Itachi takes Karasu and Shisui to the inn where Kisame is staying so Karasu can meet him. How they went from one cat to six over night is not something Itachi wants to care about. Her family is weird, and it gets weirder every year.
Kisame is very happy to see them. "Is this your baby?" he says as they enter his room. "He's so cute! Come here, little guy."
Itachi hands over her baby, who seems fascinated by Kisame's blue skin.
"He can't hold himself upright fully yet," says Shisui. "But the baby Madara is looking after can. I think Karasu is a bit behind."
"Nah, babies develop at different rates," says Kisame, lifting Karasu up in the air. "Wee! Wee!" he says, laughing. Karasu laughs too, but Kisame laughs harder.
All of a sudden, Karasu spits up some milk on Kisame's face.
"Gross," says Kisame, and hands Karasu back to Itachi. He disappears into the bathroom to wash his face and soon reappears. "So," he says, grinning. "Are you two lovebirds enjoying your reunion?"
"Not in the way you are implying," says Itachi.
"Why not?" asks Kisame.
"Because her Dad is making me sleep in the living room while she's home," says Shisui. "I'm not even allowed to be alone with her."
"I tried to tell Dad that I am 18 now, and I've left home, so I can share a bed with my boyfriend if I want to," says Itachi, scowling ever so slightly. "But he said 'My house, My rules. Shisui is sleeping in the living room, got it?'"
"If only my team had passed the Second Round," sighs Shisui. "Then we could've stayed in the Rain a bit longer and…" He trails off wistfully.
Itachi blushes and pokes him in the side.
Madara waits for Sasuke with his most imposing glare and his arms crossed. He called her to the training ground specifically to scold her. When Sasuke finally arrives, she is rubbing her arm. Her arm is a bit red, and the rest of her body is covered in bruises, cuts, some mild burns and some bandages. She is a very sorry sight.
"I told you I can't train today," grumbles Sasuke, unfazed by Madara's glare.
That's new. Even Madara's Dad was fazed by his glare. "I didn't call you here to train," says Madara, intensifying his glare. "Listen here, you little s***: I did not spend the last few months training you so you could screw up." And Madara proceeds to lecture Sasuke for a good half hour about not being an idiot, not being reckless and anything else that he feels he needs to lecture her about.
When Madara is finished, Sasuke rolls her eyes and says, "Yeah, whatever, old man."
Madara grabs her by the collar, drags her to the river and throws her in. "Don't cheek me, you brat."
He throws Sasuke into the river near a waterfall, in a spot he has thrown her into before. However, this time, for whatever reason, Sasuke does not immediately climb back out. She tries to climb onto the surface of the water, gives a little yelp and sinks back down. Then she goes over the waterfall.
Oh, that's right. Kids can't handle pain as well as Madara can. Woops.
He'd better go fish the brat out.
Madara jumps over the waterfall and fetches Sasuke out of the river. He holds her at arms' length like a cat and asks, "Why didn't you climb out."
"Itachi twisted my arm giving me a Chinese burn," grumbles Sasuke after spitting out some water. "She's mad because I stopped time to draw a mustache on her in the First Round of the exams. I forgot and tried to put my weight on it."
Madara sighs. "You need to work on your pain tolerance."
"And end up like Itachi, with such a high pain tolerance that she didn't realize she was having a baby?! No thank you!"
"Hmph," grunts Madara. Someone once told him that to feel pain is to be human. Perhaps there is hope this brat will turn out okay. "I'm taking you home, you should be in bed." Madara tosses Sasuke over his shoulder and carries her home.
Mikoto is home with Eizo. "Oh, Madara. Did you throw Sasuke in the river for failing the exams?"
"No, I threw her in for sassing me after I lectured her for failing the exams," says Madara. "Sasuke is a little worse for wear right now. Put her to bed with a glass of milk and some painkillers and make her stay there for a few days."
"I suggested she stay in bed," sighs Mikoto. "But Sasuke wasn't having any of it."
"Sasuke, you are going to stay in bed for a few days," orders Madara. "Got it?"
"Fine," sighs Sasuke.
Satisfied, Madara dumps Sasuke on the floor and leaves.
Konohamaru is confused. He and Udon went looking for Moegi to see if she wanted to play ninja with them, but she refused, saying she had a playdate at Kimiko and Burifu's house. A Girls Only playdate. Curious about what a Girls Only playdate would look like, Konohamaru and Udon decided to spy.
The girls who usually play rough and tumble games with the boys, (Kimiko, Burifu, Moegi, Sekitei, Hanabi and even Aki), are doing the strangest thing. They are all dressed up in sparkly headbands, tiaras, fancy dresses and tutus. They have fake jewelry and fancy hair clips, and sparkly plastic high heeled shoes on. They are sitting outside in the grass on a big picnic blanket spread with pink plastic cups and plates and knives and forks. On the plates are slices of buttered white bread covered in rainbow sprinkles. They have jug of orange juice safely in a little box where it won't get knocked over. Sitting between the girls, with their own cups and plates, are numerous dolls and teddies.
"More fairy bread?" asks Hanabi, holding the plate out for Kimiko, who just finished her slice.
"Thank you," says Kimiko, taking another slice daintily.
"Where did you get all these dolls and dressups, Sekitei?" asks Hanabi.
"From Sasuke," says Sekitei. "Uncle Madara told Mikoto about our playdate, and Mikoto told Sasuke, and Sasuke said that Ajisai and I can have all her old toys and things. Some of them were Itachi's first."
"This dolly is pretty," says Aki, patting the doll sitting closest to Sekitei.
"Uncle Madara bought her for me," says Sekitei proudly. "He's the best, you know."
"More juice?" Moegi asks Burifu, who just finished her cup.
"Yes please," says Burifu, holding out her cup. "Auntie Kushina bought me this doll." She pats the ragdoll sitting beside her. "She said everyone should have at least one plushie - even grown ups."
Konohamaru and Udon turn to stare at each other. These are the girls who beat their asses in training. These girls are fierce, strong and half wild. Yet, here they are, sitting in the grass having a picnic with their dolls and acting like tiny grown ups.
What the Kishimoto is wrong with them?
Yep, Konohamaru is confused.
"Do you really have to leave again?" demands Kushina, crying and hugging Naruto.
"Yes, Mum," he says. "Pervy Sage needs to train me and keep up his spy network. I'll be back before you know it, dattebayo!"
"You can't leave, you've only been home a week. Dattebane!" Kushina refuses to let go of Naruto.
"Kushina, he'll be back soon," says Kazama sternly. They are at the village gates, seeing off Naruto and Jiraiya. The girls and Iruka are at school, and Minato and Arashi are doing history related things at home. Those two already said their goodbyes after breakfast.
"Um...Mum? Are you gonna let me go?" asks Naruto nervously.
"No, you have to stay with me!" Kushina growls and tries to drag Naruto back into the village.
"But Mum, if I don't train with Pervy Sage, I won't be strong enough to fight Madara when the time comes," protests Naruto.
"Don't 'but Mum' me, young man!" snaps Kushina, and then bursts into tears and goes back to hugging Naruto. "I'm actually alive for you to 'but mum'!"
"Ah we need to go-" Jiraiya starts to say.
Kushina cuts him off. "If any harm comes to Naruto, any at ALL," she yells. "I will skin you alive and feed you to Madara's summoning dragon!"
"He has a summoning dragon?"
"Yes, don't try to divert my attention! If Naruto so much as gets a BRUISE, I will-" the next moment, Naruto is free and Kushina is crouched by the road throwing up in the grass.
"Oh, it's pregnancy hormones," sighs Kazama, and goes over to rub her daughter-in-law's back. She motions to Jiriaya and Naruto to get going while they can. The pair is long gone by the time Kushina is finished throwing up her breakfast. "Let's get you home to bed. I'm sure you can convince Minato to give you a foot massage."
"It won't be difficult," says Kushina.