Old Man Time
"Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future
And time future contained in time past."
― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets
The view was beautiful.
Thousands of stars illuminating the ebony, night sky. The moon at the peak of its light, completely filled. Light and darkness intertwined in perfect harmony.
The luminous full moon shone its evanescent light down onto the most feared shinobi village, Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves. It illuminated a certain silver haired Jonin's path home.
Yet, the beauty of the night lost to him as he was too engrossed in his thoughts to pay attention to his surroundings, almost running into his homes' front door if it hadn't been opened by a young boy with similar hair.
"Dad? You're home earlier than you said. How was your mission?"
The sudden childish voice disrupted Sakumo from his turbulent thoughts. Seeing his confused and obviously sleepy five year old in front of him, he felt a large drop of sweat gather by his brow before he suddenly looked around, and realized he had arrived at his house.
No doubt he had made enough noise clambering up his old wooden steps to rouse his son from sleep.
"Oh, hey there Kakashi, didn't mean to wake you. The mission went fine, but it's certainly one I won't be forgetting anytime soon." The Jonin muttered the last part more to himself dryly as the memory of the orange furred Bijuu telling him he was suppose to have died replayed in his mind.
A thin, silver brow rose in confusion at the change in tone.
"How come?", Kakashi asked as he tried to rub away the tiredness from his eyes, hoping to wake up enough to talk to his father properly.
A nervous chuckle left his lips as he stepped inside his home. "Maa, I'll tell you about it later. I'm beat, and I can hear both our beds calling for us."
He climbed the stairs up toward his room with his tiny clone trailing behind him.
Sakumo sighed deeply, walking through the halls of his home his forefathers had built for his family and their descendants. The familiar worn, mahogany floors and cream colored walls were making him feel nostalgic all of a sudden.
Once again absorbed in his thoughts, he barely caught Kakashi's small form yawning by his bedroom doorway, "Alright dad, good night. See ya in the morning."
A fond smile curved on the Jonin's lips. "Sleep well, son."
When he could hear Kakashi's deep, even muffled breaths through the walls, Sakumo let out an amused chuckle as he stripped out of his smoke scented clothing as he recalled the boys' sleep attire.
'Still sleeping with that mask on. Such an odd boy... How on earth did he ever turn out like that? Oh, who knows... Kashi's always been special. My own little cute genius son.'
After taking a quick hot shower, Sakumo redressed himself for sleep.
As he got himself comfortable in his bed, the man couldn't help the morbid and depressing thought of what would have become of his little boy if he hadn't returned from that mission to cross his mind.
'I owe the Kyuubi, and that little girl as well, more than I could ever hope to repay...'
As he laid there wrapped snugly in his dark gray bed sheets, the White Fang of the Leaf let his mind drift to the memory of a blonde child with whiskered cheeks.
'Naruto... What a peculiar name for a girl... A Namikaze on top of that too. What are the odds?'
Letting the last traces of tension leave his body, the elder Hatake welcomed the warm embrace of slumber. He had been desperately craving it once the events of the past few days had finally caught up to him.
Sleep. That's what he wanted most.
'Talk about a hell of a day...'
"This is so weird." Naruto muttered.
The young blonde was referring to the moving pictures and sounds of the world outside her mind which were playing before her on what looked like a movie curtain.
Kurama had somehow managed to create a large screen which displayed what was happening outside her body to play in-front of his cage. She watched in bemusement what appeared to be a much younger Sandaime Hokage and her father fluttering in and out of her room with herds of nurses and doctors over the course of the next few days.
Though she never did see Kakashi's father, the curiosity to see the man was driving her crazy.
It was bittersweet to see her surrogate grandfather and father again, even if they looked much younger than when she knew and met them in her own time. Her father especially shocked her. He was damn teenager!
In one particular scene, she watched anxiously as the Hokage confirmed the new familial relation between her and her unknowing once-father. She could clearly see the disbelief that crossed his face at the result. The old man left him alone afterwards to his thoughts.
It was a bit unnerving to see the uncertainty quickly morph into sheer joy a few minutes later.
After that, he hardly ever left her hospital room, which she no longer shared with her mother since she had been moved, who was technically no longer her biological mother thanks to a certain meddling fox.
The only time Minato left was to go check up on Kushina or go home to rest and shower before coming back.
Well, appeared that way at least.
He always seemed more refreshed when he returned after a couple of hours of being gone. Minato was quite devoted to keeping her sleeping self company whenever he could. He even to talked to her sometimes about the most inane things to pass the time. She learned more about him asleep than she ever did when she was awake.
Apparently, he was never called for missions either, but that was probably due to the Hokage wanting to make sure he was around when she finally woke up. The old man was considerate like that.
As well, her blond future father, which from what she understood from the conversation he had earlier with the old man, was no longer biological father either. According to the blood work, he was her long, lost half-brother. Kurama really did a number on her biology.
When her thoughts turned to her orange furred friend, a fiery rage burned through her.
Naruto was still quite angry at the fact her partner had decided to tell them already who she was. That's not even taking into account he told them she preferred that stupid, girly nickname! 'Lousy traitor...'
"You're a real bastard you know that?" She said loudly with more bite in her tone, trying to get a rise out of the demon.
The fox nodded absentmindedly, casting off her bitter words with a shrug, never taking his eyes off the colorful screen. The new modified seal was absolutely amazing.
"I believe I have heard you say something along those lines before."
A tick mark grew in irritation on her brow at the clear disinterest in his deep voice. "What all did you tell them?", she asked for what seemed like the tenth time, and each time he would never answer clearly.
"Only what was necessary."
A cry of frustration escaped her as she threw her hands up into the air in exasperation. "That doesn't tell me anything!"
For the next several minutes, though it seemed more like an eternity for a certain Bijuu, the blonde went into quite a tirade of curses and violent promises. All of which Kurama tuned out, preferring to watch the playing screen.
When the door opened and several new voices called out in greeting in the hospital room, the Bijuu's interest was peaked. Curious, the fox let small tendrils of his chakra to filter into the air and scanned the newcomers.
'This chakra... So they have finally arrived...'
Kurama knew it was time to get the ball rolling once again.
"Brat, it's time you've woken up. There are people who want to meet you."
Naru stopped mid-rant to turn toward the screen, and watched in fascination as two of the last people she had ever expected to meet so soon in this time entered her hospital room.
"What's he doing here?!"
Sensing no negative emotions from the one in question, the Bijuu searched through his memories about his current time-line.
"From what I remember, he didn't turn traitor until your blond-haired, monkey father was chosen as Fourth Hokage over him."
Naruto stiffened at the news. She hadn't known the Snake Sannin had been considered for the position of Hokage, much less that he was overlooked for her own father.
Seemed like they had quite the history. Now that bitterness whenever he had talked to her made more sense.
"Well that doesn't matter, he still a bad guy. What do we do about him? I won't let him get a hold of Sasuke this time!"She responded with conviction.
Kurama shrugged unconcerned, "Kill him then. I don't particularly care. In the larger scope of things, he was but a small pest compared to the others."
Naruto had nothing to say to that. It was true. Orochimaru was nothing, but a side note whenever Akatsuki, Madara, and Black Zetsu began full on their Eye of the moon plan.
She pondered this new predicament of hers for a few moments until an idea came to mind.
"Well, he hasn't done anything yet... Maybe we can prevent him from turning traitor and doing all those experiments on people?" She asked with slight reluctance in her tone. Well it killed her to admit it, the Snake Sannin had been powerful and she could only imagine the possibilities if he had remained on their side. The war might have never happened!
With a sigh, Kurama nodded placatingly, he would never understand that side of the girl. The one that looked for the good in all people. "Do what you wish brat. We'll discuss this later. It's time you've finally done your part in all this."
When Kurama saw that only Minato remained in the room, Naruto suddenly felt an all too recognizable tug from behind as if she had been snagged by some invisible rope. She was abruptly yanked back violently into the darkness. The fur-ball actually did it.
"No dammit! Kurama! When I get back, I'm kicking your furry ass!"
'Still as feisty as ever, just like her mother... Damn Uzumaki's.'
The blonde girl, who had been ejected from her own mindscape, her haven, wearily blinked her eyes open. Wincing, when she managed to stare directly into the ceiling light hanging above her.
She clenched her cerulean eyes shut again in hopes of lessening the sudden burning pain, and perhaps prolong the upcoming conversation she desperately wanted to avoid for as long as possible. As long as no one realized she had woken up, then there will be no problems.
Yet, the other occupant of her room had already caught her awaken state. If the gasp of surprise that rang out whenever her eyes had flashed open momentarily were anything to go by.
'Stupid lights...'
She was wake.
When her little body had moved slightly from under the blanket covers, he first thought he had imagined it. Then he saw them, even if had been for only a brief moment.
It had plagued him for days as he watched over her. 'What color were her eyes?'
He had daydreamed that they were just like his. His wish had come true.
Crystal, oceanic eyes blinked wide open before shielding away from the light. A shade of cerulean he had only ever seen on himself.
"Naru-chan?" Minato called out softly.
Dread filled her when she heard that accursed name.
So it had finally begun. Her eternal humiliation.
She tried to hold back the cringe at the title, but it was unavoidable. It was so girly! Thankfully, her "Half-brother" hadn't noticed.
'Kurama, you're such a sadistic bastard. I really hate you sometimes.'
"Hate you too, brat."
'Ass.'
"Idiot."
Knowing there was no use in prolonging the inevitable, Naruto pushed herself up on her forearms and met the awed gaze of the blond Jonin with a feigned confused one of her own.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Her voice hoarse since she hadn't physically spoken in such a long time.
It was time to see how good of an actress she really was. She hoped for all their sakes, she could pull this off.
Her voice had a rough silvery quality to it. It was very appealing and Minato absentmindedly noted that it matched her pretty features even if it did sound hoarse.
Getting over his slight shock at hearing her speak, he poured her a cup of water from a jar next to her bed and offered it to her.
He replied as calmly as possible as to not alarm her as she drank greedily from the cup, "I am Namikaze Minato, and you are in the hospital in Konohagakure of Fire Country. Do you know where that is?"
He noticed the slight apprehension in her when he asked the question. He wondered if she even remembered her own name. Only one way to find out.
"Can you tell me your full name, Naru-chan?"
A frown marred her tan, whiskered cheeks as she placed the cup back on the night stand next to the jar.
"Um, the fur-ball said my name was Naruto, Namikaze Naruto."
She was looking upset now, but he figured it was probably from the strange situation she had woken up in. If only he knew...
"Fur-ball?" Surprise and bafflement laced his baritone voice.
'She couldn't possibly be referring to-'
"Yeah, you know. The giant, orange fox that was talking to me a little while ago before I woke up and saw you." Naruto explained more cheerfully than earlier, seemingly ignorant of the significance of her words.
'No, scratch that she was.'
A bead of sweat formed on his brow. "Oh, I see. You mean the Kyuubi. He was speaking to you. Could you tell me what he said?"
The little blonde nodded. "He said a lot of things. Mostly about how some bad people locked him up inside me or something like that. He started saying big words and it got pretty boring."
The complete disrespect toward the Bijuu was astonishing to say the least.
Minato had to choke back the laughter that was about to escape his twitching lips. She had quite the interesting personality.
Trying to retain his professionalism, the Jonin inquired, "Do you remember anything about that or anything before then?" While the Bijuu had said she wouldn't, it was best to make sure.
She tilted her head to the side in a cute manner and held a petite finger to her chin in a thinking pose before shaking her head. She was so cute!
"Umm... No, I can't really remember anything. It's just a blank. All I can remember is waking up to seeing a big, fluffy fox with cute bunny ears. Though when I tried to hug him, he got all mad and started yelling at me. Kurama is super loud, let me tell ya." She finished saying with a pout.
The laugh this time could not be stifled.
His new little sister had just referred to the greatest of all Bijuu as fluffy and with cute bunny ears. It was too much. She was just too adorable.
Payback is oh-so-sweet.
'Take that, fuzzball! No one messes with Naruto Uzumaki or Namikaze and gets away with it!'
Silence.
Her faithful partner hadn't responded with his usual quip or smartass comment. A tiny part of her was terrified at the implication.
'Oh no, this is bad. He's pissed... I'm screwed...'
Well you reap, what you sow.
Naruto waited until Minato had found his breath before resuming the conversation. She mentally applauded herself for how well her performance was going. It helped when she knew how to already make a mask to hide her true thoughts and feelings.
"So, are we like family or something? Cause we both got the same last name." A small fraction of her died as she said those words. This was it. The door to her past was firmly shut. No going back... This was her present now and her past will not become her future!
"Yes, we are actually. We're siblings, though I couldn't tell you from whose side of the family." Minato responded with a tiny smile. It was too bad she didn't remember her family. She could have told him if it was her mother or father who was the blond with cerulean eyes, then the greatest mystery of his life could finally be solved.
His own pair of cerulean eyes soften with fondness as he looked at the little blonde sitting before him. 'It's still so hard to believe that I have family now.'
That's when it dawned on the young Jinchuuriki the severity of what Kurama had done to her. She wasn't Naruto Uzumaki anymore. That was another her from another time.
That sneaky little...
Namikaze Naruto.
So that's why he had done that.
The old fox had changed her name against her wishes to help her acclimate and acknowledge the difference between her and her past self. The Uzumaki Naruto of her future self had died in that cave when she showed up here in this present time.
She felt tears pool at the corners of her eyes. They streamed down unwilling and unable to stop.
The salty liquid alarmed Minato greatly as he quickly hurried to her side. "What's the matter? Are you hurting?"
It took her several moments to compose herself and respond. She looked up and gazed at the blond Jonin's worried expression with a watery smile on her face.
"I'm fine. I'm just... glad to know I have family here. I was scared I wouldn't have anyone. I didn't want to be alone."
'It's true and a lie at the same time... I've never lied to him before...'
Hearing her self-loathing, Kurama spoke up before she could compromise their mission.
"No, you're not being completely dishonest. Bending the truth is necessary here, remember that."
'You're right. Thanks I needed that.'
"Anytime kid."
Ignorant of the internal conversation between the Bijuu and blonde, Minato responded to Naruto's heartfelt words with a sad smile. "Yeah, I would be too. It must be even more frightening not remembering your past as well."
Focusing back on the man, Naruto shook her head, wiping the lingering tears away with the sleeve of her white hospital gown.
"Kurama, told me it was better if I didn't remember. He said it would save me the pain." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
'Save her the pain? The Kyuubi must really have seen something special in her.'
Minato frowned sadly at her words. He decided to divert the subject to safer waters.
"Kurama?", the blond asked with a raised brow. That was twice she mentioned the name.
"Yeah, it's the fox's name."
Minato was surprised to hear that the ancient chakra creature had an actual name. He was going to say more when his eyes strayed to an old brown clock hanging on the adjacent wall and realized the time. "Well, it's nice to have a name to a face now. So Naru-chan, I'm going to go for a second and get someone I know would like to meet you. I'll be back soon okay?"
He really didn't want to part from her, yet he had to inform his Hokage of his young sister's awakening, plus get the others. If his sensei and his sensei's team-mate had waited a few minutes longer than they would have met the girl too.
"Sure, take your time Minato-nii." Naruto replied with a grin bright enough to grow an entire garden full of roses and lilies.
Then that's when it finally hit him.
He felt time freeze in place as he gazed upon her smiling figure.
'Big brother?'
A smile full of hope and joy bloomed unknowingly on his slightly tan face as he flashed away with a two fingered salute to his forehead.
It felt so odd to call her father big brother. Yet, she had to get used to it sooner or later. It would be even more strange if she had called him dad or something like that.
He didn't look any older than fifteen for heaven's sake!
'Yo! Kurama, you forgive me yet?', she thought with amusement dancing in her oceanic eyes trying to cast aside her troubling thoughts.
"Shut it, brat. Don't think you'll be easily forgiven for that blasphemy you were spewing earlier."
'Well, if you can't take the heat, don't play with fire jerk! You started it anyway!' Naruto retorted in defense.
Kurama snorted haughtily. "Whatever flesh-bag, at the very least your monkey brother bought the whole amnesia thing. He more than likely went to inform the Hokage about your awakening."
The blonde six year old nodded in agreement. 'Yeah, I bet.' She paused and then asked, 'Would you be able to come out of the seal today? It'll be easier if you were present.'
Crimson orbs narrowed thoughtfully as the fox demon pondered the question. "I can, however I will not be able to remain for long just as last time."
'Is there anyway to fix that?'
A sigh escaped orange furred Bijuu. "I've been thinking it over and the only possible solution I see is if I take control of a shadow clone. It requires less chakra than having to maintain a corporeal form myself."
An elated grin spread across whiskered cheeks.
'Okay, I can make you one right now!' She quickly sat up properly on her bed, and brought hands up in a cross hand sign.
"No, stop idiot. You're a six year who has no memories remember? When the tree-huggers get back, tell one of them to do it or else you'll blow our whole cover!" Kurama interrupted with a fierce growl.
'Ugh, fine. I seriously hate being so limited in this body dattebayo!', the blonde answered indignantly.
The Bijuu shrugged uncaring, before narrowing his eyes sharply at the girl. "That reminds me. Watch that infernal verbal tick. It'll make things complicated if they accidentally hear you say it. They'll likely link it to Kushina and ask questions."
She grimaced at the thought. 'You have a point. I'll try, but I can't control it sometimes. It just happens!'
The orange furred fox shook his head as he said, "It isn't as bad as your mothers. You only tend to say it when you get too emotional. So keep a cool head at all times."
'Yeah, yeah. Man, I'm starving! I can't wait to get out of here and get some ramen! It's been forever!' Naruto gripped, her thoughts straying from the current conversation when her stomach growled abruptly in hunger.
"Stop thinking with your stomach idiot! There are more important matters to focus on!" Kurama snarled in response, his anger starting to rise up at the blonde's random bouts of idiocy.
'I know already... But I am hungry.' She mentally pouted as she drooled at the thought of a hot, steaming bowl of miso ramen. 'Oh, this is agony!'
Just as Kurama was about to give a harsh retort, a yellow flash appeared in the room at the foot of the bed.
He'd finally returned, with more than one guest than expected.
Wide oceanic eyes blinked in confusion and awe at the men standing before her.
'Jiji... He looks so much younger in person. He reminds me a lot of Asuma and Konohamaru.' Naru fought back the tears that prickled at the corners of her eyes.
It was so different to see the elder man she loved so dearly in-front of her healthy and whole, most importantly alive, than instead of a screen image. He was so young compared to his wrinkly, sixty year old self. He must have been at least 45 by her guess.
Knowing her derailing thoughts, Kurama tried to help her keep her composure. "They are related. Of course, they'll be similarities between them. Don't start reminiscing brat!"
Though it seemed the blonde was already too lost in her memories...
'And pervy sage too... He looks even younger! Thirty at least!' The tears were getting harder to get rid off.
Sighing, the old fox demon knew it was going to be a chore to get her out of her nostalgia. Yet, he couldn't fault her for it.
"Yes, it is somewhat unnerving to see their younger selves once again." Kurama mused half heartedly as he glanced from within the seal at the gobsmacked white haired man.
Abruptly, Naruto's pleasant thoughts turned toward darker routes.
'Then there's him. He looks like an actual human being, but I didn't want him to know about me just yet. What do we do?'
Nine-tails swished in displeasure as Kurama shared her feelings on the matter.
"Leave that to me kid, inform your brotherI require a shadow clone."
Naruto broke her three-way staring contest to turn her attention toward a beaming Minato.
"Minato-nii, Kurama wants you to make a shadow clone for him. Whatever that is." She added the last bit as an afterthought. Playing the naive child was harder this time around with so much at stake.
Minato's smiled faltered at the sudden request. "A shadow clone?"
"Kurama?" Hiruzen and Jiraiya asked simultaneously, while the other man in the room simply raised a brow.
Ignoring the question, the blond Jonin directed his attention toward his young relative. "What does he need the shadow clone for Naru-chan?"
"He says it's so he can talk to you guys longer outside in person."
Getting an idea as to what the Kyuubi was planning to do, Minato did as request and a doppelganger popped into existence beside him in a puff of white smoke.
Red chakra immediately leaked from out of Naruto's stomach and enveloped the clone. The tension rose as the shinobi stood on edge, waiting for whatever the Bijuu had prepared.
Another cloud of chakra smoke emerged and when it cleared a completely different person was standing next to the blond Jonin.
A shocked gasp left the startled six year old girl. She was awestruck at the new appearance.
Her eyes were glued to a tanned face with three whisker marks on each cheek. A lean, but unmistakably strong body stood before her with a pair of frighteningly familiar slitted, crimson orbs and spiked orange hair, the same shade as a certain Bijuu's fur coat.
Overall the man looked like a red-eyed, orange-haired version of Minato without the front bangs framing his face.
"Kurama!?" If the Bijuu was annoyed at Naruto's outburst, he was doing a great job at hiding it.
The rest of the shinobi in the room were stupefied at the figure slouching against the wall where Minato's clone had once stood.
"Wh-What happened to my shadow clone?" The blond asked with wide eyes.
The orange haired man glanced with little interest at the men in the room, a lazy look in his eye.
"It would be easier for you monkeys to address me properly if I didn't resemble you. This is just a simple transformation. The human appearance is just for securities sake. You never know who might be watching or listening." Kurama answered in a still deep tone, but no where near as booming and cascading as it once had been. The Bijuu sounded like a regular human man.
It was the most bizarre thing any of them had seen. It was a bit disturbing to see how well the fox could imitate a human.
"What is the meaning of all this Minato? Who is this 'Kurama' you're all referring too?" Jiraiya spoke up sharply. His usually cheery voice had gained a dangerous edge to it.
The blond in question gulped nervously. "Um, well... Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox Bijuu. The seal allows him to use some of his chakra outside of the seal. It's not harmful to Naru-chan and the amount he can control is pretty harmless with how little it is." Minato quickly assured the man.
"Sarutobi-sensei, are you certain the Bijuu means us no ill-will?", the pale, snake-eyed man standing in front of the window spoke up with a slight hiss in his voice.
Hiruzen glanced briefly at the orange haired man with unease. "We don't have much of a choice, Orochimaru, but to trust Kurama to keep his word. So far he hasn't gained our mistrust nor our entire trust either." He stated through clenched teeth.
Kurama scoffed at the words. "As much as I enjoy conversing with you weaklings, which I don't, my time is limited. It's best to get down to business. Now Hokage did you do as I asked concerning those two flesh-bags from earlier?"
Hiruzen reluctantly nodded. He didn't like the tone of superiority the Bijuu was prone to using. "Yes, the Chuunin have had their memories wiped. As far as they know, they never left the village last week due to an illness."
Satisfied, Kurama turned his focus toward the gaping elder Namikaze.
"Blond monkey go retrieve the Hatake and Uchiha. It is best if they are present as well."
Kurama had thought long and hard about the peculiar Uchiha. He reminded him of Itachi and Obito. If he was anything like the former and somehow related to the latter, he needed to keep a close eye on him.
Startled at the sudden demand, cerulean orbs flickered questioningly towards Hiruzen.
After getting a nod of agreement from the Hokage, Minato did as instructed and left using his signature jutsu. A silence fell upon the remaining people in the hospital room.
Naruto was finding it difficult to keep her emotions locked safely inside. She sat on her bed with her eyes downcast, picking at the loose threads of her blanket.
She had accepted that she was no longer in her own time, and that she was here now trying to save the future from the coming calamity and destruction that her own time had faced.
Yet, it was so hard to keep the tears bottled up as she averted the curious gazes of the men she had seen as her own grandfather and the teacher that became so dear to her, almost like the father she never got to properly meet.
Their deaths had been blows dealt directly to her heart. She had accepted her mistakes- her failures. And she was given the honor to protect them once again, to protect all those she held most precious.
Naruto vowed once more, that she would not fail this time or die trying- again. She hoped it wouldn't come to that. Dying the first time was pretty painful, she didn't think she would be able to manage a second time.
She paused in her thoughts when she felt her father's familiar signature back in the room. She looked up, her eyes widening as she did so.
Naru knew, from what the fox had said, that Kakashi and his dad looked very similar, but she wasn't prepared to see the same mop of gravity defying silver hair and no mask hiding an incredibly good-looking, masculine face!
'Now I'm really starting to wish I had seen what Kakashi-sensei looked like without his stupid mask!'
Because if he resembled his father...
Her face burned at the thought. She knew was blushing, probably redder than a tomato. It only got worse when Minato and the silver haired man looked at her curiously with concern. The other four watched on curiously.
Well not Kurama. She could almost swear she heard the fur-ball snickering in the back of her mind.
"Naru-chan, are you feeling okay? You're looking a little red there. Do you have a fever?" Minato asked worriedly, on the verge of going to grab the first nurse he came across.
Breaking out of her daze, Naruto nodded quickly and averted her gaze away from them in embarrassment.
Hiruzen chuckled at the girls' antics, the tension leaving his shoulders as he did so. He shared an amused glance with Jiraiya who had also caught onto what had the young blonde blushing.
A notepad was in his hand and the towering man was writing away with a disturbing gleam in his eye.
The Sandaime knew his student was a pervert, but sometimes the degree to which he was left him a little unnerved.
'That idiot better not write so pedophile trash in his next book or else I will skewer him. Writing adult sex scenes is one thing, pedophilia is a completely different matter!'
"Jiraiya." Hiruzen called out with a stern look on his face.
Knowing what was going through his sensei's mind, the white haired shinobi frowned, offended at the slight to his honor. "Don't be getting any weird ideas old man. It isn't what you think."
"It better not or else." Sarutobi muttered dryly before addressing the rest who were baffled at the pair's conversation, not understanding what was being said. Orochimaru did, but he chose to ignore it. His team-mate was a shamelessly fool after all. "Now that Sakumo and Taiga are here, what is it that you wished to say Kurama?"
The Bijuu's bemused red orbs turned deadly when he focused his attention on the Hokage.
"Before I say anything, I want the snake to get out of here."
Minato, Sakumo, and Taiga frowned in confusion at the demand while Hiruzen and Jiraiya stiffened.
"Snake? Who are you talking about?" The Hatake questioned with a raised silver brow.
Crimson orbs narrowed down menacingly at the pale Sannin.
Seeing who the Kyuubi was glaring down, Hiruzen frown deepened and stepped in front of his student.
"Orochimaru is my student. He can be trusted."
"No. I will not associate myself with snakes. In addition, his presence is frightening the girl."
All eyes turned toward the blonde child who could be seen casting wary glances at Orochimaru and shying away from his direction.
Knowing it was best to not argue seeing the child's reactions, the Sannin in question left the room wordlessly. His yellow orbs flickered with interest at the young blonde before closing the door behind him.
Minato was instantly at her side. "Naru-chan? Are you alright?"
She hid her anxiety and worry beneath feigned shyness. "I'm okay. It's just... I didn't like something about him. I got this really scary feeling from him."
It had been so long since she last had been exposed to it and it never felt as vile as it did then. It seemed the seal had heightened her latent sensory abilities.
Kurama nodded in wordless agreement to her assessment. The brat was finally starting to use her head.
"It was his chakra." The orange haired Bijuu clarified. His sudden statement captivating the men.
"Chakra?" Jiraiya asked skeptically, still distrustful of the demon.
"As a Bijuu, I can sense the chakra of others and their emotions through that. Since the brat has me sealed within her, she can sense the chakra of others as well. In plain words, she's a highly-sensitive sensor."
The village's most intelligent and perceptive shinobi nodded in understanding at the explanation and furthered intrigued by the possibilities this could mean.
Minato turned his attention toward the little blonde. "What about Orochimaru's chakra did you not like Naru-chan?"
A hand came up to rub at her neck before settling to play with a random loose strand of her blonde hair. "It felt... dirty. There was something bad about it."
"It was tainted."
"Tainted you say? How so?" Hiruzen questioned sharply, his brown orbs serious.
"It would seem that the Snake has been doing something to blacken his soul. Chakra is one of the few gateway's to the soul after-all."
Sarutobi could do nothing more but look at orange haired man with gritted teeth, knowing he was right. It was something he himself had started to notice over the last few months. His student had changed.
The Toad Sannin scowled at the Bijuu's words. His team-mate and him may not always get along, but that didn't mean he would allow anyone to say something ill about him.
"Now see here, Orochimaru may not be the nicest person or normal around, but he isn't-"
However, before Jiraiya could continue, Kurama cut him off abruptly.
"We can discuss how strange and vile your teammate is at a later time, monkey. Right now there are more important matters at hand."
Minato, Sakumo, and Taiga merely looked between the two, trying to figure out just what all this meant.
An annoyed sigh slid past Kurama's lips as he regarded the men standing in the room before letting his crimson gaze fall upon the Sandaime Hokage.
"Now flesh-bag, tell me what is the current status?"
Hiruzen blinked in surprise. "Status?" He had to make sure he heard that correctly.
"Are you at war or not?"
"War? What makes you say that?" The elder Sarutobi scowled, unable to impede the flash of annoyance at the casual, almost lethargic way the human Bijuu questioned. War was no laughing matter.
"The vision was a like a movie with varying time lapses. The first was about a war where a young boy, a tree-hugger genin, was crushed when a caved collapsed by an Iwa shinobi. Later, then saved by that scum Madara, who used the boy as a tool for his purposes. "
He paused until he was sure he had the man's attention. "The first step in changing this outcome is to prevent Madara from getting his hands on that boy."
Crimson eyes narrowed dangerously.
"So tell me, are you or are you not on the brink of war?"
The numerous skirmishes that had suddenly started to escalate at their borders, and the empty threats that no longer seemed as such from Iwa and Kumo came to mind.
To this inquiry, Sarutobi could not deny. He closed his tired and weary eyes in an attempt to shake off the budding headache. A defeated, drawn out sigh escaped him.
"Yes, we are."
The remaining shinobi gaped in astonishment at the admission, staring incredulous at their leader. They had no idea things had started to get so bad between the hidden villages.
Jiraiya vaguely wondered if that was the reason why his old teacher had sent Sakumo and his team to stop that Suna contingent on their way to Iwa. It seemed that their enemies were already beginning to make their move.
A heavy silence fell around them. The shinobi lost in their wondering and growing sorrow at the prospect of the coming battles and loses.
The Sandaime Hokage could not prevent himself from reaching into his robe and taking out his favored pipe. Inhaling deeply, he unconsciously pulled his ceremonial robes even tighter to his body in an attempt to ward off the sudden chill. Despite there being no draft inside the hospital room.
Gathering his composure once again, Hiruzen diverted the conversation to something he had began to wonder.
"Kurama, what boy do you speak of?"
Orange haired Bijuu shrugged. "Don't know, but he was an Uchiha with an active Sharigan." Kurama answered as vaguely as possible locking eyes with Taiga. The previously relaxed man stiffened at the revelation, but he wasn't entirely surprised by it. It made sense that Madara would use an Uchiha to do his bidding.
This time it was Minato's turn to frown in thought. "It can't be as simple as saving one boy for the entire future to change?"
Kurama scoffed. "Of course not, it will simply play better in our favor to have that boy on our side. In the final moments of the vision, the boy had grown up and became a man with great power. A power he used to capture the Bijuu and start a fourth world war."
With that line of thought, his words were met with stunned silence.
Minato swallowed bitterly as he leveled a serious gaze at the humanoid Kyuubi. "So what else must be prevented then?"
Kurama's crimson orbs flickered momentarily toward the blond before settling toward the window. "The Manipulation of the Mizukage."
"Mizukage?!" All present in the room exclaimed in astonishment.
A sigh escaped the Bijuu as he watched the clouds effortlessly cross the azure sky. "Yes, from what I understood from that particular part of the vision, Madara had the Third and Fourth Mizukage under a genjutsu. He was controlling them.
The Hokage snuffed his pipe and fixed a strong look on to the orange haired bijuu. "When does this happen?"
"Can't really say, but it is highly probable that the Third Mizukage is already under his control."
Hiruzen nodded slowly as he tried to remember the details concerning Kiri and their stance in the up-coming war. "At the moment, the Sandaime Mizukage is neutral in regards to the war. Tell me what all do you know of this war?"
"Iwa, Kiri, Kumo, Suna, and Konoha are all involved. Small nations do as well, but Amegakure is one you have to worry about the most."
"Ame?" Jiraiya voiced with a frown marring his face. Rain plagued country was a touchy subject for him.
"Yes, there are three young teens from that nation who are one of the catalyst for the Fourth Shinobi war."
The white haired Sannin took a step forward. "Who are they?" His tone deadly. If it was three teens in Ame than it could only mean...
Kurama momentarily paused in thought before answering, "I don't know names, but of the three, one was a red headed boy with the eye's of the Sage."
"Eye's of the Sage?" Minato questioned, but was ignored.
A wistful expression crossed Jiraya's face as he digested the words. "Nagato..." murmured the man in disbelief.
He rushed to ask, urgency clear in his voice. "Bijuu was one of them a girl with blue hair and the other a boy with orange spiky hair?"
Kurama narrowed his eyes at the man. "Yes, how do you know that?" Internally, he was relieved that the Toad Sannin quickly pieced together the clues he gave. Things were finally going to be set into motion.
"It's Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko! I'm sure of it!" Jiraiya exclaimed confidently.
Hiruzen frowned in thought. "You mean those kids you trained a few years ago?"
Flashes of distant memories of three children raced across his mind at the question. The white haired shinobi shook his head to clear his mind. It would do him no good to start drifting down memory lane right now.
"Yes, them! Nagato had the Rinnegan! I haven't heard from them in quite a while, but I'm sure that's who Kurama is talking about!"
"Would someone be kind enough as to explain what's going on?" Sakumo asked in an exasperated tone. He couldn't keep up with any of this dammit. They weren't making any damn sense!
No wait, it wasn't that they weren't making any sense. It was just that he wasn't informed of any of what they were discussing, so he wasn't able to keep up with what they were saying. 'Who the hell was Nagato?'
Taiga nodded in agreement. He was beyond confused.
"Sensei..." Minato softly said in confusion.
However, Jiraiya was oblivious to the outside world. His focus completely devoted to a single thought. "Old man, I must go to Ame immediately!"
Kurama nodded in agreement. "That is a wise idea. The Rinnegan will be very valuable in the future. Madara manipulates the boy as well into capturing the Bijuu for him alongside that Uchiha boy."
That was a sobering statement.
"Then go Jiraiya, bring those kids to Konoha back with you. If it is as Kurama says then it will be best to have them here in the village under our supervision and protection." Hiruzen gave his approval, but not before reminding his troublesome pupil. "Don't forget the opposition you'll probably face from Hanzo. Try and do this without that old war-hawk getting wind of this."
Jiraiya snorted. "Who do you think I am? I'll be in and out right from under their noses and no one will be none the wiser."
With those parting words, the Toad Sannin disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Noticing the tug from the seal, Kurama sighed warily. "My chakra is starting to waver, there is one final thing I must inform you of that you need to know."
Sakumo raised an inquiring brow. "What is it?"
"Be weary of a man with a scar in the shape of an X on his chin and a bandaged eye."
Hiruzen frowned at this. "Are you speaking of Danzo?" Remembering the wounds his comrade had received in the last war.
Turning his attention to him, he said, "I do not know names just physical features, but if it is who you believe it to be than yes. He is a Konoha nin that much I do know." Kurama responded keeping to his decision of answering vaguely. However, he pointedly caught Taiga's eyes. By his wary expression, Kurama knew he got the message.
Cerulean orbs narrowed in suspicion. "Why do you not trust Danzo?" Minato asked.
"He is corrupt. His future actions drove Konoha to its ruin."
At that statement, a sense of dread filled the Sandaime's heart. He clearly recalled the day his teammate had asked for the creation of his Root branch. An organization he was beginning to loathe.
"I understand. I will do as you say. My old comrade does have a darken heart. I've seen as much." Hiruzen's brown eyes grew more wearisome as he spoke. The leader of the Leaf seemed to have aged before their eyes.
Kurama gave a sharp nod at the tired looking Hokage. "We will talk again later flesh bag. A reminder, do not share any information to that student of yours or this Danzo. The less people who know about the girls condition the better."
Hiruzen forced his body to relax. He retained everything the human Bijuu had told him for future conversations. He had so many questions and things he wanted answered, but he knew that there will be a time and place for that. Now was not that time. "Agreed."
A pop could be heard and the humanoid Kyuubi was no longer with them in the room.
Sarutobi let out a sigh as he let his shoulder sag slightly. That conversation had taken more out of him than he had previously thought.
"So when can I get out of here?"
Naruto's sudden question, startled the shinobi who remained. They had completely forgotten she was in the room.
Minato sheepishly rubbed the back of his head as he replied, "Just a couple more hours, Naru-chan."
A cute pout formed on her pink lips. "Aw man! This place is boring!"
"Don't worry Naru-chan, I'll be here to keep you company."
A grin plastered itself on her whiskered face. "Well okay then, but where will I live once I get out of here?"
Seeing the look his blond Jonin was shooting at him, Hiruzen answered the girl, "Minato-kun is your relative, it is only right that you live with him. He shall become your guardian."
An uneasy smile formed on the Namikaze's lips. "Is that alright with you Naru-chan?"
"Sure! But first I want some ramen!"
The fire in her eyes left no room for argument, yet Minato couldn't help but ask, "Ramen?" 'She reminds me of Kushina-chan.' The blond seal master chuckled in amusement at the sudden comparison.
Her eyes soften from their fierce expression. "Yes, Kurama told me that I really liked it."
"He told you?" Sakumo inquired, ignorant of the blonde's amnesic state.
"Kurama has been filling in the gaps in her memory apparently." Minato explained to them.
The Hatake's steel eyes saddened. He had hoped that the fox had been wrong. "No memories at all from before then?"
Naruto shook her head in response. "Nope, but it ain't so bad. Kurama tells me that my parents loved me a whole lot!"
"Loved?" Sarutobi echoed, intrigued by the little girl.
A small, wistful smile tugged at her small lips, as Naruto lost herself in a distance timeline full of unforgettable memories. "Yeah, he said that they died trying to protect me, but I shouldn't be sad. I have family here too!"
Blue eyes watched as the young blonde smiled sadly, his hands clenched into fists at his side. "Yes, you certainly do."
Minato forced himself to cast away those pessimistic thoughts and focused on cheering up his little sister. "I'll go get you some ramen right now Naru-chan, how about it? I'll also go get you a change of clothes so you don't have to wear that hospital gown anymore."
The young Jonin was on the brink of tears, his composure about to break.
Noticing this, Sakumo stepped in with a smile as he said, "Maa, Namikaze-san. Why I don't I go get it? That way Naru-chan here isn't left alone for long. Take your time getting the clothes."
"Oh alright then, thank you. I appreciate it." Minato stiffened slightly at the underlying request, a weary sigh escaping him. 'So he noticed.'
"It's no problem." The Hatake either decided to ignore this or simply didn't notice it as he continued to say, "So Naru-chan, what type of ramen would you like?"
The girl in question was confused at the sudden change in mood, but gave a friendly smile before replying, "Miso ramen with extra pork, please!"
"Alright, I'll be back soon!"
Following after the departing Hatake, Hiruzen bid farewell to the two blond's before heading to his office. Taiga followed after him, but stopped momentarily at the doorway.
"If either of you ever need anything, feel free to ask."
Minato and Naruto were a little surprised to see an Uchiha smile, but they nodded nonetheless. Grateful smiles on their lips. He left with a wave leaving the two alone.
Just as the Elder Namikaze was about to go get the clothing, Naruto stopped him as an idea occurred to her. "Hey, Minato-nii, do you have anything I could draw on? I'm bored."
Minato blinked in surprised before replying with a bright smile, "Sure." The blond took out a blank scroll from within his Jonin vest and handed it to the girl alongside a brush and jar of ink.
"I'll return soon Naru-chan. Hatake-san shouldn't be too long so you won't be alone for long okay?"
"No worries Minato-nii!" The little blonde waved farewell with a sunny grin.
A flash of yellow glowed brilliantly in the room before disappearing as fast as it had appeared.
"So will you finally tell me where we are going Dad?" A young silver haired boy asked with an exasperated tone towards the man who had kidnapped him from the park where he had been playing with the kids from his class.
"We're going to visit a new friend of mine. They're at the hospital right now recovering from a pretty harsh ordeal."
Kakashi raised a brow. "Okay, but why do I have to come with you?"
Sakumo chuckled at his cute little son. "Don't you want to spend some time with your old man or are you too grown up for such things?" Sakumo teased the masked wearing boy as he fondly ruffled his hair.
"Well I don't mind, but why did we stop and get ramen then if you're visiting a friend?" Kakashi gestured toward the box of takeout he was currently holding.
"The ramen is actually for my friend. I promised I'd go get some."
The young boy frowned in thought. He couldn't remember any friend of his dad who liked ramen very much. "I see. So... who is your friend?"
The familiar building of the medical bay was getting closer and closer as they neared.
Sakumo's smile turned mischievous at the inquiry. "Now that's a surprise, son. You'll meet them when we get there." He opened the doors to the hospital and led his son through the winding corridors.
The walk through the hospital halls was led in silence until Sakumo came to a stop in front of one of the many doors and slid it open. He motioned for the silver haired boy behind him to walk forward first before following after him, closing the door as he did so.
Sakumo didn't miss the way his son froze in place when he spotted the girl sitting upright on the white bed with a scroll on her lap, writing away. She hadn't looked up from her work, so Sakumo announced their arrival.
"Hey Naru-chan, I brought your ramen and a... special guest." The Hatake finished with a teasing smile.
Hearing him, the blonde turned her attention toward the man. When Naru spotted the boy, her eyes widen in surprise.
A million things had raced through his mind, when his father had said they were visiting a friend of his at the hospital.
Kakashi had been expecting to see an adult with bandages and injuries covering them, not a young girl who seemed perfectly fine.
Especially not one that had completely taken his breath away when his eyes had first landed on her.
Long flowing, golden blonde hair shined so brilliantly as the afternoon sun-rays fell upon them. When she glanced up at his father's words and their eyes met, Kakashi felt his heart skip a beat and speed up violently, pounding in his chest. His masked face had never felt as hot and suffocating as it did then.
She had the most beautiful shade of cerulean eyes he had ever seen. The whisker-like birthmarks that adorned her cheeks made her look exotic and cute.
She was undeniably the most stunning girl he had ever met in his life.
Then he heard her voice.
It was melodious, silvery even, and oh-so appealing to his ears.
In his musings, he had completely missed what she said to him. Not wanting to seem even more rude by not answering her, he said the first thing that came to mind.
"Uh, did you say something?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the young Hatake felt like taking a kunai to the heart.
'I sound like a total idiot!'
The saying 'first impressions matter', echoed in his mind relentlessly. He failed to notice the slight twitch the girl had developed over her left eye.
Yet, before he could fall into his despair and growing embarrassment, he was first graced with her charming laugh, and never before had he wished he had something to hide behind. He could even hear the snickers his own father was trying to hide behind his hand. The traitor.
He didn't get a chance to finish his current thoughts because at that moment, his vision was blocked out by the cute face of the blonde girl who sported a blinding smile.
Kakashi also then noticed the close proximity between their faces, and he immediately back away with an even brighter and hotter blush on his masked face.
Giggling at the boy's antics, Naruto stated with a bright grin, "I can tell we're going to be best friends. So what's your name kid?"
Trying to regain a semblance of his usual cool composure, the silver haired boy replied with a forced scowl, "Hatake Kakashi. And I'm not a kid."
The blonde snorted in amusement. "Sure you're not. You're just short."
"I am not short. I'm tall for my age." Kakashi retorted defensively.
"Oh, so how old are you?" Her blues eyes danced with mischief and something else the young Hatake couldn't place.
"Five, but I'm already in the academy."
He didn't know why he had to make sure she knew that, but a part of him rebelled at the thought of being looked down at because of his age.
What was wrong with him? He'd never cared about such things before. 'This girl is making me feel all weird...' He felt so childish and knew that his replies reflected that, but something was messing with his equilibrium.
Naruto giggled softly. "I'm five too! We're the same age!"
A surge of annoyance rose at the haughty smirk the blonde was sending him.
Choking back the laugh that had risen at the children's interaction, Sakumo stepped up toward his son and patted his shoulder. "Ah son, why don't you continue talking with Naru-chan after you give her the food we brought her. It won't taste very good once it gets cold."
Kakashi nodded in understanding reluctantly. "Right. Here." He extended the boxed bowl toward the blonde.
Naruto's cerulean orbs sparkled as she gazed upon the box and she hesitantly reached forward, almost as if afraid to touch it. "Is this..."
Seeing how reluctant she was to accept it, Kakashi responded, "If you don't want it, we can bring you something else." He shuffled uncomfortably as he saw tears pooling at the corners of her eyes.
"No! I just... Sorry." Naruto sniffed and rubbed at her eyes.
She had fought to the bitter end to keep the waterworks at bay, but seeing the dear teacher turned into an adorable little boy and smelling the painfully familiar scent of her favorite ramen had proven to be too much for her.
Kakashi stiffened in alarm seeing the crying girl. "What's the matter? It's just ramen." The young boy frowned, eyeing the box in his hands with suspicion.
Seeming to understand what was going on with the little blonde, Sakumo gripped his son's shoulder lightly, catching his attention. "How about Kakashi and I go get you something to drink with your ramen? We'll be back in a little bit Naru-chan, okay?" His kind dark orbs crinkling softly at the corners.
The young Jinchuuriki nodded pathetically, not daring to say a word, grateful for the moment of privacy the older man was providing.
Once the door closed behind the somber shinobi and his baffled son, Naru retreated into her seal.
"Kurama!"
The desolate cry of despair tore at the Bijuu's heartstrings.
"It's alright. You'll be okay. You've suffered tougher things. This will be just another challenge to overcome."
Yet, his rare encouraging words went unheard as the echoing cries of a young girl, older than she seemed, lost in a time not her own with people she loved dearly. Yet, she truly did not know who they were in this time, regardless of knowing who they were to become in the future.
Life was full of ironies wasn't it?
A/N
Hope you guys liked it!
Until next time dear readers!