Chapter 4 - The Hanimura Clan

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his neck tiredly as he walked to Naruto's office. The entire morning had been a pain for him. He had been digging up information on Jingoro Masayoshi since the night before and came up with nothing: no pictures, no identification, no alliances to any of the Five Great Nations. It was like he didn't exist. Shikamaru knew that Naruto wouldn't make too much of a fuss over it, but showing up empty handed still left a bad taste in Shikamaru's mouth. Plus, he still had talk to him about recent matters concerning the yakuza.

He sighed while opening the door. Then he paused. He saw that Naruto was passed out behind his desk, his head titling back slightly and a bit of morning drool leaking down his face. Most likely, he spent the entire night working like Shikamaru had and ended up sleeping at his desk. That wasn't what bothered Shikamaru though. What bothered Shikamaru were the two troublesome things that had somehow sneaked into the office.

"This whole thing is a drag, Bolt..." Shikadai said while lounging over the desk. "We need to hurry and get to the academy,"

"Just give me a sec! I'm about to finish." Bolt continued painting while standing on his father's desk. "Mom said I couldn't paint on the Hokage Monument anymore. If that's the case..." A wide grin stretched across Bolt's face when he finished. "I'll just paint on the Hokage!"

He stepped back so that he and Shikadai could marvel at his handiwork. Swirls and stars decorated Naruto's cheeks. Fake eyes covered his eyelids, and painted across his forehead was the phrase 'Worst Hokage Eve.'

Shikadai cocked a brow. "Worst Hokage Eve?"

"I ran outta space and couldn't paint the 'r.' Anyway, we need to get outta here before someone comes."

Bolt and Shikadai heard the door shut behind them. They slowly turned their heads. Shikamaru was standing at the door with a cringing smile over his face.

"Morning, ya little brats. A little late for school aren't you?" Shikamaru asked.

Shikadai made an annoyed sigh. "This is why I didn't want to come. Your pranks always end up going South, Bolt. What a pain..."

Bolt quickly slid in front of Naruto. "Now, hold up Old Man Shikamaru! This isn't what it looks like. Dad didn't come home last night, so my mom sent me to give him his breakfast."

"OK. Where's the breakfast then?" Shikamaru asked.

"It's... Uh..."

Just when Bolt thought things couldn't get any worse, the office's door opened again. Bolt's eye's went white when his mother Hinata walked in with a double stacked bento in her hands.

"Oh, excuse me Shikamaru," she said with a bow. "Naruto couldn't make it home last night so I came to bring his break...fast..." She spotted her alarmed son. "Bolt? What are doing here? Shouldn't you be at the academy?"

"M-mom! I was just-"

Shikadai scratched the back of his head. 'Man... This couldn't get any worse, could it?'

His brow perked up when he heard footsteps outside. Another person entered the office. This time it was Shikadai's mother Temari.

"Shikamaru, you left this journal at ho-" she paused upon seeing her son. "Shikadai! You little... You left for the academy twenty minutes ago!"

"In my defense – I didn't do a thing. Bolt's the prime suspect. I'm just an accomplice."

"Don't try to logic your way out of this this, you little brat!"

A yawn was heard. Naruto stretched his arms while he woke up. At first, he confused as to why Bolt was standing on his desk. Then, he was even more confused as to why there were so many other people in his office that morning, and why they were all giving him odd looks. Then he looked out the window behind him and saw his reflection in it.

'Worse Hokage Eve,' his forehead read.

He glared at his son with a boiling look on his face. "Boooooolt!"

After properly smashing his son's skull in, Naruto watched Temari drag both Bolt and Shikadai out of the office by the back of their collars. Hinata gave him a handkerchief to wipe his face clean with, and left him with his breakfast and a kiss. Shikamaru did a lot a sighing.

"Kids are a pain to raise..."

"Tell me about it," Naruto said while opening one of his bentos.

"Actually, I have something else to tell you. It's about the yakuza."

Naruto parted some chopsticks. "Oh, yeah? What about them? Have they started another turf war in the city?"

"Nope. It looks like they're all on this huge manhunt. Only who they're searching for isn't human. It's a bird."

"A bird? Is that street slang for something?" Naruto asked while chewing rice.

"Might be. All I've heard is 'bird' this and 'golden egg' that. Though, out of all the yakuza clans involved in this, only one seems to know exactly where the bird is. And lucky for you, I got you chance to talk to their leader today."

Naruto swallowed an egg roll. "And who would that be?"

"Yusano Hanimura of the Hanimura clan."

Ryoma sat patiently on the couch while Sakura finished rebandaging her injuries. Hana and Sarada were present in the living room as well. Sarada was watching from an armchair while Hana was sitting in front of the bookcase, skimming through novels that piqued his interest.

"And there you go! All finished," Sakura said.

Ryoma examined her bandages while Sakura put her first aid equipment away.

"Thank you, Lady Sakura. I'll pay you back for this kindness as soon as time allows me," Ryoma said while bowing her head.

"You don't need to be so formal, Ryoma. And you shouldn't go out of your way to repay me for anything."

"Of course I should. You saved my life. You let me stay at your home. You healed my injuries. Honestly, I should be prostrating myself before your feet right now."

Hana laughed. "Ryoma, you're so stuffy. You act like a medieval noble."

Ryoma got flustered and pushed back some of her wavy, grey hair. Sarada took note of Ryoma's fancy manner of speaking as well as her chauvinistic attitude. She was Sarada's age, so for her to speak and behave in such a way, she must have had a high-class lifestyle. Sarada darted her eyes over to the coat rack where Ryoma's silver, furred jacket hung from. On back of it was a symbol she didn't recognize – two mountains with a thin veil of clouds passing in front of them. It was obviously some clan's symbol, but Sarada couldn't pinpoint which. Several new clans have called Konoha their home since the Fourth Great Ninja War ended.

"By the way Ryoma, where do you live? I should take you back to your family as soon as I can," Sakura said. "I know they have to be worried sick."

Ryoma lowered her head. "Please, Lady Sakura. Don't concern yourself with such things. ...It wouldn't be the first time I was away from home for so long. There have even been times where I've been away for nearly entire weeks."

"What?! But you're only ten, aren't you? What kind of guardian lets their little girl stay out for so long?"

"My father... has other things preoccupying him." Ryoma gripped her shorts. "He's never paid me much mind."

Sarada felt her eye twitch. 'Huh... Sounds familiar...'

Her gaze lingered upon Ryoma while Sakura walked to the kitchen to put her kit away. While stowing the kit in the cabinets, she heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it," Sakura said before Hana or Sarada could move.

She opened her front door, and was a bit alarmed to see the small crowd that had amassed outside. They all wore silver vests and suits, except for one exceptionally tall one who donned a trench coat instead. He was so tall that Sakura was caught in his shadow.

"Sakura Uchiha, I take it?" he inquired.

"...Who's asking?"

"That's unimportant. What is important is that we of the Hanimura clan have reason to believe that our clan's heiress has taken refuge in your home. We ask that you relieve her to us. Immediately."

"Again: who's asking?"

The towering man sighed. "Mrs. Uchiha... it would be be in your best interest to not make this situation anymore difficult than it already-"

Sakura snatched the man's jaw with one hand, then yanked him down to her eye-level. Hana and Sarada watched from the doorway while the men the tall one had brought with him gawked at the seen in disbelief.

"Hopefully, you can hear me from this height. When I said Who's asking? I wasn't asking for your name. I was asking about the man who sent you here. The man who lets his daughter stay away for days, and then sends a subordinate to come pick her up like she's some runaway cat with a bell around her neck." Sakura squeezed harder and the man felt his jaw getting crushed. "Why didn't Ryoma's father come look for her himself?!"

"Because he's a very reclusive man. He didn't even show up for our mother's funeral," a youthful voice said.

Sakura moved the large man's head out of the way to see. A well dressed boy in his mid to late teens came walking up to the house's front door. He looked very much like Ryoma, wavy grey hair and all. With a friendly yet calm smile was on his face, he walked up to Sakura with a bouquet of flowers.

"For you, Lady Sakura," he said while presenting the bouquet. "Please forgive Fudai. He often puts his duty before his manners, I'm afraid."

Sakura released Fudai and took the bouquet. "These flowers..."

"They are sakuras. I thought they would fitting, but perhaps I was incorrect?"

"What? No!" Sakura smiled. "They're beautiful."

"They match their recipient in more ways than one then."

Sakura blushed as she hid a bit of her face behind the flowers. Sarada was making an annoyed face in the hallway that Hana found a bit amusing.

"Can I ask who these are from?" Sakura inquired.

"Shojiro Hanimura. I am Ryoma's elder brother."

"Well, you and she definitely talk alike. It like you two stepped right out of the medieval period."

Shojiro chuckled. "It is a odd speech habit, I know, but it's how we were raised. Or at least... how I was raised. By the time Ryoma was old enough to be taught such lessons, father had gotten a bit detached when it came to family. I basically had to teach her everything myself. It's one of the reasons I'm so diligent concerning her. ...Is she here?"

Sakura paused then nodded. "She got roughed up pretty bad last night. Some men from the yakuza hounded her down and nearly killed her."

Shojiro bit his lip and gripped the scarf that draped over his silk coat. Sakura could see that he was mentally beating himself up over this. He peeked into the hallway where he could only see Hana and Sarada.

"Ryoma! It's Shojiro!" he shouted into the house. "I have come to get you! I know you're still mad at Father... and me. And rightfully so! But if you forgive us... even a small amount, please come back home with me!"

Shojiro waited for a response. When one didn't come, he lowered his head.

"I see... I suppose this must have the been the last straw," Shojiro said. "Fudai, we're leaving. Excuse us for disturbing you so early in the morning, Lady Sakura."

Shojiro bowed deeply to Sakura. Then he showed her his back.

"Hold on!" Ryoma blurted while rushing outside.

She was just zipping up her jacket. She and her older brother exchanged looks for a moment. Then Shojiro walked up to her with outstretched arms.

"Ryoma... You really decided to-"

Shojiro broke off when his little sister slammed her knee into his groan. He collapsed to his knees, holding his privates and gasping for air. Ryoma glared at him.

"Did you truly think I was going to forgive you that easily? Father at the very least has the excuse of being the head of Hanimura clan. You... are just a worm."

Shojiro made a pathetic face. "...W-worm? But Ryoma..."

Ryoma ignored him and faced the Uchiha family. She gave a bow as deep her brother's.

"Thank you for your hospitality. I pray that I may repay it on another date." She faced Fudai who suddenly tensed up. "Fudai! We're leaving! …You too Brother. Don't slog behind."

Shojiro pitifully stood and followed his younger sister. Fudai and the rest of the Hanimuras did the same. Hana watched them inquisitively.

'Heh. Ryoma reminds me of Tsubame a little,' he thought.

Sakura sighed. "Well, I guess that's that. I should probably put these flowers in some water."

"Aren't you worried what Dad might think?" Sarada asked while Sakura walked back inside the house.

"Oh, please~ Your dad isn't the jealous type. ...It'd be fun if he was, though."

Sarada watched her mother make an assortment of dreamy faces, and shook her head.

"Whatever. I should get going," she said. "I'm going to be late for class."

"Yeah. We should hurry," Hana said while putting on his sandals in front of the door.

Sakura made a face and peered at Hana's back. "Hana... where do you think you're going?"

"Huh? The academy. Just like Sarada."

"You can't go to school today! You're still hurt!"

"It's not that serious. As long as I don't overdue it, I'll be fine."

Sakura still had an incredulous look in her eye. She hummed.

"OK. If you say you're fine, I'll just have to take your word," she said.

Hana smiled, and went back to his footwear. Sarada walked up to him, and bumped against the coat rack by accident, causing an umbrella to fall. Sakura looked at the umbrella and got a devious idea.

"Hana, can you pick that umbrella up for me?" Sakura asked.

Hana saw the umbrella laying on the floor beside him. He stretched over to reach it. His recently exploded hip was quick to let him know why that was not a smart idea. Hana was paralyzed by the pain, and hit the floor while hugging his side.

Sakura sighed. "See what I meant? You can't go to school today, Hana."

"B-but it's only the second day... If I don't show up people will start thinking I'm a delinquent..." Hana whimpered.

Sarada agitatedly adjusted her glasses, stupefied by Hana's logic once again.

"Well, there's no helping it. You'll just have to stay at home and wait for Sasuke to come back," Sakura told him.

Sarada paused. So did Hana. His ears perked up like a puppy who could hear food pouring into his bowl, Sakura almost saw a tail wagging.

"So I get to spend the whole day with Master? Alright!" Hana cheered.

He crumpled up on the floor again after cheering too hard. Sarada's fist was trembling.

'Why is always him? Even when he gets hurt, it always ends up in his favor...' she thought. 'I can't stand it!'

"...I'm going," Sarada said while leaving.

"Wait, Sarada. You forgot your-"

The door slammed shut before Sakura could finish. She stood there blankly while holding Sarada's pencil case.

"Geez... What's wrong with that girl?" Sakura wondered.

Hana stared at the door for a moment. Ever since he had met Sarada, she had been in a foul mood, but just recently, her attitude had gotten much worse.

He scratched his cheek. 'Maybe... it's my fault?'

Naruto stared at the Hokage Monument while he and Shikamaru waited on Hokage Office's roof. It was nice to see the rock faces clean for once, though he still hadn't gotten used to seeing an enormous representation of his own face yet. When he was younger and dreamed of being Hokage every night, there was nothing he wanted more than to see his face carved into the mountain, but he was older now. Honestly, the monument felt too obnoxious; like he needed to broadcast to everybody in Leaf Village who their Hokage was.

"It's kinda embarrassing..." he said aloud.

Shikamaru sighed. "Is the monument still bugging you? You've been Hokage for a while now, Naruto. Get over it already."

"Easy for you to say. If there was giant rock carving of your head looming over the village, I bet it would weird you out too. Imagine waking up in the morning and the first thing you see when you open your eyes isn't your wife... but you!"

Shikamaru actually visualized it for a second. He thought of just waking up in the morning, yawning and stretching him arms, then peeking out the window. The first thing he sees is huge rock depiction of himself, staring directly at him. Never blinking.

Shikamaru shuddered. "OK... Yeah, that is a little creepy."

"See? I told you, didn't I?"

Naruto and Shikamaru put a stop to their conversation when they heard footsteps. A man with wavy, grey hair and a silver suit walked onto the roof, but he was not elderly. He only looked a few years Naruto and Shikamaru's senior. Once he stood in front of Naruto, he bowed deeply.

"Good day, Lord Hokage. I am grateful that you afforded this meeting with me," he said.

Naruto was a bit surprised by his extremely distinguished way of speaking, but he shrugged and put out his hand.

"It's good to finally meet you, Yusano," he said.

Yusano glanced down at Naruto's hand, then he looked back up. When it was clear that he would be left hanging, Naruto let his hand back down.

"Right... I guess you didn't come here to chit chat," Naruto said.

"No. I came here for something much more urgent, Lord Hokage. It concerns the 'bird' that the entirety of the yakuza is looking for. Keep in mind - what I'm about to tell you may reshape the Hidden Leaf Village drastically. Or, at the very least, the parts that had been touched by the underworld."

Shikamaru raised a brow. "Are you serious? Those are some pretty bold words, you know. If what you're saying is true, the entire underworld might end up putting a bounty on your head after this."

"That's fine."

Naruto made a face. "That's fine? You could get offed because of this, and the only thing you can think to say is That's fine?"

"You misunderstand me, Lord Hokage. It's not that I take death lightly, it's that I'm already prepared for it. You see, regardless of whether the yakuza hunts me down or not... I will be dead soon anyway."

A stillness passed between the three. For once, Naruto expression matched the one carved into the monument.