Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I own none of it.

Summary: A more rational Danzo takes on team 7. The world changes accordingly

Chapter 21 - Time Marches On

Note: Time skip city bitch!

It's been nearly three years since the mission to the land of snow. And or the first time since Lady Koyuki was back in Konoha. Actually a lot of people were in Konoha that normally wouldn't be. Gaara, now the Kazekage, was in town. Tazuna had apparently become some kind of elected official in Wave and was here representing them. Both boss Jirocho and the Daimyo of the Land of Tea were here. Karashi from the Curry of Life shop was around somewhere too, along with the Daimyo of the land of Rivers.

Strangely the Daimyo of Rice was here, even though it was almost an open secret that he was little more than a puppet of Orochimaru. Otogakure of course had effectively folded without Orochimaru to lead it, many of his abandoned experiments and resources being collected in a mission led by Anko. Both from the bases in the Land of Rice, and the Land of Sea. Most of which, much like Ranmaru had joined the Uchiha foundation, where they found acceptance and camaraderie amongst others who had, like them, gone through hell and back.

The village was taking minimal missions with the amount of VIPs in attendance, but it was all for a good cause, Sasuke mussed. Tomorrow Naruto would be presenting her fully fleshed out plans to take all of their trade agreements and turn them into a formal alliance. The Largest Shinobi alliance in history if she succeeded.

But tonight? In celebration of even getting this far the village would be celebrating, albeit under heavy guard and with it's gates closed and the bridge sealed away. No sense taking any chances after all. But even beyond the public celebration there was a much more private one he was planning on attending. Well, co-hosting really. It had been Itachi's idea to host the VIP welcome party in what remained of the uchiha district. Surrounded by the Uchiha Foundation it was one of the most well guarded places in the village, and with Ranmaru in the kitchen cooking away they'd see any threats coming a mile away, and between him and Sakura the chakra signatures of the guests would be very well hidden.

But he wasn't nervous about any of that. He wasn't worried about the numerous VIPs, or anything like that. He knew Itachi was in charge of security and good fucking luck getting past a defence mounted by Uchiha Itachi of all people. Especially since him and Ayame had the twins. He still couldn't believe that Itachi fell in love with the ramen waitress turned Naruto's assistant. But apparently they dealt with each other a fair bit through work and according to Itachi she was one of the only people that treated him like a regular person.

Good for him, Sasuke supposed. Besides, Shisui and Koto were adorable, both had dark brown (nearly black) hair, and the Uchiha signature jet black eyes. They were only about a year old but you could already tell they inherited Itachi's incredible mind, already speaking simple sentences and solving puzzles meant for kids a year or two older than them. They'd be a handful though once they got older, especially Shisui who didn't seem to have acquired his father's more reserved personality.

Thinking about Itachi, and family… It all made him even more nervous as he fidgeted with a small box concealed within his formal robes.

Sakura was casually hanging from the ceiling of the Yamanaka flower shop as her and Ino chatted about all sorts of things. Ino tinkering with a device that would hook up to her chakra armor and hopefully enhance her clan techniques while they gossiped. She'd learned a lot about snow countries technology just in learning how to maintain and keep her armor fitted but this was her first time trying to develop a whole new component. Piles of sealing notes from Sakura layered the table, a million different ideas that might do what Ino wanted them to.

For her part Sakura had a sealing tag that weighed in the neighbourhood of 2000ibs on her chest while she did upside-down crunches from one of the shop's support beams. She kept the weight light and just did like, endless reps. Didn't want to get too bulky after all. Even if she could juggle grizzly bears if she was so inclined. She finished her workout and dropped to the floor, disabling her seal as she did so as to not go through the floor.

"You know, I genuinely think Naruto's so worked up about this whole meeting she hasn't realized what's going to happen tonight." Ino chuckled at her own comment as Sakura donned her jonin vest.

"Well, I mean it's basically everything she's been working for since she became Hokage. Besides, once it's formalized we can have less diplomatic missions and more guarding and fighting missions." Sakura chirped happily as she stretched out after her quick workout.

"Speak for yourself Forehead, some of us like those diplomatic missions." Ino shook her head a little as she continued work on her new headpiece.

"Pft. Whatever Ino-chan, we can't all cheat and read their minds like you can." It was true too, the work Ino and Sakura had done all those years ago paid off. Just last year Ino had submitted her own hidden jutsu to the clan roster, being able to read surface thoughts of any put the strongest willed people in a decent radius, and able to go a little deeper with eye contact. Not just useful for diplomacy either, unless a rival shinobi could fight entirely on reflex like Gai and Lee it gave her an incredible edge in combat.

"Please, like you and Shikamaru can't anticipate most people's actions anyways. Sasuke too for that matter. Freaking geniuses."

"Whatever, doesn't make it fun. I'd rather literally have someone in the palm of my hand then figuratively. Besides, don't forget Naruto can feel what you're feeling. No wonder she almost never missteps in meetings."

"She can't feel whatever you're feeling, just negative emo-"

"Oh give it up Ino those are the important ones most of the time anyways. She can feel chakra too and those two together might as well make her a true empath." Sakura interrupted.

Ino just shook her head. "You know it wouldn't kill you to find some time for positive emotions. Go on a date or something, we're not kids anymore."

Sakura just rolled her eyes. "Coming from you Ino-chan? You've never once accepted a date from anyone. Not even Sai and he's pretty cute." She was sitting on the counter now, filling her nails down to soft round points so she didn't cut her own hands open in combat.

Ino smirked as she shook her head. "Oh I've got my eyes on someone. We've even been on a few dates and I'm just waiting for them to figure it out. They're a bit thick headed you know?"

"Ha! Coming from you Ino-chan? Besides it's not like you can go on a date and not know it's a date." She rolled her head back and forth. "Well, unless you're Naruto. She'll figure out that she and Shika are dating eventually I'm sure."

"Unlikely." Ino put down the piece she was working on. "Can you check this over? And anyways, she probably won't. She spends so much time with Jiraiya working on their big plans for world peace and his constant teasing will never let her admit they're a thing."

Sakura groaned as she examined the headpiece. Meant to wire into the armor and sit around Ino's ear, with what resembles a scope able to be flicked over one eye. "Kami Ino, what are you planning to do with this thing? Snipe people with your mind transfer jutsu?"

Ino just shrugged. "Yeah, or listen to someone's thoughts from far away. Or sow ideas in people's thoughts from far away. Really just general long range mindfuckery."

"Sakura shook her head. "Ignoring how fucking terrifying that is. This would destroy your mind the way it is. It's running chakra through the scope pit for sure, but it's not actually funneling your consciousness right now. If you adjust these focus seals sorta like this." Sakura jotted down a messy seal. "It should work, just make sure it integrates here and here, and make it nicer than mine." Sakura's calligraphy was still abysmal, her hands were for smashing not delicate little calligraphy. For that matter most of her "brilliant seals" were actually other people's ideas she just figured out how to make them work. She literally had a laundry list of seal ideas from one night Team 7 had gotten a little drunk after her and Sasuke had escorted some priestess and overthrown a demon or something. She was sure if tonight went well she'd have a few more ideas to jot down to.

"Ugh, you're right. Dammit I was hoping to have this done tonight. Okay, get out of here, you need to be way more dressed up then that for the party tonight. Come back when you're dressed and I'll do your hair and makeup.

"Ugh, do we have to? You know I hate this stiff formal stuff."

"Yeah, well Sasuke will never forgive you if you don't look your best tonight, Naruto too I guess." She couldn't help but giggle at that.

Naruto was gonna be both ecstatic and furious that Sasuke had kept this from her.

"Naruto, we've been over it a thousand times it's ready. Besides it's just a welcome party tonight, you don't even need a copy with you." Jiraiya tried to counsel his still young Hokage.

"Besides." Kakashi weighed in. "It's perfect, all the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed. We've read the final version twice. Even Shikamaru says it's ready. You trust Shikamaru don't you?"

Naruto let out a sigh as she heard her Godfather muttering "You trust Shikamaru don't you." mockingly. He took some offence to the fact that she valued the opinion of her boyfrie- Totally not her boyfriend- or whatever over him. Wasn't her fault that Shika could actually explain things in a way that made sense while Jiraiya prattled off metaphors.

"Fine lets go." She got up from her large desk, in a room that appeared much the same as the Hokage's office. Which it both was, and wasn't. The office in the tower, as always had three clones posted, accepting visitors, doing paperwork etc. But this office, the office she could still see the same view out the windows, could still hear through the door to the reception area. This room was far underground, beneath what was once Danzo's house, but was now just Naruto and Sakura's. Sasuke having since moved back to the Uchiha compound when his niece and nephew were born. A brilliant array of seal work danced across every available surface to connect it to the office in the tower so thoroughly.

It was just an extension of what she'd asked Sakura to figure out years ago, linking the Uzumaki temple's storage realm to the hidden tower's sealing room. Just, instead of linking to a sub dimension it linked to this very real room. It was simple really, a little of Naruto's chakra in any door with the right seals would open to the office door of the hidden tower. Though at the moment there were only a couple linked doors created. One at Team 7's old apartment, where every night the main clone from the office returned to before dispelling here. One at Sasuke's where another of the office clones went, and the third at Shikamaru's.

Where she slept was Konoha's greatest secret at the moment, she only slept for about four hours a night but the whole clone network was down when she did, it was the only time someone could figure out which of her was the original unless she started using Kurama's chakra. Not that anyone knew that last detail.

Even of the people that were allowed into her hidden office, most didn't know where it physically existed. Good luck figuring that out.

But even this office, as amazing as it was, was far from the heights of sealing her and her team had been able to achieve. Naruto's chakra and imagination, plus Sakura's ability to fit seals together and Sasuke's surgical gaze picking out and correcting any faults. Even Jiraiya had admitted the three of them had surpassed him, even if only when they were together.

Right now though, they had a party to get to.

"Shikamaru if you aren't ready to go yet-" Shikamaru's mother, Yoshino began to bellow as she rounded the corner to go upstairs towards Shikamaru's room. Only To find the boy- no, young man in question halfway down the stairs already. Dressed up in a surprisingly modern suit, even if the top two buttons were left undone and the jacket was draped over his shoulders. "Oh well don't you look handsome! I can't believe my boy is going as the Hokage's date to a function like this. You be on your best behaviour now you hear?"

Shikamaru for his part just rolled his eyes. "Ma-ma. It's nothing that big a deal, besides I go to all her other meetings with her, someone has to keep her grounded." His smile was one of true affection even as he shook his head.

"That's different, kami, you're just like your father. This isn't work!" She berated him as he passed by.

"Might as well be. Until this alliance is formalized she won't be able to think of anything else. Even if I try and ask her on a date she just doesn't realize it and brings projects for whatever she's working on." He sounds a little dejected, sighing as he grabbed a snack left out by his mother.

Yoshino's eyes softened, as tough as she could be she still cared for her son deeply. "Well, maybe tonight's the night then! Seeing all her hopes and dreams realized might put things in perspective. Priorities shift with accomplishment you know."

Shikamaru slowly let out a deep breath as a hand rubbed his face. "Troublesome blonde. Maybe." He finished his snack before heading for the door. "Either way, don't wait up."

He closed the door as he left, but not fast enough to hear his Mother giggling about her "Baby boy growing up so fast."

The Uchiha district was far from dormant these days. With the Uchiha Foundation surrounding the clan housing, and Itachi's and Ayame's twins starting to run around it was almost always bustling with life. But tonight most of all, full of fancily dressed Daimyo, Kage, and representatives from Konoha's various clans, the district was well and truly alive. High tables dotted the outside rim of the courtyard they had set up in, with the middle being reserved for standing and mingling. In the normally empty clan house that the Uchiha brothers had kept, Ranmaru and Ichiraku Teuchi bustled about with an assortment of helpers in an effort to feed anyone that was hungry.

There was also a coat check, surprisingly being worked by Neji, byakugan scanning everyone he encountered for hidden weapons or seals. His forehead was bared proudly with no trace of the cage bird seal in sight. As a present for the one year anniversary of Sasuke and Hinata's first date Team 7 had sat down and figured out a way to remove it, and promptly gave the counter seal to the Uchiha foundation who stated very publicly that it would free any Hyuga that wished it. Many branch members quickly came to the organization, nearly causing a civil war before it was defused by Naruto and Shikamaru. Really there was nothing illegal about it, the Uchiha Foundation had had protections for taking in shinobi from clans or missing nin since its inception, and Hiashi had agreed to the proposal so he really didn't have much of a leg to stand on.

Sensing as much as seeing that everyone had arrived, Naruto politely excused herself from a conversation about international tariffs with lighting country between Koyuki, Gaara and Shikamaru. Not that she hadn't contributed, but she had her sights set elsewhere for the evening. Taking the steps up to a podium that had been set up facing the courtyard full of mingling VIPs, she amplified her voice with a seal-less wind jutsu she'd picked up along the way before clearing her throat to get everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentleman, representatives from near and far. It is my greatest honor to welcome you all to Konoha." She paused to wait for everyone's full attention before continuing. "I can't begin to describe the joy it brings me to have you all here, to be able to call everyone here a friend." She smiled brightly as everyone applauded lightly. "But we're not done yet. Tomorrow at noon we'll be signing the papers for the largest shinobi alliance in history. Already signed but regrettably unable to attend are Sakura's good friends in the Crescent Moon Kingdom, and Konoha's long standing allies in Takigakure, and with their help and the help of everyone here, I know we can lay the foundation for what we all truly want. A better world for everyone!"

The applause was almost as thunderous as the well timed fireworks that went off all over the village. Naruto smiled brightly as she turned to see Sasuke and Itachi lurking behind her, hugs being exchanged as she thanked them for hosting such a lovely event.

Sasuke though, Sasuke wasn't done. "Don't thank me yet Naruto, do you mind if I say a few words?"

Naruto's head cocked to the side as her eyes narrowed, but she trusted her teammate unconditionally so she shrugged gesturing to the podium. "Sure thing Sasuke, it's your house after all." Sasuke just gave a small nervous smile and nodded before stepping up to the podium as Naruto returned to Shikamaru's side. "Hey, you have any idea what this is about Shika?"

He just groaned. "Unfortunately. You'll find out soon though just give it a minute."

Naruto just shook her head as she looked back to the podium to see Sasuke beginning to speak. "Good evening everyone. It is the Uchiha clan's honor to have a gathering such as this on our clan grounds. But tonight, if you'd all humor me I'd like to discuss something else for a moment." There was some murmuring amongst the crowd as people speculated what the Uchiha Clan Head wanted to talk about. "As many of you know, roughly three years ago I signed a betroval contract between myself and Hyuga Hinata. Many of you also know this contract was meant to protect her when she was young. But now she's grown, a jonin herself. With both the massive support from much of the Hyuga Clan Branch Family, and her undeniable combat prowess she could easily stand on her own without my protection." The crowd was dead silent as the room waited to hear what he had to say. "And in truth, I do think it best that we tear up that betroval contract, as it gives Hinata little agency in the situation, and I think she deserves to make her own choices." A piece of paper burst into flame in his hands as he rounded the podium, before locking eyes with Hinata in the front row of the crowd and taking a knee. "But here today I'd like to form a new agreement with Hyuga Hinata, as equals. As friends. As comrades. Hyuga Hinata will you marry me?" A small box slipped into his hands before being opened to reveal his Mother's engagement right. Diamonds and rubies glittering across its surface, fitting for not just the Uchiha red but the Hyuga white as well.

Hinata of course was beaming, it really was the third anniversary of their first date, before the Chunin exams seemingly so long ago. The moment he was done speaking she basically bolted into his arms, nearly knocking him over. "Yes! A million times yes!" She kissed him as they embraced, and at first it seemed that a firework went off, and then another. Only for his danger senses to flare as he felt Naruto's chakra flex and the assortment of other high ranking shinobi all turning to face…

"Sure, the one time I ask someone to marry me Konoha gets bombed."

Naruto was beyond furious. Her alliance meeting, and Sasuke's proposal was being interrupted by someone bombing her fucking village? Immediately Kakashi and Jiraiya were at her side, but her clones throughout the village were already reporting in, intercepting bombs meant for civilian areas of the village. Her fists clenched, her hair which was now worn tied back into nine braids bundled into a bun with her bangs left forward began to pull out of the bun allowing her braids to hang freely as she strode through the courtyard.

"Sorry for the disturbance everyone, Sasuke and Hinata especially. I''l have this taken care of if you'd all give me just a moment." Her gaze landed on Gaara and Shikamaru in turn. "Kazekage-dono, Shikamaru-kun. If the two of you would be so kind as to catch the debris I'll handle this." She spoke almost ominously before jumping up to land on the roof of the Uchiha clan house, nine chakra chains now coming out of her braids and pulling out what seemed to be oversized arrowheads made of bone from a seal on her back. The blades themselves were covered in seals, and for just a moment they hover in front of Naruto's face as with a single hand seal she blows nine separate vacuum blades onto them, turning them into lances of wind chakra, bone and chakra chains.

And now that she was ready, she mounted her counter offenses. All nine of her chakra chains shot out, each of them shredding one of the invading sky shinobi and their flying devices with them. She supposed her little soiree was too tempting a target for an old enemy of Konoha like the Land of Sky to attack. Of course it would pull them out of the woodwork. Seeing the falling debris being caught by a mix of Gaara's sand and Shikamaru's Shadow sewing, as well as some of her clones using chains scattered throughout the village.

She smiled wickedly as her eyes turned to slits, and two tails emerged from behind her, helping her lunge incredible distances to engage the Sky Shinobi on their own turf.

"Sorry to wake you Kurama. I just want to make this quick." She spoke within her mind as she felt the great beast whose power she was weirdling stir within her.

"Whatever, kit." Naruto felt Kurama's chakra settle and become easier to use as her constant friend lent her his cooperation. "Destroy them then."

Naruto's smile got more viscous as two more tails joined her cloak. Once this would have forced a transformation into her Jinchuriki form, but with Kurama's cooperation and her own extensive training she was able to stay in her cloaked form.

Konoha would have a fireworks display tonight it would remember for years, she mused as she shattered the invading force. Blowing up their flying machines by the score until eventually the entire fleet had been annihilated. She landed back in the Uchiha courtyard moments after finishing her task, seeing the rubble being collected as she did so. Her clones fanned out throughout the village, with Katsuyu clones glowing brightly the moment she dismissed Kurama's chakra allowing her clone network to spread their chains out to anyone and everyone she could sense. Both ensuring their health, and unknown to most doing a very in depth check of everyone's negative intent. She had to make sure there were no enemy shinobi hiding in her village after all.

Turning to address the assembled dignitaries and shinobi she was all business now. "Sasuke, Itachi's crow summons accepted you right?" At his nod she continued. "Good, follow the chakra residue in the air back to its source and destroy it. Maybe test out that lightning jutsu you've been developing." Sasuke quickly took off to do just that. "Sakura, take Ino and go find an elderly man with long grey hair that flows out at the back, and mutton chops connected to his beard. Thick brows and yellow eyes. He's hiding something dark, I want him quietly taken into custody and to know everything he knows."

Sakura nodded with a quick "Hai" before she shot off and Naruto continued.

"Koyuki-dono, I'll have my clones seal up the debris and it'll be relinquished into your care for your people to reverse engineer. Tazuna-dono, I'll have shinobi posted in Wave by tomorrow afternoon to ensure your country's safety during these uncertain times." Naruto took a breath before continuing. "As you all can see the situation is well under control, I believe Itachi-san will have shinobi ready to escort you all to your hotel. I trust tonight's display of Konoha's strength only cements tomorrow's alliance. Thank you all for coming and I'll see you in my office at 1100 hours."

The shinobi present chorused "Hai Hokage-sama!" as many of the visiting officials and dignitaries inclined their heads before being whisked away.

Shikamaru found her in her personal training room in the hidden tower, being one of the few people with access and knowledge of its location. Though in truth he was hesitant to open the door, even the sealed room not totally blocking out the waves of chakra from here. But… Well he knew he'd be safe.

Quickly disengaging the seals he slipped in and reengaged them quickly, hoping to keep the Kyuubi chakra from alarming the village.

Which, now that he thought about it was a weirdly considerate thing to do considering now he was locked in a sealed room with- Holy fuck was that a six-tails jinchuriki form? Naruto never used her jinchuriki form, something about it melting her skin or- Oh, no time to think about that, suddenly a moment before he would have been torn in half Jiraiya was in front of him, the seal matrix on the floor glowing brightly as it wound up Naruto's form. The raging Jinchuriki screamed, pushing Shikamaru back into the wall with the shockwave that ensued.

But it was in vain, and the seals did their job and forced Naruto first to her knees before out of her Jinchuriki state and back to her cloaked form. Tails dwindled quickly as her skin quickly turned from black and charred to fresh and pink as she rapidly regenerated. The pain it caused was visible on her face as she was forced to fully let go of her tennent's chakra, tears springing to her eyes as she hung her head, not wanting to make eye contact with either of the Shinobi she'd attempted to destroy in her rage.

Jiraiya's eyes softened as he smiled sadly before turning to face Shikamaru. "I think you're a better fit here kid. I'll make sure the village stays standing with Kakashi." He patted Shikamaru's shoulder on his way towards the door before leaving quickly and quietly.

Shikamaru held back a sigh as the sage left the room, not wanting Naruto to think he was frustrated with her when he was in fact wishing the old sage would be a little more emotionally available. Naruto's choked sob as her fist hit the concrete floor jolted Shikamaru to action though as he cautiously made his way to her, careful to make his steps heard so he wouldn't startle her.

"Naruto, it's me. Shikamaru." He started as he settled down to a knee to be on her level with her. "I'm here for you now. Would it be okay for me to touch you?"

The trembling girl stilled for a moment, as if unsure how to respond before giving a hesitant if almost imperceptible nod. Her skin would still be tender but she knew Shikamaru was always gentle.

Having her consent he reached out, one hand resting gently on her back as the other turned her face towards him. Her eyes clenched shut as she wasn't ready to look him in the eyes, she felt butterflies flutter in her stomach almost detachedly as she could feel him wiping away her tears. Feel his hand making small comforting circles on her back. Through her shock she could feel him tuck her bangs behind her ear before feeling his forehead touch hers as he whispered quietly.

"Everyone's safe Naruto-chan. You took care of the troublesome mess in record time and everyone's more impressed with you today than ever. Don't worry about what almost happened, or what could have happened. Focus on what did happen." She couldn't see it but could feel him smiling at her, and her breath caught in her throat as she felt a hand settle on the back of her head and Shikamaru's forehead against hers replaced by what could only be his lips pressing a gentle kiss onto her forehead, just for a moment before she was wrapped in a gently hug and could hear him whisper one final thing before she properly broke down crying.

"Come back to me Naruto-chan."

From there she started full on bawling, throwing herself into Shikamaru's embrace so hard they found themselves airborne for a moment before his back broke their fall, his small grunt as the air was forced out of his lungs almost completely drowned out by Naruto's sobs.

"I'm sorry Shika. I tried to attack you." She got out through her sniffles. "The whole reason I can't control the Kyuubi chakra in the first place is because I can't defeat my own "Inner Darkness" or whatever that means. And whenever I get mad it makes it impossible to keep control."

Oh, oh so this wasn't about what he thought. "Tried being the key word." He chuckled lightly trying to lighten the mood. "Even in your anger you knew to come here to let off steam. Where it's safe for you to do so. Not only that you ensured everything in the village was fine and taken care of before you did." With her still lying on top of him he ruffled her hair a little making her giggle.

But then her eyes met his again. "You kissed me." It was somewhere between a statement and a question.

He nodded as he propped himself up on his elbows, inadvertently adjusting Naruto to sit more on his lap as he sat them both up. "I did. You've kissed me before."

Naruto turned bright red at that. "That was years ago. A-and I- Well we never talked about it or anything."

Shika just rolled his eyes. "That's because you're Hokage and always busy with other things. At first I waited for you to bring it up but… Well even when I tried to take you on dates you'd bring work with you."

Naruto's eyes went wide and he could feel her hands shaking lightly as she whispered. "Kami those were supposed to be dates?" She groaned as she buried her face in her hands. "I'm sorry Shika… I thought maybe the first one might have been but I… I didn't think you'd really want to date me and I got so nervous I just brought a project with me so I wouldn't look stupid if it wasn't supposed to be a date… And then I realized I didn't know how to tell and I just dove into work and I could tell you were disappointed but I tried to tell myself it was just about working during lunch or something and-"

As her hands were moving animatedly while she talked Shika sat himself up fully to grab them and interrupt her. "It's okay. It's my fault too. I just didn't want to push too hard and scare you away."

Naruto giggled a little at that, wiping what remained of her tears away on the back of her arm, leaving her hands entangled with his as she did so. "Heh. I guess we were both sorta idiots then."

Shikamaru nodded at that as Naruto's goofy grin infected him. "Well, if you'll excuse this idiot for saying it." He leaned forward and kissed her again before he continued, full on the lips this time. After a moment of shock Naruto returned the kiss eagerly until they broke for air.

Breathlessly Shikamaru finished his thought. "Love can make even smart people act like idiots."

Naruto's eyes were wide again as she stilled completely, barely managing to speak. "You- You love me?"

Shikamaru for his part just smiled. "I do."

The next thing he knew he was back on the floor, Naruto having tackled him back down to bury herself in the crook of his neck. He felt her plant gentle kiss there before feeling her breath on his ear as she spoke softly. "I love you too Shika."

Elsewhere, high in the cloud Sasuke was approaching the shore. His Sharingan eyes read the residual chakra in the air drawing him straight to his target.

It turns out to be two huge ships that the Sky shinobi used to launch their assault from, and as they come into view he can see despite the darkness those that remained on the ships were a little beyond concerned that none of their flying shinobi had returned. He could read people's lips as they argued about what to do.

Unfortunately for them, with none of their shinobi present it would leave little to stop him from his next move. Descending stealthy and landing on one of the ships he skulked around until he found a few officers of notable rank to begin his plot. Sharingan eyes spun as they planted the seeds of discord amongst the enemy ranks. Genjutsu laced with mutinous thoughts, thoughts of being misled, thoughts of abandoning this ill fated venture and returning home before Konoha visited its vengeance upon them.

Not all of them got the message though, just enough for them to destroy themselves. He took to the skies once more in preparation of sending a message. Those that survived would forever remember the wrath of Konoha, he unsealed his weapon as the crow he rode circled the untouched vessel. His weapon of choice? A double bladed staff, that anyone worth their salt would see to be the Kiba blades bound and sealed on either side of the Raijin no Ken, the ultimate tool of lightning.

As it spun lazily in his hand lightning began arcing faster and faster between the Kiba blades until he could be seen clearly in the sky, spinning a torrent of lighting in one hand as he threw it at the remaining ship with a cry. "Lighting Release: Heavenly Annihilation!"

Throws almost like a fuma shuriken its flight path arced, cleaving the ship below in two before returning to his off hand. As he caught it the ship he'd struck began to explode as he flew off into the night.

The destruction of one vessel made the mutinous thoughts he'd spread on the other ship even worse, and as he flew back to Konoha he could see many of the enemy soldiers jumping into the waters below, abandoning their post and spreading tales of Konoha's wrath.

The next morning, in Naruto's true office in the hidden tower she'd gathered her team before gathering all the necessary officials for the reading of her finalized alliance proposal. Her shit eating grin was more than a little suspicious to her team.

"Alright, Sakura you go first." Naruto gestured to her teammate to debrief her on the night before.

"Hai" She nodded curtly. "The man you sent us to find actually seemed as if he was expecting to be tracked down. We used that to bring him in easily and quietly. But once we got him into interrogation he realized something was up and tried to get away, so he was poisoned and tied up before Ino began tearing through his mind. Apparently he was expecting his student to come find him, and was going to use her as a vessel for an entity known as the zero tails that feeds on the darkness in people's hearts and can power a flying fortress as well as an immortality jutsu. So, well I guess he'll be spending however many years he has left in prison."

Naruto nodded at the explanation. "Will the zero tails cause any issues if left alone?"

Sakura shook her head. "I think the less people know the better. It's tucked away and would take work to find, guarding it would just draw attention."

"Cool, Sasuke?"

"Hn" Ever helpful the Uchiha "Hn" "I destroyed one ship after genjustuing everyone on the other ship to be against each other. No remaining threat."

Naruto nodded again, shit eating grin getting wider if possible. "Perfect! So we're all set to unveil our new alliance then!" A Naruto clone opened the door and the visiting officials and dignitaries started to make their way in. Sakura was side-eying her pretty hard, but nonetheless the room was rapidly full basically to capacity as Naruto stood up on her desk, a large scroll in hand.

"Welcome all! Shortly you'll all be getting easier to read dossiers with your copy of the alliance we're about to sign in. Most of you have seen some version or another of the official alliance terms and I'm not going to go over all the economic stuff as none of that will have changed from what was previously discussed. Today I have a couple of the perks I promised of the alliance ready to go forward." She paused as everyone got their copies and came to attention. "Firstly, I'm proud to announce Konoha's new Academy is ready, and will be accepting students from all allied nations. With a new curriculum that starts at eight and finishes at 14, and will give all new gennin both a well rounded practical skill set, and start them on the path to more specialized areas of shinobi study. Some of Konoha's top experts will be laying the foundations for shinobi arts such as sealing, kenjutsu, and medical studies. I even heard a rumor that Uchiha Itachi would be teaching a genjutsu course that I might attend myself."

She gave the room a moment to laugh at her joke before continuing. "The academy will of course not be free for non-residents, and all the fees are laid out in your dossiers. This way individuals from any of our allied nations can take up the shinobi arts even if they don't have a hidden village." There was a moment for applause. "And of course, connected to all this is what I like to call the College of Chunin. A place where Chunin can take lessons, pool resources, and better themselves. The college will also have systems in place for hiring jonin or special jonin for lessons. And I should mention, is completely free. It's only requirement is Chunin status with one of our allied countries." Another round of applause.

"Next up is mission distribution. I've come up with what I think is a very fair way to handle this, all village or country leaders in the alliances get one of these." She holds up what seems to be a headband plate with the team 7 symbol on it. "For those of you that don't know how to use chakra you'll be taught how to activate this seal. What it does-" She channeled a little chakra into it resulting in another Naruto appearing in a poof of smoke. "Is create a clone of me that can be used in real time to communicate with myself, or do anything else one on my clones could do. With instantaneous communication between villages we can make sure we're all redirecting missions to whatever shinobi is the best mix of closest and capable for any given mission." Some hands went up at this but Naruto waved them off. "Yes I'm aware that this will result in less missions for Konoha, but I plan to make up the loss through education and economic freedom."

She gave the room a moment to settle before continuing. "And finally, through collaboration with the Land of Spring we've designed a new international railroad. It will wrap around the borders of the Land of Fire, a stop near Taki, a stop at the port in the Land of Rice, then Konoha, Keishi, Land of Wave, down to Degarashi Port in the Land of Tea, then back up to Suna, and looping back to Taki again. For now we'll start with having one train making the loop with the possibility of adding more in the future. That first train will be run by none other than Senju Tsunade, who will both protect the train and provide medical service." She allowed the room a moment to applaud once more. "It will, of course, be a massive undertaking that we'll need to endeavour on together. But that's the whole point of this alliance, together we can be so much more than the sum of our parts."

She hopped down off her desk at that, making a show of signing her name on the document before taking a step back and gesturing for who was next.

Tazuna took the step first.

Then Koyuki, only a moment behind.

Gaara didn't hesitate, sharing a fist bump with his longtime friend and training partner as he walked up to the desk.

No one hesitated after that.