Chapter 10: All Shades Of Black- Age 12, Day 2
"All shadows of clouds the sun cannot hide
like the moon cannot stop oceanic tide;
but a hidden star can still be smiling
at night's black spell on darkness, beguiling"
― Munia Khan
Naruto-Team 7
'Stop. Concentrate.'
Jiraiya won't be with him today and neither will Hinata.
He tempers the ebbs of rage to be back in his preteen body, to have these long stares of indifference, annoyance, and outright anger casted on him again for wanting to be strong; relied upon. Clicking his tongue, he reviews all that he knows currently and what he should do next.
Traveling back to Konoha doesn't seem feasible, he's miles away and there's no way Kakashi-sensei would let him return without him instantly becoming suspicious of his identity and what his motives are to suddenly abandon a mission he begged for.
And besides that, it would be dangerous to leave his team behind when Zabuza and Haku are in the area...
"Hurry it up brat! Geez, you're wasting my time being this slow!" Tazuna grunts as Naruto moves to his stand.
"He's right Naruto, we really don't have the time to dawdle." Sakura adds, crossing her arms hoping Naruto isn't about to try and pull some elaborate dumb 'plan' to show-off his supposed skills. Still, it's a bit odd Naruto hasn't bounced awake with energy, he'd normally be trying to race ahead of all of them to play leader.
'Is he feeling sick? Ugh, we're going to look even worse to our client if he ate something expired or poisonous!' She frowns.
Naruto sighs, prick of ire rising up at Tazuna's harshness, both Sakura and Sasuke's open annoyed looks. But he can understand Tazuna's impatience, hears the hint of worry lacing his voice being out in the open like this. The surrounding woods are seemingly quiet, greenery coming alive with streaks of golden yellows and reds hitting the canopies. Warblers and sparrows skitter into the deeper parts of the forests though, swallowed into the darkness maybe sensing already the coming danger.
Because for Tazuna, just coming to Konoha in the first place put a target on his back.
'No wait. Before Zabuza attacked us, weren't there two other enemies?' Naruto tries to recall as they get moving again. His eyes fall to a puddle in the corner, out of place water in an area that isn't damp with mud anywhere else, probably hasn't seen rain in days...
"You better not slow us down any further Naruto." Sasuke grunts, can see from how his current expression looks his mind isn't fully here.
Naruto hears the swish of clanging metal coming from his left and remembers then.
Those Demon Brothers.
'I'm not afraid this time.'
More than anything, he's pissed.
If he and Hinata have to keep looping, then he's going to ensure these criminals get a true punishment. That he learns as much as he can on who else they conduct business with and why before today ends.
"Do your best to stay calm Naruto, showing off too much skill and power will confuse and frighten your team." Kurama warns.
"I'm not going to do anything too extreme." Naruto assures him.
The only people he feels like truly harming are those connected to the time device, who have no true remorse or care for what they've done...
And then he blocks out Kurama's voice, flicks out a kunai as the first brother Meizu approaches in. He dives under his coming shuriken chain, plunging the blade of his kunai deep into his stomach. He slices it across in a jagged angle before he can even think to react and defend himself, blood oozing out.
Meizu's eyes widen in horror as he freezes in place, scream tearing from his throat.
Naruto gathers a swirl of wind as he attempts another swing of his chain.
"Rasengan!"
Naruto pushes him away, blast ripping apart metal and cloth, twists to Gōzu who stares between him and his fallen older brother flung meters away in shock.
'How?! A little kid shouldn't be so fast as to escape from Meizu's poison chains!'
He grits his teeth. "Bastard! I'll make sure to kill you nice and slow for daring to harm my brother!"
Naruto ignores his barbed threats, thinks of Boruto and Himawari's smiles, of Hinata, of this endless loop he and Hinata keep doing of days they've already lived through...
"Don't worry, you'll be dealing with one of my associates soon enough." Kabuto had promised more or less.
These men, even if they tied them up like previously and left them to be arrested he's sure would just go back to Gatō and his men, continue this life of crime robbing or killing any passing person whether they be shinobi or civilian.
Kabuto didn't fully rehabilitate, why would these two?
"You both should suffer. You didn't care what happened to the past men and women who unfortunately crossed paths with you two. Let this be a reminder that neither of you are as strong as you believe." Naruto mentions quietly enough for only Gōzu to hear.
He's behind Gōzu before his gauntlet can jab into his arms or legs, pierces and embeds a second kunai into his neck. He aims right into the nerves where Sakura had once told him paralysis can set in if damaged, Gōzu instantly crumpling to the ground.
"Good job scaring your team! They'll be suspicious of you for the rest of today now." Kurama remarks dryly.
"Scared?" Naruto repeats.
His stomach flips abruptly as his anger cools, taking in the weight of Kurama's words, turning back towards his team.
Tazuna stares at him now with shock and fear, tips his hat low to avoid his gaze. Sasuke looks quietly stunned while Sakura trembles when their eyes meet, glancing to Kakashi-sensei for some type of explanation on what she just witnessed.
Kakashi-sensei's face is unreadable, but he must know something is off about him again, dark eye crinkling.
"Well Naruto that was...impressive. We can talk about those abilities of yours later." He remarks.
'Where has he been hiding that type of power for me not to notice it?' Kakashi studies him.
It wasn't the Nine Tails Fox, but the way Naruto moved just now was with deadly intent; anger.
His mind briefly goes back to the afternoon when they first became a team, introductions made...
This isn't Naruto, at least not the Naruto he's used to.
Naruto catches his stare and the darkness within his azure eyes confirms it.
'How old did he say he was then? 23? 25?'
There's hundreds of things he wants to ask him, but now is not the time in front of everyone, if he even gets the chance to ask him about the future before today ends...
Tazuna takes a step back, swallowing.
"Hey, you're not going to go all ballistic like that once we reach the village, right? It's bad enough we're dealing with Gatō and his cronies and I don't want to bring in an outsider prone to angry outbursts that will only add to everyone's anxiety!"
Naruto forces on a weak grin, dredging up a lie before he his worries start to sink in.
"I'm fine! I promise, y'know! Let's get them tied up and back on the road!"
Their skeptical looks burn on his back. He might've taken out the brothers with ease, but in the process he's started a catalytic effect.
Without anyone having to say anything, he knows like Kurama said he's just created more trouble for himself...
Hinata-Hyuga Compound
It's a struggle to focus.
Her gaze wanders to outside the practice hall, taking in red and gold hues skimming along the garden and koi pond. Back to being a preteen she'd bemused while washing her face. She misses the tulips along with Himawari's favorite sunflowers and wisteria sliding the edges of the garden, hates this constant waking to another incorrect time and place...
"Pay attention Lady Hinata; you don't want to incur Master Hiashi's wrath again; do you?" Ko warns from her side with a sharp poke to her hand.
Hinata immediately straightens her posture quickly before Father can look in her direction, but she need not worry, his pearl orbs stay focused on Hanabi as she attempts to land a proper palm strike on their Grandfather.
"Again." Hiashi orders, Hanabi nodding before starting the pattern of jabs once more.
Despite the changes she's made, she's still become mostly invisible to him. Perhaps Father just saw those previous bursts of change in her personality and strength as mere flukes, still unfitting to be the next leader of their clan.
For the first time in days since their time looping began, Naruto isn't beside her.
And telling from conversations she'd overheard from Team 10 and Kurenai-sensei during a quick early morning briefing, he's on a mission with his team to the Land of Waves.
'It's fine. I just have to use this day to collect research on my own.'
Which means no more wasting time here at the manor.
She moves to stand, ignoring the confused and angered looks casted her way for interrupting.
Hiashi finally glances her way, white of his eyes seeming to ice over seeing that she is the cause of the disruption.
"Do you have something to say Hinata?" He asks.
Hinata shakes her head, straightens her back.
"I'm heading out since I'm not needed here right now."
A low murmuring of gasps from both Main and Branch members ripple out from the sharpness of her remark. Hiashi's gaze narrows at her tone before scoffing and looking away with a scowl.
"Do what you want. I have no interest in a Hyuga unwilling to fight no matter the situation at hand."
'She's showing that odd change of attitude again, I don't know what triggers it.' He sighs.
He can't worry about it right now, he'll have a talk with her later maybe.
Hanabi gazes at her sadly, hurt for her that Father treats her with such indifference before quickly masking it when Hiashi nods for her to get back into stance again.
Hinata schools her face into one of calm, disregards the continued looks sent her way puzzled by her actions as she starts back for her room. It stings yes that Father is treating her so coldly again, but it comes with the territory of being 12 again, of not being a worthy heiress or shinobi in his eyes...
'Anyways, I need to head into the main centers of the village to see what I can find out on Kabuto and anyone else that's been working with him.'
She packs a bag quickly before Ko or Neji can possibly stop her, gathers up the herbs she saved from past missions. Goosebumps race down her back as she closes up her bag, senses it's too late to stop the latter from approaching her as she hears footsteps come around the corner.
"You're acting strange again this morning; why?" Neji asks bluntly.
Hinata half-turns to him, he must sense she's once again this interloper who has taken her younger self's body, a stranger inhabiting a version of herself from years ago.
"I time leaped, though I don't know if that makes any sense to you."
Neji's expression remains impassive.
"Try me."
It occurs to her then that unlike with Jiraiya, she's never fully explained to her family yet during her preteen loops what's been going on with her for the past few days, always puzzled by her sudden bursts of confidence and attitude.
"Naruto and I, we're both actually 25. Every morning for over the past week we wake in a different time and place we've either lived through or not."
Neji gazes at her silently for a long minute before nodding.
"Ah, that explains your certainty in yourself. You didn't even stutter once in front of Uncle back there."
Hinata looks taken aback. "You...believe me?"
Neji scoffs. "Not fully, but I know you would never say something so bizarre if it didn't have some merit of truth behind it."
He watches as she hauls her backpack into her shoulders, stretching out all her joints in preparation.
"So where are you going now then?"
Hinata's gaze hardens. "To find Kabuto, or at least one of his associates that worked on the time device that started this problem for Naruto and I."
Neji moves aside from her doorway, Hinata catching his hand before he can strike her side.
Opalescent eyes widen slightly at her speed.
Hinata is telling the truth.
She peers at him with barely restrained annoyance. "Why are you trying to attack me?"
Neji chooses his words carefully, this is a Hinata who can take him on in a fight, memories bubbling up of her barely 7 year old form pinning him to the ground, rage dancing into her features tired of his coldness, of believing he to be an imposter...
"I wanted to test you; good luck."
The wind chills her arms as she walks through the late morning rush of Konoha's crowds.
Kabuto didn't really make an appearance in the village until the chunin exams, clicking her tongue wondering where to start.
'He must have spies within the village already passing along information back to him and Orochimaru.' She assumes.
Her gaze moves to the Hokage office, activating her byakugan when she sees two shadows slink around the corners along the rooftops.
She pulls out a liquid vial of crushed belladonna.
'I'll start with those two.'
Naruto-Tazuna's House, Land of Waves
"Thank you for the meal!"
Sakura smiles graciously to Tsunami and Tazuna as she rests her chopsticks upon her bowl, peering halfway towards Naruto to see if he's trying to compete with Sasuke to finish his bowl first like the many times he's done before at Ichiraku's.
However, his gaze remains focused on his bowl, eating at his pork curry slowly. She risks a glance to Sasuke who's been equally as quiet, dark eyes observing Naruto freely for anything out of the ordinary.
'He's been strangely quiet since encountering those Demon brothers, but that couldn't have been Naruto, right? Maybe Kakashi-sensei used a mix of the substitution and transformation jutsus?' Sakura considers. Naruto does fight in unorthodox ways, though the skills he showed back then were beyond that of a genin or even chunin.
Her stomach churns then at how much things still went sideways despite Naruto's abrupt burst of strength, jumping into action with Sasuke breaking Kakashi-sensei out of the forming water prison Zabuza embroiled him in.
'Zabuza warned us all to turn back or face certain death, what exactly have we walked into?' Sakura balls up her hands, hates how ashen and pale they look under the florescent lights.
'You're a kunoichi Sakura; get it together!' She pumps herself up.
Stronger. How she currently is won't ever be enough when the day comes for her to fight without Naruto or Sasuke's presence.
"Thank you for the onigiri and curry tonkatsu." Naruto adds quietly, interrupting her thoughts.
Tsunami simply nods, everything Father told her about his encounter with this boy seems the exact opposite of what he described. Naruto's been nothing but polite and quiet since entering their home.
Naruto shifts himself to stand, itching for fresh air, to get away from these long stares.
He mind drifts back to Hinata, memories of crossing through these winding forests and rivers during their honeymoon excursion.
"Are you sure this a shortcut? We're not lost?" Hinata asks, knows even without her byakugan they've been walking in circles.
They can always just stop now and have their picnic here within the bogs and marshlands.
Naruto tenses, looking around nervously. Is that the same tree he marked with a kunai 30 minutes ago?! "No! I mean, I'm sure we're close to that field I was telling you about, y'know!"
Though his confidence ebbs further at turning to see Hinata's teasing smile.
She steps forward to him, fingers brushing at his warming cheeks, lips sweet from the honey-cinnamon bar she ate earlier.
"Maybe it's time to consult the map we brought along." Hinata giggles, retrieving it from her bag. The Land of Waves has grown after all since Naruto's last visit here, importing and exporting goods to as far away as Kumogakure now.
Naruto meanwhile studies his compass before nodding to himself, grabbing Hinata's hand.
"Hold on, I know where we're going now; trust me!" He announces determinedly, pushing through dense vines and twisting thorn bushes.
Hinata squeezes at his hand, grin widening when he abruptly moves behind her and covers her eyes.
"No peeking! And no byakugan either!" Naruto gently commands, breath tickling her neck. He presses her back into him and Hinata sighs feeling the beginnings of his erection rub up against her, desire as his fingers skim along her back.
"I can smell rain coming, guess we'll be soaked by the time we get back to the hotel." Hinata muses.
"I'll cover you with my jacket! Don't want any other guys to see your body." Naruto grunts.
They walk in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Naruto suddenly stops them, slowly moves his fingers away.
Hinata gasps in awe at the bird's eye view Naruto's taken them to. The Land of Wave's buildings are mere specks in the distance, crystalline blue rivers sparkling in late afternoon sunlight.
She points to the Great Naruto Bridge, beams watching tourists flock around it's entrance to take pictures or make silly poses.
Naruto sinks them to the ground, Hinata turning to gaze at him.
"We should...come here again once we have kids; a summer vacation."
Naruto nods, gently tumbles Hinata into the grass, hovering above her. He slides up her shirt until her bra is exposed, drops a kiss between her breasts. He'd managed to convince Hinata nobody would look for them this deep in woods, will hear their lovemaking.
Her arms move to wind around his neck, Naruto chuckling at her eagerness.
"Well, let's get started on the act of creating them, y'know!"
"I'm going to take a short walk." Naruto announces aloud before his thoughts spiral any deeper.
He needs to investigate more into Gatō's most elite bodyguards, the ones who lingered in the village after they left originally to get an idea of what type of trouble they caused, who they went to work under next...
"If you go outside, one of Gatō's men is just going to capture and kill you." Inari states flatly.
'They should be more worried about me killing them than vice versa.' Naruto muses, bending himself to eye level with him.
"Don't live in fear Inari, know that I and our team will take care of Gatō and everyone working under him y'know." He promises.
Onyx eyes soften a degree before glazing over once more, looking away.
"I doubt it, heroes don't exist." He snorts, Tsunami sends him a reprimanding look as he quickly harshly pushes himself up from the table to his room.
His lunch sits cold, water knocked over onto the tatami mats.
"I'm sorry! It's just been very painful for Inari since Kaiza's death; it hangs over the village like a cloud. Inari's never opened himself up fully to anyone since seeing his execution." Tsunami apologies before rushing after him.
Naruto sighs, this weariness towards him coats everything, avoided stares and scooting away from his side. Inari looked at him despondently, futile still in his mind to take on Gatō and his ring of bodyguards, Kaiza doing so costed him his life after all.
Sasuke grits his teeth, standing as well. "Hold on, he has a point. You shouldn't be roaming around here alone, we don't know what type of traps or shinobi he has on hand to kidnap or kill us."
Naruto simply shrugs. "Well, I don't like just sitting still either y'know."
He already knows about Haku and Zabuza, people he must either kill or have things play out relatively the same as before...
Zabuza's figure comes out of a swirl of mist, smell of sweat and iron embedded in his skin.
He scowls viciously as his eyes land on Naruto, surprised he noticed his appearance first, kunai pressed to his neck.
Fast. He could slice at his throat in an instant.
Naruto hears the thrum of his speeding heartbeat, hesitates knowing his murder won't fix his problems here and now, won't probably stop his and Hinata's looping...
"You. I can see it in your eyes that you've seen war and bloodshed too, huh kid? I like that; we'll have a proper duel to the death later!" He snickers, pushing him back at his hesitation.
His head half turns to a coming water dragon, scoffing.
"First I gotta kill this sensei of yours! Oh the bounty I'll get for taking out the infamous Kakashi of the Sharingan!" He cheers, making another hand signal.
"Water release: Water Tornado!"
A vortex of water swirls up, obscuring Zabuza from view. Naruto scowls, follows him into the fog where he hears the clash of metal ring out.
If there's one positive of being stuck in his younger body, it's that people don't take him seriously until it's too late.
He gathers a swirl of wind in his hands, leaps forth to get between them.
"Rasengan!"
The blast tears into Zabuza's back, too late to avoid as he throws up his sword in a last minute defense.
Zabuza begins to topple, wrappings coming loose revealing blackened, torn flesh. Blood leaks down his arms and back, dark eyes peering back Naruto's way in outrage while Kakashi closes in for his chest.
'Shit, I'm going to pass out. That kid isn't human.'
His vision blurs, shoulders abruptly held up before he can fall.
"Enough. Zabuza Momochi is my kill." Haku announces, senbon needle stabbed into his neck before Kakashi or Naruto can move in. Naruto gives chase after him, unleashes another gale of wind that pierces his back, forces Haku to glance back at him in surprise and worry.
'He could've killed us both just then!' It's him that's the deadlier of the two.' He realizes.
Haku picks up the pace, leaps away with Zabuza's body deeper into the haze, Naruto clicking his tongue.
Their deaths now would just mean Zabuza wouldn't come to realize Haku's true importance to him, for Zabuza to get a chance exact his revenge against Gatō and his band of mercenaries and thieves.
"Do you know who that was?" Kakashi asks as he catches his breath.
Naruto nods, sighing.
"Haku; his partner. He's still alive, Haku just put him in semi-conscious state."
Kakashi stops him before he can go to check on the others, sharingan eye still visible in warning.
"First, confirm my suspicions. Tell me who you are."
"I won't be gone more than hour, come with me then." Naruto suggests.
Sasuke's eyes narrow. It doesn't seem like Naruto is about to pull some prank on him, most of the morning into the afternoon he's been lost in his thoughts.
'What's going on with him? Not even Kakashi-sensei will explain.' He frowns.
Naruto, who yesterday nearly accidentally stabbed his own hand in trying to ensure they weren't being followed in the woods right outside of Konoha now could perfectly control his chakra, could come to Kakashi-sensei's aid in a fight with a world renown missing-nin.
He grits his teeth until the taste of iron hits his tongue, hands wound at his sides slowly turning a deep scarlet red.
When did Naruto become this strong?
Kakashi looks between them both, too exhausted still to fully stop them. Pain ripples from the back of his head, scratching a hand through his locks. He should try and eat something as well, but what Naruto told him earlier spins through his mind.
"Yes, I'm the 25 year old Naruto. I don't know how Hinata and I got back to this age again, but we aren't doing it on purpose, y'know! It's something to do with a device Kabuto made with a team." Naruto describes.
"Tell me something you shouldn't know; a detail I can commit to memory now whenever this happens again." Kakashi orders quickly at Sakura and Tazuna's approach.
Naruto doesn't waste a moment. "I know you were a former student of my Father's: The Fourth Hokage, Minato. And better yet, there's something more important you need to know that will affect Konoha in the not too far future: Obito is still alive."
"Kakashi-sensei, do you want me to fix you a bowl?" Sakura suggests, startling him. Verdant orbs watch him in concern, everyone is on edge. It would be easy to blame the tension on Naruto, but Gatō's bodyguards are just as much at fault.
"Sure." He responds simply, gaze still focused on Naruto and Sasuke.
"You're not scared; right?!" Naruto can't help but jest, knows he shouldn't egg Sasuke on, though he's already so suspicious of his behavior that he needs to act a bit childish.
Sasuke moves to slip back into his shoes, scoffing.
"No, let's go."
Hinata
"I need names."
Hinata straightens her shaking palms before Yoroi or Misumi can notice.
They're far enough away from Konoha now, no patrolling guards are going to immediately find them this deep into the woods where the sunlight only falls through the leaves and moss in thin streams and wisps.
Interrogation isn't her forte, this is a job for the Intelligence Division really, though she knows bringing these two to Inoichi isn't going to be without questions for herself as well.
She thinks of Himawari's giggles when Naruto tells a lame joke, Boruto's roll of his eyes but smile when Naruto ruffles his hair. Long afternoons practicing rotating stances with Himawari and target attacks with Boruto...
Hinata steels herself, pushes everything else from her mind.
"Like we're going tell a little brat like you." Yoroi sneers.
'She already has her suspicions about us; this isn't good.' Misumi knows.
Betrayal leads to imprisonment; torture.
"You talk quite big despite having fallen into my trap, captured by me before you even realized what happened. You're both planning to work with Kabuto for the upcoming chunin exams; why?" She questions.
Misumi spits in her direction, spittle landing at her feet. Hands and feet bound along with gentle fist and drops of belladonna in their veins paralyzes them both, means that all he and Yoroi can really do is to attempt to break her with words.
"Little bitch, you just got lucky! Don't act so high and mighty." You're just that pathetic Hyuga your own Father abandoned for a sister younger than you. Guess being from a noble clan doesn't mean you're strong."
Hinata ignores their biting remarks, crackles up lightning through her kunai before embedding it in Yoroi's right arm.
She twists it until he lets out a screech of pain, birds scattering from the wail.
She removes the kunai, blood dripping out and ignites it, a slow rising flame dancing up his arms in swirls of reds and yellows.
Yoroi glances in horror as Misumi's as his arm falls limp to his side, blackened to the color of charcoal; gone.
"As I said before. I want names, who else is Kabuto working with?" Hinata asks calmly.
Yoroi clicks his tongue as she jabs his leg, poison from the belladonna sliding into his veins.
He bites his tongue, teeth grinding.
"Talk. I can take your sense of sight or hearing next one by one until you do." She warns.
"Orochimaru! And these guys in Otogakure. We don't have all their names; I swear! I think one goes by Arashi, another I think Amachi, and some newbie up and coming scientists called Katasuke and Reiji!" He hisses out quickly.
Hinata commits the names to memory, a mix of old and new ones.
They refuse to acknowledge or say anything else on the matter, seem ready to die for Orochimaru's cause.
She flags down a guard before either can escape, bodies slowed by the poison.
"How did you find them?" Officer Katsugawa questions, stunned by Hinata's details of their ties to Orochimaru and the plans he'll make for the upcoming chunin exams.
Hinata studies the duo for a long moment, wonders what Kabuto will think when this news eventually gets to him.
"I've been doing research." She mutters.
And with that, there isn't much else for her to do for the rest of the day, she meets with her team for dinner, half-listens to Kiba's annoyed grunts that Team 7 got to go on a cool mission while they continue to go after missing cats and dogs.
"I mean, maybe if we complain loudly like Naruto did, we can at least get a small escort mission to a nearby town or area, maybe a delivery or something?!" Kiba grumbles, Akamaru yipping in agreement.
"There's no reason to complain. Why? Because Kurenai-sensei feels we still need to work on our teamwork more before we can do such missions." Shino replies.
Kiba rolls his eyes. "No one is going to take you seriously talking in that weird robotic manner."
He glances to Hinata for backup only to see her stirring at her ramen absently.
He smirks, nudging her. "Missing lover-boy already?"
Kiba expects her to redden, stutter out excuses, but Hinata only smiles.
"Yes, though I'll see Naruto tomorrow...hopefully."
Naruto & Sasuke
"Who are you really? I know you're not that moron."
Naruto chuckles, blunt and to the point as usual.
They've only been walking for 10 minutes, Sasuke having waited until he was sure they were out of earshot to draw forth his kunai. Anger pores off of him in waves, stance becoming that of one prepared to attack.
'I've become weak, I'm no longer someone he needs to catch up to.' A cruel thought coils around him.
At some point, Naruto caught up to and even surpassed him in terms of power, has learned abilities that outclass anything he's ever done. It can't be possible considering how often they're altogether as a team, he would've noticed the change, even a small one.
The only explanation is that he's an imposter.
'But then why did Kakashi-sensei keep him alive?'
The glint of the metal tip winks in the sunlight, Naruto holding up his hands defensively.
"Hey, I'm not here to pick a fight Sasuke!" He states instead.
Sasuke's features darken, spike of irritation at his lackadaisical response.
"Answer my question."
Naruto pauses then, wonders how much to tell him. Would honesty stop his defection from Konoha?
His quest for revenge?
He gestures in the direction of the bridge, searching the shadows. Faintly, he picks up on the conversations of Gatō's bored bodyguards and assistants waiting for some type of action.
"Did the latest shipment of drugs come in Kyo?" The first man asks between drags of his cigarette.
Kyo yawns, shaking his head. "Nah, it's supposed to have come in this morning though. I think Gatō is holding out on us on the cuts he's been taking. Might be better to take our skills elsewhere, don't you think Saito? I mean guys like us should only be getting their hands dirty with making the powders and vials he's got moving across the nations."
Saito grins deviously. "True, I heard there's plenty of ryo to make in Otogakure. It's supposed to be this new up and coming lawless place researchers, missing-nin, and mercenaries can conduct their business whether it's legal or not."
'These two, I can force them to talk.'
Naruto blows out a breath, pulled back from moving forward by Sasuke's tight grip to his shoulder.
"You're not rushing over there like an idiot."
He forcibly turns them back around towards the twisting rivers, into the mangrove forests. He didn't visit here during their original trip to Wave, taking in shrubbery various shades of green, river turning a mottled bluish-brown by their feet. Going the opposite way would lead towards the grasslands filled with wildflowers, where he first saw Haku's true face.
"I'm 25." Naruto states to answer his earlier question, taste of salt and dew in the air as they come to a stop near a tangle of roots.
Sasuke bristles, red spinning to life in his eyes.
"You gave us that excuse before when we first became Team 7. I don't know if you put Kakashi-sensei under some type of genjutsu-"
"I know about your desire for revenge against Itachi, that it keeps you up at night knowing he wiped out your entire clan in a single night. You're not weak, but you feel that way about yourself because of what Itachi said to you back then." Naruto interrupts.
Sasuke's shoulders instantly slack, fall like he's been deflated or puppet strings cut.
"What?" He asks tightly.
Naruto swallows. "That need for power, to complete your vendetta will make you defect from the village, fracture our team."
Sasuke's chest tightens, mulls over his words. Naruto's expression remains neutral, gives nothing away of when his defection will occur.
"Maybe...Maybe it's inevitable that you'll defect no matter what I tell you now. Just know that Orochimaru only wants you for your body, to take the sharingan for himself. He uses snakes often in battle, you'll know it's him when he approaches you soon enough." He voices.
"If you're from the future as you say then do I complete my revenge? Does Itachi die by my hand?" Sasuke can't help but ask.
Naruto considers the question, answers honestly enough. "I don't know the exact details, I wasn't there when you two had your final fight. However, Itachi isn't alive by the time we're adults."
He smiles then a sudden thought. "Hey, you should ask Sakura for help with the tree climbing exercise; she has the best chakra control out of us all y'know! Also suggest that she cuts her hair, she'll listen to you if you tell her she looks better with shorter hair, especially to work with hospital staff."
Sasuke blinks, puzzlement and embarrassment etching his features at the odd switch in topic. The last thing he wants to do is ask Sakura for help or compliment her. That will only lead to her fawning over him, distract him with her smile or cheering...
"25. That's 12 years from now." He mutters instead.
Naruto nods somberly, gaze turning to the midday sun.
"Yeah, I'd like to get back to my two kids. Also, I know this is way down the line, however you should visit your home more often; your daughter misses you."
Whatever Sasuke wanted to say next dries up on his tongue.
He leans back against the cold bark of the trees, breathes in slowly.
'Daughter?!'
"What happened to the real 12 year old you?" Sasuke questions, pushes away thoughts of asking what this daughter of his looks like, if he's happy in a way he hasn't felt since his parent's deaths...
"Asleep. Tomorrow I'll be acting like the boisterous loudmouth you're all used to, so don't forget what I said."
Sasuke laughs dryly, Naruto still so obtuse even over a decade later it seems.
"Idiot. Why would I even try to forget all you've just told me?"
Naruto's gaze hardens. "Because you put Sakura and I through hell, y'know!"
And then he sees it, a flash of guilt in Sasuke's eyes, uncertainty on where he goes from here...
But then a second later, it's gone.
Naruto
Once everyone's asleep he leaves a clone behind and heads out.
Gatō doesn't believe any of them are a true threat, but the fear he's been inciting in this village comes to an end tonight.
He heads back towards the bridge, follows the scent of tobacco and alcohol lacing the air.
Gatō stays in the biggest house by the East riverside, lights still on despite it being somewhere past midnight. He's sure they're up gambling or counting ryo, possibly creating plans on how to deal with Zabuza and Haku.
Waraji notices him first, licks his lips dropping his liquor into the grass. His sword gleams in the moonlight, chuckling.
"Oh, come out to play alone kid? Great, I haven't killed in days!" He stretches his arms giddily.
Naruto easily weaves around his coming blade, turns it on him in a sharp gust of wind jabbing it straight into his chest.
He gasps in surprise at his speed, blood pouring from his lips trying to speak; breathe.
"You don't know anything about a man named Kabuto Yakushi; do you?" Naruto asks the dying man.
Waraji weakly shakes his head, dropping to the ground with a thud.
The grass shuffles to his right, footsteps approaching.
"Hey Waraji, you still out here taking a piss?! Gatō wants us back inside, wants to do another round of poker and review over the plan for tomorrow!" Zōri questions, laughter in his voice fading when he comes upon Naruto and Waraji's collapsed figure
His eyes widen a fraction, sweat beading his head. Waraji dead, this kid hovering above his body...
Instantly he draws his sword, grits his teeth.
"Bastard, you aren't getting away!"
Naruto clasps his hands together, grass and dirt billowing up around him as Zōri closes in.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
The force is enough to knock Zōri over, wincing in pain, Naruto grabbing his sword putting it to his neck.
"Tell me what you know about Kabuto Yakushi. Do any of you have ties to him or Otogakure?" Naruto questions.
Zōri spits at him and Naruto sighs, digs his sword into his shoulder.
He stops his scream from echoing out, stares head on into his bone white face.
"Just tell me if that name is familiar. Do you really want to lose your arm?" Naruto asks again.
Zōri winces, struggles not to pass out.
"I've heard...some of the guys say they wanted to look into what that village offered. Saito and Kyo sounded the most interested, but they're researchers. They prefer to be in the background."
Before he can say anything else a flashlight spins across them, yellow light pooling over them.
Gatō.
His eyes wash over the grisly scene, stumbling back.
"You two dumbasses couldn't handle a little kid?!" He bellows in rage.
Naruto steps forward to him, drags along Zōri's sword.
"You no longer have your protection Gatō, no time left."
Gatō stiffens, attempts to run back to his home, yell for another guard. Naruto grabs him by the leg, drags him back into the forest, cuts of his scream with a quick jab to his head.
Naruto washes his hands in the river an hour later, moon and stars watching. He studies the dirt and scratches marring his fingers and arms he can't fully wash away, rings out his jacket once more.
Maybe he is a monster...
Kakashi is awake as he returns back to Tazuna's house, says nothing about the wet copper color staining his jacket's sleeves, the bags under his eyes.
"Did you get the answers you were seeking?" He asks.
Naruto frowns in return, dissipates his sleeping clone with a shake of his head.
"No."
He's ready for this day to be over, it doesn't matter what age he wakes to tomorrow.
Hinata-Age 11, Hyuga manor
Cicadas buzz near her window, her skin hot and sticky from the heat of the night.
It's summer she thinks as her eyes roam to her window, a cloudless day coming.
Her stomach dully pangs as she sits up slowly. Her eyes fall to her soaked sheets, heart skittering in a painful realization.
Pristine white sheets are stained scarlet; her period?
The memory makes her stiffen, taking in her shorter body, hair barely brushing at her neck. No, not today. Does she still have time to hide this?
'Is this the day of the ceremony?'
She can hear the whispers all over again, pressing her lips tightly together.
"It's a bit early for Lady Hinata; isn't it?"
"Nonsense. It most commonly comes for girls usually between 11 to 14. This should please Hiashi, he's barely spent time around her as of late, always away at meetings or focusing so much on young Hanabi. This ceremony will be a way for them to bond."
A series of sharp knocks to her door make her jolt. Natsu and Hirami walking in before she can even straighten herself, Hirami's eyes fall to her sheets with a low tsk.
"So you were lying after all."
Embarrassment clings to her, cheeks hot with surprise and growing frustration.
"Ah, so it's true your journey to womanhood has started. I'll inform Master Hiashi. In the interim, its time to get up Lady Hinata, no delays. Your coming of age ceremony will be today." Hinami asserts.
-x-
I once again feel Naruto and Hinata might've been a bit OOC, but I wanted them to be crueler, harsher to get answers. I didn't feel Naruto outright killing Zabuza and Haku earlier than canon would've helped his case or made him look good to his team or Tazuna. Also on top of not being very in-character for him, but he did spook them! I did have him take out Gatō and his mooks though, nobody cares about them I think; right?!
Otherwise, look forward to more young Naruto and Hinata interactions next chapter!
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