Fukasaku gasped in a panic.

"Naruto-boy!"

With great strength, he lifted the near-statue of his pupil and laid him flat in the grass. Fukasaku exhaled a volume of water from his mouth in an attempt to rinse toad oil from Naruto's body. That did little good. No amount of smacking or rinsing had any effect on the creeping stone exterior. The Toad Sage lifted again and, with the petrified boy on his shoulder, made haste back towards his house.

"Oh Great Elder Gamamaru! All the deities and hosts of nature! Oh one, Great Spirit that moves us all— Minato and his dear wife if you can hear me—!" Fukasaku cried as he rushed, "Please-! Please help me! Anyone or anything! Don't let this boy be lost to time like so many!"

He tripped and took a spill in his yard, dumping the petrified Naruto to the ground with a bump.

Fukasaku screeched for assistance. Jiraiya and Shima hurried out of the house.

"I rinsed and I whacked but I fear he's too far gone-!" Fukasaku announced as his wife and human companion kneeled over Naruto, "Shima, your apron—"

"Nothing a sponge-tag can't save!" The old female toad insisted. She reached into her pockets and handed off paper tags to Fukasaku, quickly patting them all over Naruto.

Jiraiya rested his hand on Naruto's forehead, "Kid…? Aw, shit…kid…" His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, fearing the worst.

"I don't know if our sealing tags can absorb a significant amount of natural energy…so late." Shima admitted. She and Fukasaku sat forlornly beside Jiraiya, tearing up, "They need to be applied right away to work."

"…I know." Jiraiya gulped. He ground the heel of his hand into his eye to resist crying.

They could only sit there on the lawn on a hot summer day, helpless, as other toads of the valley scampered out of brush to investigate the commotion. Newcomers stilled and folded their webbed hands to pay respect to the lost student of Senjutsu.

A full minute passed and the veteran Toad Sages had time enough to process what had happened.

"It was a risk." Fukasaku acknowledged sadly, "We always understood that."

"He must've gone quickly, if you had no time to stop him." Shima observed, "Pa…do we…should we speak to the Great Elder? Is there no way we can-?"

"There is no way to undo this." Fukasaku stated with finality.

Jiraiya lifted his face from his hands, tearful, "I'm t-to…to bla—"

"You are not at fault for this, Jiraiya-boy." Shima chided him.

"I never should have brought him here. He was too important. I was supposed to look after him…" With a running nose the man added, "And I just sent him back early to Minato…worthless fuck that I am!"

"He is in the World's arms now." Fukasaku folded his hands and bowed his head, "At peace."

Shoulders rumbling, Jiraiya bent over to give the boy an affectionate, heartbroken pat, and pulled up the sealing tags his masters had hastily attached to Naruto. Then he stilled. Jiraiya quirked his mouth and poked Naruto's stomach with two fingers. Fukasaku and Shima gave him questioning looks.

"Er…correct me if I'm wrong, but…Toad Statues are a full body transformation, right?" Jiraiya asked. His toad companions made shrugging motions with their faces. Jiraiya prodded a graying but oddly not-crusty patch on Naruto's stomach again. The seal of the Nine-Tailed Fox glowed faintly.

Jiraiya frowned at the sight, "Honestly…I don't know what the logistics are of a jinchuriki turning into a Toad Statue."

"Let's agree that this is unusual no matter what those hypothetical results should be." Fukasaku wagered, "Perhaps the tailed beast…does not want to turn to stone?"

"There isn't very much he can do about it, is there?" Shima snipped, still upset. She leaned over and spoke to Naruto's stomach, "Well, you spiteful creature! Not willing to surrender to eternal peace, is that it? Then help the boy! Mix the natural energy with your own, you brute— you have plenty of it!"

The three balked when the suggestion was acted on. The stone coating receded slowly from the seal's epicenter, shrinking on Naruto's skin, back and back until he was pinkish and normal again. He was still very much unconscious, however. Fukasaku and Shima let out a whoop of relief.

Jiraiya rubbed his face vigorously on his tunic, in shock, "Hold on a second, Ma and Pa…this doesn't mean Naruto is still knocking around in there. When we meditate with Natural Energy, it feels like we can get lost in the flow, right? I don't know if the fox can fix that."

"I doubt that he can." Fukasaku agreed, "But have a little faith, Jiraiya-boy. I said my prayers over him and maybe we need to say a few more…"

The man let out a shaky sigh and bent down again, preparing to scoop Naruto up, "I'll bring him inside to rest. I hope we get him back."

A hand curled in Jiraiya's shirt. He looked down in surprise.

Two red eyes looked back.

"…hot shit on a shovel…" Jiraiya murmured. He gently set Naruto down and backed away carefully. Fukasaku and Shima were equally alarmed.

The young man slowly sat up and then examined himself disapprovingly, as if he expected to be bigger. It did not require a wild guess from anyone watching, or anyone feeling the chakra of the new presence, to know that Naruto was not Naruto. Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox had climbed up from subconscious thought and was in control. Kurama opened Naruto's mouth and let out an impressive, rolling belch that carried a wind with it. Natural Energy seemed to be expelled through the bodily function.

Grimacing, the jinchuriki glanced around through slitted eyes, taking stock of its surroundings.

"Here I am in the great cornucopia of fruit, toads, and pungent heat…" Kurama sniffed, crossing his arms, "And I can't even unlock my own body while that sage-wannabe-boy isn't here."

Jiraiya and Fukasaku exchanged nervous glances. Shima was bolder, "Nine-Tailed Fox!"

Kurama gave her his attention.

"Where is Naruto-boy? Is he safe and well? Return him to us." She demanded.

"I don't know where he is you purple-lipped prune." He growled, "I don't feel him. If I did, perhaps I could take a more comfortable shape and throw him into my bars for a change." Kurama braced his human hands on the ground in an effort to stand, "So who is the spiteful one you were talking to before? Surely not me. I paid attention at Senjutsu lessons and learned enough to preserve myself in case Naruto pulled this sort of stunt…" When he started to rise he fell over on wobbly legs.

Some muffled laughter came from watching toads that had gathered closer.

Snarling angrily, Kurama weakly tried to lift himself up from the lawn, "Ugh! This pathetic form! This place weighs on me—!"

"This is Mount Myoboku. It takes some getting used to." Jiraiya felt comfortable enough to approach, "So, long time no see. Last time we met you were shoving claws in my chest cavity."

"And I will again, you white sagging ballsack." He flopped over again.

"Whoa there, those are fighting words." Jiraiya chuckled, "And you can't take me right now, Fox."

"I'll take you and your prune-head masters and the whole lot of tadpoles behind you!" Kurama roared, spittle flying from Naruto's mouth as he gestured at the crowd of tittering toads.

"You are terribly outmatched and outnumbered today, Nine-Tailed Fox." Fukasaku warned him, "But let us take this moment to thank you for saving Naruto-boy."

"I saved myself."

"Based on your admission…one might say you are now a disciple of the Toads as well. You could endeavor to be a Sage, if you so wished." Fukasaku offered innocuously.

"I so wish to gnaw your face off, pruneballs."

Shima laughed at the comeback.

"What's so funny?" Kurama managed to stand on shaking legs.

"Nothing. You have creative insults and you're like a tottering fawn. You are not the scary beast I've heard stories about." Shima waved it off.

"Oh, but I am." He assured her. Kurama noticed there was saliva all over Naruto's face, and ran the back of his arm over it to clear it away in annoyance. It felt uncomfortable. He took a few steps to gain balance but appeared to be quite tired.

Jiraiya crouched down and motioned for Fukasaku and Shima to huddle in.

"Okay." Jiraiya whispered to them, "While you keep him busy by teasing him, I'm gonna stop in the house to get a sealing tag to put the Fox under. I don't have one on me at the moment."

"Of course, but even then...if Naruto does not resist the flow of Nature, the Fox could resurface first again. Or indefinitely." Fukasaku observed.

"How dreadful! What would we tell the Hokage?" Shima wondered.

"We ain't telling Tsunade shit about this." Jiraiya hissed, "We can get it under control. We can get Naruto back. We just need to make sure the Fox doesn't mess around out here—"

About then, cries of alarm erupted from the gathering of toads. Many of them scattered into the brush and residences as Kurama drew on an alarming amount of Tailed Beast chakra, glowing with a red aura.

"If you plan to say such things, Jiraiya-boy, knock on wood as you do so." Shima sighed.

Kurama had conjured up two tails of chakra, laughing, "Ha! Run you cowardly lumps! I'll squash you. I'll sink my teeth into you! I'll—!" He made a powerful leap and crashed face-first into a giant, granite cauldron of stored toad oil.

"He's as coordinated as I am when I'm piss drunk." Jiraiya observed, "Hold him off for now, Ma and Pa. Don't let him bust up Naruto's face too much. I'll be right back." He set off for the house.

Fukasaku and Shima waited for Naruto to slide down from the giant cauldron before they bounced forward, hoping to grapple the Tailed-Beast into submission— but were thwacked away by a chakra tail for their trouble. Kurama rolled and skidded in the grass but picked up speed, charging for them, "Don't expect to stop me-!" With Shima's assistance, Fukasaku clotheslined the incoming jinchuriki with a tongue and flung him flat in the grass.

"If we fight you in earnest we may hurt Naruto-boy," Shima explained, "And if we hurt Naruto-boy, or if he dies, your life is forfeit as well, Nine-Tailed Fox." She hopped away before a chakra tail came smashing down over her.

"Don't lecture me you raspberry imps!" Kurama spat, standing again, "You can't hurt anything if you're dead." He went still and focused, hands balanced at Naruto's sides and mouth ajar as particles of energy were gathered.

The coagulation of light and dark particle chakra frightened the Toad Sages, who were not at all pleased that Kurama was aiming for their house. They gathered Sage chakra in about the time Kurama accumulated a rather modest Tailed Beast Ball of energy, and rushed with sliding tackles to send Kurama akimbo. The jinchuriki fell but loosed the freakish chakra attack, and the ball soared far before tapping a lush mountainside at the valley's edge. In a blast of light it exploded, leveling the once majestic slopes on the horizon.

Fukasaku was furious, "How many lives did you extinguish with such a thoughtless act, Fox?"

"Some toads and bugs, no doubt." Naruto was bent double in pain when Fukasaku tore into him with Frog Kumite punches. To salvage the situation, Shima gave the jinchuriki a mighty spin with her tongue before landing on him with a comet-kick, grinding him into dirt.

A lull passed in which Naruto heaved himself to his feet, sputtering, eyes shiftily watching Fukasaku and Shima on either side of him.

"I'll blow this place to hell. Don't tempt me!" The Fox threatened, "Father used to say this was a sacred place, but it's just a ramshackle storage cupboard for your sake and oil! I wouldn't be caught dead training here!"

Shima was stymied by the remark, not sure what 'Father' the Nine-Tailed Fox was referring to. She noticed Fukasaku's cue to attack, and she moved in time with her toad husband to jellify Naruto with a Frog Call Sage Art. Whether it was skill or by accident none could be sure, but Kurama fell over again a sixteenth of a second before the sound waves could grace his ears. As he rolled down the hill, Fukasaku and Shima had paralyzed each other with their jutsu.

When Jiraiya returned with his sealing tag, he discovered Fukasaku and Shima feet-up in the grass…and Naruto was rolling away down a mushroom slope.

"I think a mountain blew up." Jiraiya noted, shielding his eyes to squint over the distance, "Did he do that?"

"Yes." Shima squeaked.

"You guys okay? This wasn't his doing. I'll flatten him out." Jiraiya offered.

"Th-the…" Fukasaku spoke up, "Theater."

"The theater?" Jiraiya gave him a puzzled look.

"Going to…the theater."

"Ah, that's right. The outdoor theater." Jiraiya nodded, "Yep. Looks like he's headed that way. I don't suppose…that kid of yours is still working on it, is he?"

Shima was loosening up slightly, "He'll never finish building it."

"He'll definitely never finish it if the Fox wrecks it." Jiraiya observed, "What do you say…we let the Nine-Tails be his problem for now?"

---

The jinchuriki stumbled over laid bricks and cut stone, down a few steps in a wide amphitheater almost as large as a sports stadium. The Fox glanced around, hatching a plan to escape. It seemed as if the Toad Sages and Pervert had stopped pursuing him, and if he picked any direction to hurry in, Kurama supposed he could escape the valley and its saturation of Natural Energy.

One clumsy step made him trip and crash into a wall, knocking down a series of carved sconces and cracking them apart on the brick floor. Kurama would have thought nothing of it had he not immediately felt an irritated poke on Naruto's left calf. He looked down between his legs to see a small green toad in a colorful brocade jacket. The toad blinked up at him, with purple markings under its eyes.

"You payin' for that?" It asked.

"No." Kurama tried to kick the toad but stumbled over again.

"You break it, you buy it, buddy." The toad riffled around his jacket pocket and drew out a small moleskin notebook, "What's your name, eh? That Naruto kid. I've heard about you. I'm marking you down for 500,000 Ryo. An extra 90,000 for trying to kick me."

"I am the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama." He bent down and clacked his teeth at the toad, "Not Naruto. Naruto is gone. I don't owe you anything, not even your miserable life."

"The name's Kinji." He shook Naruto's uncooperative hand and ducked Kurama's swipe, "I'm the proprietor of this here theater of the arts. Kurama or whoever you are, you owe me 590,000 Ryo for repairs, or you can put in the labor to replace the light installations you broke…then we'll call it square."

"Nothing here is square— this place is round!" Kurama balled Naruto's hands into a hammer and swung down, gouging a huge crater in the circle seating.

Kinji sucked in a long, astounded breath of disbelief.

"You did not." The toad said.

"Will I owe you money when I crack your toady head?" Kurama laughed maniacally, amused with himself.

"I built this place myself. Brick by brick. I stage the productions. I hire the talent. I keep the books. I direct the masterpieces—!" Kinji's voice trilled in anger, "And I punish the nimrods that defile my greatest work. Me. All me! Pay up or I'll liquefy your blondie whisker-face, got that, chump?"

Kurama was still laughing and wiping tears from the corners of Naruto's eyes. "Oh, I've crossed the wrong toad! Hee-hee! Ho, ho, ho-! One little toad is going to punish—" Kinji's incredible mach punch hit Naruto's chin dead center and rocketed him to the far side of the theater, in and out of another stone wall.

Laying on his back, Kurama stared up at the sky and finished speaking, "Me…"

It took some time to claw and clamber out of the rubble, and the jinchuriki ascended unspoiled brick steps nearby to spot Kinji stock still where he had first poked Naruto's leg. Suddenly, the toad's eyes snapped open. He had finished molding Sage Chakra.

Kurama had a moment to consider this bizarre reality. That Naruto was not present to complain and groan at him. That he lacked sea legs in this environment, in this puny body, though movement was getting easier. That the jabber mouth toad whose theater he had smashed was also a Sage, and was demanding hefty remuneration. He threw quite the punch without Sage Chakra.

"I'll let you apologize now…" Kinji warned darkly, "Or you're toast, Whiskers."

"Bite me." Kurama was grinning.

And the two idiots raced at each other, Kurama glowing red with four glorious tails, laying waste to their surroundings as Kinji was extremely precise with Frog Kumite, striking Naruto's chin, ankles, and stomach dozens of times in two seconds. It was effective. Kurama wretched and moaned in between slashing at Kinji, trying to stomp him as he was slippery quick and avoiding the jinchuriki's assaults.

"Cheapskate Nosehook!" Kinji hollered, fitting two fingers in Naruto's nostrils, and flipped, hurling Kurama like a trick yo-yo down onto the theater's stone floor.

Dust settled and cleared around the new crater. In an agonized squat, Kurama clapped Naruto's hands over his bloody nose, "You motherfucker-!"

Kinji struck him again with mach punches, front and back, one into another…and Kurama coiled a chakra tail around him to finally catch the painful little beast. Naruto's propensity for healing had already fixed his nose.

"Pay up, chump!" Kinji demanded as he was squeezed with searing chakra.

"Doesn't that hurt? Why aren't you screaming please let me go?" Kurama sniffed, "I'd kill you now if I didn't want to humiliate you further."

"I'd have killed you by now if you didn't look like an old friend of mine!" Kinji insisted. Then, he lashed out with his tongue, reeled Naruto's face in close, and chomped as hard as a toad could chomp on a face.

Kurama wailed in anger and tossed the toad with a tail flick. Kinji nimbly landed in a fighting pose, his jacket unbuttoned and fluttering heroically.

"You said bite me." Kinji reminded him.

"More like you tried to gum me—" Kurama bared sharp teeth, drawing on more chakra, transforming his chakra cloak into a dark, hazy fox shape, "I'll show you how to bite!"

Naruto was a miracle of speed under Kurama's direction, but Kinji could predict his movements. He dodged and hopped, feeling the trembles of energy in the air, batting aside Fox-punches and weaving between furling Fox-chakra tails. Corrosive chakra was sizzling Kinji's skin off in flakes, but he fought confidently and without flinching. When an opening presented itself, Kinji flipped upside-down and mule kicked Naruto upwards, dashing away for distance. Kurama corrected the fall with chakra tails and landed lightly.

The Fox puzzled at the sight of Kinji creating a spiraling sphere of energy in his small toad hand…and then up-chucked all over it. A sloppy, splattering mess that swirled and was tossed straight down at Naruto, "Oil Rasengan!"

Kurama had time enough to wrap himself up in tails to defend against the Rasengan's impact and the toad oil mess, but not enough time to skirt away from the follow-up. Kinji exhaled a jet of flame that lit up the oil-coated theater. When Kurama made a break for it, he slipped and slid into the bonfire and exited, looking like a burning stuntman with fox tails lit like birthday candles.

"Let me make my wish, Whiskers!" Kinji cupped his hand and called after him.

He avoided the tails that vengefully swung and thwacked at him. Still mostly on fire and aware that it could eventually expire Naruto, Kurama had about enough. He tipped Naruto's head back and prepared the collection of light and dark energy again. Kinji was not unaware of what this precursor gathering of chakra would lead to. He zipped and dashed with Sage speed up behind Naruto with a bound, wrapped his toad legs around Naruto's neck, and pulled down like a wrestler while completing hand signs, "Senpo: Wrestlemania Shadow Banishing Goober!"

Privately, Kurama wondered if it was a real technique name or had been improvised on the spot. He took a loogie to the eyes and mouth, disgusted, and witnessed the wisping gust of Kinji's jutsu flutter away collected dark particles like harmless butterflies. It left an overabundance of light particles, however. Kinji had shut his eyes to avoid the light flash and bang. They fell apart on oil-free stone steps, the Tailed Beast Ball a failure, and Kurama wiped at Naruto's face blindly before another mach punch knocked his legs out from under him. By the way, he was still on fire.

"Holy high-flying fuck, Kinji! Put him out!" Jiraiya's voice screamed from the distant box office of the theater.

"I can't, he keeps rolling in the oil and fire!"

Dizzy, Kurama pushed himself up to Naruto's hands and knees. Nothing could be worth this trouble. Not even liberation. With his eyes still shut, he felt a series of jutsu be combined to cut oxygen from the fire, extinguishing it, and some flame-retardant foam washed over him in a gloopy puff.

He heard Kinji call, "Never mind, he's good."

Jiraiya was sighing in the distance.

"Fucker owes me big money for this, though."

"Fine, whatever. Just hold him still for me so I can get this tag on…"

Kurama's eyes snapped open. No. Liberation was worth it. He could run away. He could tamper and contort Naruto's seal. There was a way out if he could just get away from these godforsaken nuisances!

Recklessly, Kurama charged straight for Jiraiya, chakra cloak wilted and claws extended. He saw the man's wide, astonished eyes, felt him gasp as Naruto's tackle toppled him over onto a brick walkway. Kurama raised a hand triumphantly to julienne Jiraiya like peppers for dinner…but felt a slimy, chilling tongue run up his back from bottom to top. It neutralized the last of his chakra.

Jiraiya regarded the Great Toad Elder Gamamaru who was seated sleepily behind Naruto. He gave the boy a good lick and let Naruto flop over bonelessly, no longer influenced by the Nine-Tailed Fox.

"They just needed a nap." Gamamaru batted his old lips, "Me too."

"Great Toad Elder!" Contritely, Kinji dropped and prostrated before the elder, "Forgive me! I could have stopped him! I had no intention of troubling you. Did the rumbles in the valley wake you?"

"Yes, thought little 'Bunta ripped a big fart next to me." Gamamaru admitted, "I worried a little when I woke up…saw our western mountainside is flattened now. That's where we used to keep the old outhouses."

"No one lives out there, Great Elder?" Jiraiya wanted to confirm.

"Not that I know of. Stunk like doo-doo out there. Should be fine." Gamamaru yawned, "I'll be off for my afternoon nap now."

Jiraiya had hoisted Naruto (badly crisped and bruised) over his shoulder, "Thank you, Great Elder. Will Naruto awaken soon?"

"Sure he will. He's just visiting Nature. And when nature calls, he'll wake up to use the bathroom." Gamamaru assured him, "Kurama won't bother you again. He just feels neglected sometimes. Misses his Papa and the good old days…" The toad elder slowly waddled off, with a few small toad escorts waiting on the stairs for him.

Jiraiya gave Kinji and confused look. Kinji shrugged and buttoned up his jacket again.

"Sorry about the theater, Kinji. My student had a mishap today. Nearly turned into a Toad Statue during Sage Training." Jiraiya explained, climbing the steps beside the small Sage, "When we averted that crisis, the Nine-Tails took over Naruto's body."

"Ah, so his name is Naruto." Kinji nodded, "Well then, he's off the hook for repairs until he's better. I'll need help rebuilding."

"Why not ask Ma and Pa-?"

"No." Kinji said flatly.

Jiraiya scoffed at him, "You know your mother and father would help you if you just asked them."

"I don't want Ma and Pa's help." Kinji insisted, "They'll critique everything I do and get in my way. I didn't need their help with Sage Training. I didn't need their help with my theater…"

"Kinji…" Jiraiya sighed, descended steps out of the theater and onto grassy path again, "They miss you."

"Yeah, sure. They miss bitching at me."

"No, they miss you. When you could just be in each other's company without the hostility." Jiraiya corrected him, "Just talk to them, sometime. Children need to remember how precious their parents are."

"Hmph." Kinji turned his nose up at the suggestion.

"Kinji." Jiraiya added, "This is Minato's child. Do you know how badly Naruto has wanted to meet his parents all of his life? How much pain it caused him to be without his father?"

Kinji halted and fell silent, settling his eyes on Naruto.

"Try to understand how it would feel…to lose those who treasure you most…even if they annoy the ever-loving shit out of you." Jiraiya gave him a lopsided smile, "You knew Minato better than any toad in this valley. Better than Gamabunta knew him! It'd be easy for you to know what's in Naruto's heart."

"I…" Kinji pinched his lips shut and rubbed at his eyes, "I do know. I miss my friend. I blame myself for not being there…when Minato's village was under attack."

Jiraiya kept walking, "He knew he couldn't disrupt your training. He thought very highly of you. Shared many things with you…"

Kinji hopped on beside him, "Yes, well…" He cleared his throat, "I can stop by the house, I guess. To help clean Naruto up. I did this to him and I do feel quite bad…"

"He'll be alright. He's had a rough day."

"Are Ma and Pa around?"

"Resting. They kinda…Frog Called each other earlier."

"On purpose?" Kinji was bewildered.

"No, 'course not. They were trying to subdue the Fox."

"Ah." Kinji nodded, "Well good. I'm not ready to talk to them yet."

"Still?" Jiraiya pressed, "What are you waiting for? A gilded invitation? They keep asking to see you and even watch your shows from the back row…because you don't let them get better tickets."

"No, they don't buy early enough for prime seating."

"Kid, you could hold the seats for them. They're your goddamned parents."

Kinji groaned.

"They're like my mom and dad too, most days. I know their quirks. I know they like to tease me without end. But you know what? They're great. I love 'em. As much as I loved my own mom before I lost her." Jiraiya nudged him with a foot, "Don't you see how lucky you are that they're here for you?"

"I do. I get it, okay? But they'll ask me why I can't keep a good girl toad around, like always."

"I get the same shit too. But they know why women don't stick with me. With you, they worry what's the matter with their straight-laced kid."

"I work too much, or I demand too much…I don't know…" Kinji grumbled, "I guess it bothers me most when Ma and Pa know what's wrong with me and I don't."

Jiraiya recommended, "You need to get comfortable with criticism. You are way too defensive, Kinji."

"And you are way too perverted, Jiraiya."

"It's my best quality, I swear."

Outside of the house, Kinji took a steadying breath and then hopped onto the porch. He opened the door for Jiraiya to allow him to pass through with Naruto. Kinji followed after, and no sooner had he shut the door behind him, he heard a cry in unison, "Kinji-boy!"

He muttered in annoyance.

Fukasaku and Shima had propped themselves up on a pile of cushions in the sitting room. They were still a bit stiff from their earlier scuffle.

"Hi Ma…Hi Pa…"

"Son, it's been so long! Did you help Jiraiya-boy stop the Nine-Tails?" Fukasaku was delighted. His foot appeared to be stuck in a Charley-horse.

"Yeah…sort of…the Great Elder woke up to give him a lick. I kept him busy." Kinji noted tepidly, "I won't be staying for dinner. Got a lot of clean up and repairs to do…"

"That's fine, dear. Fetch a basin of water for Jiraiya-boy to help him wash Naruto, please." Shima asked, "And if you do get hungry, tell me."

"Yeah, Ma…" He moved around to collect a basin and cloth.

When Kinji entered Naruto's bedroom and set the items down beside Jiraiya, he observed, "You set me up, didn't cha?"

"Nope. I have no clue how they hauled themselves into the sitting room, okay? They can hardly move. I guess they were excited that maybe you'd show up!" Jiraiya was smiling a little.

"You moved them."

"Na-aaw, not me-!"

Kinji flicked his ear in annoyance, "You're laying bricks with me tonight, ya bum."

---

Note: Shorter chapter! Kurama cameo. Neji is screwed but handling it. I hope you felt many feelings. Yes, Kinji's character is a reference to the film director Fukasaku Kinji, who you may know of. I hear Kinji's voice spoken with a New York accent and wonder if you can detect it as well? In two chapters we have the official 'Naruto Sage' chapter although that is not what it's titled. Then we'll peace out of Mount Myoboku.

I'll try to get the next chapter done promptly. In it: Jiraiya uses a safe word. Shikamaru and Asuma relate and don't relate. Tsunade talks to Tama. Haku bootlegs. Hinata has a teleconference with someone new. The Hyuga clan shuts the fuck up.

*running high-five for all reviewers*

Please review, peeps! *one reviewer is too cool, smooths hair instead of high-five*

Chapter 41: The Fool and His Folly