TimeShifter: The scene was indeed inspired by the Mizu guy, but with more deductive reasoning. As for my new least favorite characters, I was referring to my new Iwa original characters. The specific foreshadowing I was referring to was Hinata feeling something in the back of her mind. I actually wanted her to put two and two together and leave a trail of deduction. The other things you mentioned are part of my MO, foreshadowing events in the near or distant future, sometimes incessantly. As for evil Sasuke, he makes for a fun plot device. Also note in avoiding the super-weapon, I'm possibly avoiding turning Madara into a well intentioned extremist.

Zzz: I seriously urge you to continue reading and leaving reviews. As my response to your criticisms was too long, you can find it in my forum.

marc: Thanks, I hope you continue to enjoy.

Chapter 31:
Testament

Sai backed away from the masked Akatsuki. He wasn't ready to face such a powerful opponent on his own, and his team was knocked out before they could even respond. He knew how strong Yamato was from experience, and he was familiar with Anko from reports. If the masked man snuck up on them as easily as he did, he knew he stood little chance.

"Hey, I'm talking to you brat." Madara tilted his head to one side. He watched with a mildly amused gleam as the ink ninja took on a defensive stance. "Though you can't talk about Danzou, could you write about him? Could you do anything to reveal his plans? His intentions?"

"I don't know." Sai knew he had to buy time, so he figured he might as well talk about something pointless. "There were times I wanted to tell Yamato-taichou about everything I knew, but the Fuuin paralyzed me." His hand twitched as he instinctively wanted to reach for his special scroll and ink. However, his opponent had no openings. "I only tried writing once, but I can't recall the results."

"Oh…" Madara cooed in interest. He was already more impressed with Danzou's favorite pupil than the man himself. Though he was once considered among the most powerful shinobi in the world, he valued intellect. He had survived on intellect, and his Senju rival had defeated him with intellect.

In his momentary musings, Sai thought he saw an opening. He quickly withdrew his scroll and brush from their hiding spots. Before he could blink, both were removed from his possession. His eyes widened and turned to the masked member of Akatsuki. A sickening feeling was growing in the pit of his stomach.

"Ah, you possess an interesting jutsu indeed." Madara studied the chakra enhanced ink still on the tip of the brush with his Sharingan eye. "I see why Danzou valued you so highly. You make an excellent spy with such a jutsu, and its weaknesses force you to fine tune your mind to its peak." He turned an interested gaze to his newest prize. He needed his war hawk to be as willing as possible, so he needed to dissect the young man's personality.

"You're pragmatic, so nobody really understands you." He only needed to see the young man flinch to know his answer. It was so miniscule that most would have missed it. His Sharingan easily picked up such nuances. "Danzou wanted to change Konoha. He wanted Konoha to be powerful. You know he would never have allowed Konoha to be invaded by Oto and Suna. He would also have ensured Konoha's readiness against Pein Rikudou."

Inwardly, Sai knew he couldn't refute the masked Akatsuki member's claims. Danzou always believed in vigilance. He was outraged at the ease of which Oto and Suna invaded. He also constantly preached about the inevitability of invasion by hostile forces. In the ninja world, allies were a luxury none could afford. They were surrounded by duplicity, and backstabbing could only be prevented with an overwhelming show of power…and eyes in the back of one's head.

He also knew Pein Rikudou was as much a member of Akatsuki as the masked man before him. His eyes turned hard, and his disposition grew cold as steel. He wasn't willing to give any Akatsuki member an inch. He didn't realize the price of his defiant gaze.

Madara liked the look. He wasn't going to just back down and give up. No, Danzou's greatest pupil was going to be his willing puppet. He just needed to be persuaded. Unhurriedly, he removed his mask and stared Sai in the eyes. The ink user was instantly under his spell. He was unprepared to meet the Sharingan. He stared deeply and felt as if his very soul had been invaded.

He fell to his knees as the elder Uchiha replaced his mask. With the same unhurried pace, he placed Sai's scroll and brush on the ground. He moved with an air of arrogance as he approached the young man. He slowly moved through hand seals and placed his open palm against the young man's face to perform the technique. After a second of intense pain, Sai crumpled to the ground.

As the last of his muscle spasms wore off, Madara extracted an eye and arm from the extra dimensional space his Sharingan stored things. With nobody to see, he nervously looked around. His body almost seemed to shudder in relief as he approached his newest war hawk. "As with Danzou, you cannot speak of your new master, the great Uchiha Madara, without permission."

He placed the eye near Sai's head and arm at his torso's side. With a tilt of his head, he inspected the unconscious fruit of Danzou's labor. It was simple enough to implant the foreign appendage and organ with his vast library of techniques. He was no medic nin, but a hundred years of experience trumped anything a field medic learned in a decade of dedicated study.

There was, of course, one seemingly significant problem. Shisui's arm was too long, too lanky for the still growing teen. The eye was slightly the wrong tint, but any medic would notice it. It was possible anybody close to Sai would notice it. Under his mask, Madara smirked. Over his hundred or so years of life, he had experienced and learned many wonderful techniques.

Danzou was an imperfect specimen. Though Shisui's eye and arm replaced Danzou's damaged limbs, the damage seemed to linger in his mind. His biology was also incompatible with the Uchiha chakra pathways. At best, he would rate his last war hawk of Konoha as a lab rat.

His new war hawk of Konoha gained the benefit of Madara's experience. He had studied and learned new techniques for the exclusive purpose of better penetrating the various villages. In Konoha's case, he was unwilling to lose the valuable resource in Shisui's eye and chakra. Never fully trusting Danzou, he had stopped the organ and appendage's aging.

With Sai unconscious, Madara slowly, purposely shifted through hand seals. He watched his chakra flare up around him. He watched his chakra snake out and link to the teen, eye, and arm. As his Sharingan rotated, he felt and saw the chakra pathways link. He watched as Shisui's chakra pathways merged with Sai's.

The complex and arduous technique effectively replaced a perfectly good organ and appendage. With his first task complete, he knelt beside the teen to inspect his work. His Sharingan revealed no flaws, but it would take time to fully integrate the new chakra network. He also knew he had to relieve as much suspicion as possible.

With a shrug, Madara decided to finalize the creation of his latest war hawk. He looked to the teen's abdomen. The Fuuin always agitated the skin it rested atop, so he had no doubt why the midriff was left exposed. As he shifted through hand seals, he saw the war hawk Fuuin glow and express itself.

It was a painful technique to be sure. Sai twisted and grunted as the sheer pain wracked his body. His chakra pathways felt like they were on fire, and his center pulsed as if it were being torn down and rebuilt several times over. He inhaled deeply as his eyes opened wide. His back arched as his mind was flooded with images, words, and associations.

Before he passed out again, he looked up to see Madara approach and kneel beside him. He heard some speech, but his mind couldn't process anything. His head rolled, and he dully heard something snap. He grunted as his vision faded to black. Though he fell into unconsciousness, he could not escape the strange techniques' effects.

Kanaeru stood next to Kakashi and admired the stone faces of the cliff side monument. Though incomplete, Ichi and Ni had successfully proven their worth. Of course, she had no doubt they would. She just wished their personalities were better. With a sigh and roll of her eyes, she lightly punched her companion's shoulder. "I never imagined you accepting such a heavy roll."

With a light chuckle, he mockingly rubbed his shoulder and shrugged. "They made an offer I couldn't refuse." He looked to the rising moon and slowly appearing stars. He didn't need to see her expression to know her reaction. She wasn't trying to hide her emotions. "When I was first approached, I tried to outright refuse. I said there had to be somebody better suited, but apparently this was one responsibility I couldn't escape."

She shook her head. "It doesn't sound like you to just give up. Even when you bullheadedly followed every rule and did things by the book, you hated the idea of failure. You couldn't be convinced; even my greatest charms…" She seductively arched her back and stretched an arm suggestively. "…couldn't deter you once your mind was set."

He coughed into a fist. "You always enjoyed setting a man on edge." He smiled lightly remembering days long past. "We were all different back them. I was a lot more rigid and didn't let anybody close." He eyed her pointedly. "You were more open and trusted more easily." He shook his head before returning his gaze to the moon.

She shrugged. "Except Minato-kun…" They shared a chuckled at that old memory. With a sigh, they both returned to the conversation. "…but you didn't answer my question." She waved her hand when he looked at her questioningly. "You know what I meant! Why'd you accept the position as interim Hokage?"

He smiled and closed his eyes. He knew what she was getting at from the beginning, but it was nice to play games with somebody who only really knew his harsh side before. "The kids need time to grow before they spread their wings to carry Konoha." She punched him, harder than earlier. "What was that for?"

She smiled and swept some hair behind her ear. "You say some nice stuff from time to time, Kakashi-kun." He shook his head in mock exasperation. "I think that's why Naruto-kun respects you." She paused and crossed her arms under her bust. "You hide it under a lazy, perverted exterior, but you're kind and intelligent. You're gentle in your own way, and you hate when those precious to you are hurt."

He nodded in agreement and was about to speak when he felt a weight partially fall against him. He looked to his side to see her leaning her shoulder and head against his arm. "You know I'm sorry about Rin, right? It's something we Uzumaki can never apologize enough for… I was always a little jealous of her, but I never wanted… I never wanted…"

He lifted his arm and let her fall against his side. He rested a hand on her head and ruffled her hair a bit. It was rare to see her soft, girly side. Even so, he knew better to think that she was vulnerable. Still, she was sincere in her apology. "There was nothing anybody could have done." He smiled sadly. "She died doing what she loved, saving a life."

He sighed. "Maybe I just felt it was time to face up to my responsibility." She eyed him warily at that thought. "I never really owned up when Obito died, and I ran away when Rin died. I was already ANBU, but I dove into work even more. I took on any mission. The more dangerous…" He took a deep breath "…the better. I ran, and I kept running." He chuckled lightheartedly. "I think my cute genin saved me from my self-destructive spiral."

She shook her head. "You think you're ready for it? The responsibility, I mean." She felt more than saw him nod. "It's a lot of weight they've put on your shoulders. They might even expect you to take on the seat full time as the Sixth. Doesn't it scare you? Stronger men than you have died defending that responsibility."

Silence reigned for several, awkward moments. After Pein Rikudou ripped through Konoha, death was really the last thing they wanted to think about. While most were revived when Nagato decided to leave a hefty weight of reasonability on Naruto's shoulders, some had not because they fell to a traitor's hands.

Kakashi finally spoke after making peace with his thoughts and inner turmoil. "I was ready to give my life for my cute genin, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I'm scared of what tou-san, Rin-chan, and Obito would say if I met them if I failed. I almost died of chakra exhaustion, and I thought I saw my life flash before my eyes." He gently pushed her away and looked into her eyes. "I hope Tsunade-sama recovers as I'm not all too sure I'm ready for this heavy burden."

To Kanaeru, it was a sobering thought. She was used to the heavy burden of responsibility. The work of a sumitsuki was something only the Uzumaki clan really understood. While she was used to moving and motivating men and women to action, he was being given the responsibility as something fresh and new. She really had to respect the exalted position of Hokage.

"I've already experienced more than enough." He settled into a lazier posture. "I don't really see how sensei did anything like this on a daily basis." He sighed. "Really, I can understand how it weighed on his heart. He had to make the tough decision to send people he knew and worked with out into life or death missions." He eyed her harshly. "He may be your family, but you know I'm entrusting some very valuable friends to you."

She smiled. Though he was a fierce opponent, he was a fiercer friend. She also noted how his 'cute genin' evolved into valuable and trusted friends. It was no wonder her nephew looked up to him. "Hey, I'm paying you to borrow my nephew for a little while. Can't you at least pretend to be a little more grateful?"

She mockingly rolled her eyes when he shook his head. "Oh, fine then." She stood at attention, and then she drew a spiral over her heart. "On the honor of the Uzumaki clan, I vow I will allow nothing to happen." She chuckled cheerily. "Besides, I like 'em too much."

He nodded in acknowledgement. He knew he could trust her, but he wanted her to understand how valuable and precious they were to him and the village. "It's getting late, and you've got a long day ahead of you." He shook his head when she looked down nervously. "You know you've got to talk to him before you leave." He turned and started walking away. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She watched as he disappeared with a flicker. "I know that already… I just wish he'd actually talk to me…" With a heavy sigh, she turned to see moonlight reflected and a hovering, blue globe. "You didn't exactly do a good job hiding, Gayt. I can see you, Star."

As they stepped out from the shadows, she noted their demeanor. While Gayt was as hard to read as always, Star seemed sheepish. She shook her head. "What are you guys spying on, anyway? I can take care of myself, and Kakashi isn't a threat."

Gayt turned his head in the direction he disappeared in. "Do you still feel affection for him?" He watched as she averted her gaze, a small smile on her lips. He really didn't need to hear her answer. "Come on Star, you want to feed on the mana around the partially restored monument."

Kanaeru watched them leave. "I don't need to hear that from you…" She sighed. "Why'd you have to make it look so easy, nee? I just can't understand that man's heart." With a shrug, she turned towards the medical tents. She stretched and decided to walk in that direction. Even if her nephew wasn't going to talk to her, she could still watch over him.

As she slowly made her way through the broken streets, she thought of what Konoha just went through. Nagato's Pein Rikudou were absurdly powerful. Their abilities were difficult at best to counter, and Nagato actually managed to combine all six in his own body. The damage to the village was immense, and the people were still recovering.

The medical staff was competent enough to work without the proper facilities. They were also in high demand, and their patients were often forced back to work before they were fully cleared. ANBU captains were especially susceptible. Hawk was even given the responsibility of bringing Danzou into ANBU headquarters shortly after her tendons were repaired.

She supposed it made sense. ANBU were made of tougher stuff than the average shinobi. They were given the most dangerous missions. Some only had the skills and experience of chunin, but they had the qualities necessary. As she thought about it, she wondered if she should be more impressed that certain others were released so quickly.

Kakashi was back on his feet, but he was obviously worn out. Under normal circumstances, he would probably have been in the hospital for an extra few days, if only for observation. Hinata looked a lot worse for wear because she was so cut up and bruised. Internally, she was fine, if a little shaken.

Konoha was really rushing through things. The strangest circumstance, however, was Naruto. Though his injuries were mostly healed and chakra stores restored, the medics decided to keep him for observation because of how much chakra he ran through. "Yeah, that is kinda strange…"

She was talking to nobody in particular, and her thoughts continued down the path she started. They should have been more than used to how much chakra he could run through. He was known to go overboard defending whatever or whoever he held precious, and Nagato had appeared to kill Hinata, an irreplaceable presence in his life. They should have expected how overboard he went as a minimum.

Were they still trying to cover up his status as jinchuuriki of Kyuubi no Kitsune? Even if almost nobody saw him lose control, it didn't take a genius to see just why he was special. "No…" She scoffed. "It's no small wonder they couldn't see what was plain in front of their faces. I shouldn't be surprised nobody can see another obvious truth."

She kicked a loose pebble as she neared the tent her nephew was resting in. She looked at it for a long moment before plopping on the ground in front of a tree. She leaned against it and looked to the clear skies above. The night air was surprisingly calm after the chaos that ended some days ago. Had it really been that long? It felt like just hours ago…

As she stared at the tent, the torrent of thoughts died to a single question. When would her nephew talk to her again? As the question repeated continuously through her head, she slowly drifted to sleep. Soon, she was lulled to sleep by the cool night air and harmonious sounds of nature in the backdrop.

Hinata's head jerked to one side when she heard a knock at her door. She was sitting in front of her vanity applying healing balm to her bruised face. Though the cuts and scrapes were mostly healed, some swelling was still evident. She wasn't normally one to fret, but she felt Naruto would worry over her injuries. She fought for him, and he might think everything was his fault.

"Ah, come in…" She twisted the lid back on the balm container and turned to face her door. She didn't know what anybody wanted so late in the evening, but she was obligated to play the role of head while her father was away. Nonetheless, she was surprised to see Tsubaki enter, without her ANBU Hawk captain attire. "Tsubaki-chan, what's wrong?"

Tsubaki silently closed the door and stood at attention. "Hinata-sama, forgive this servant's impudence, but may I speak openly with you?" She resisted looking the heiress in the eyes and breaking servant/master decorum. She was merely branch, and she was so dishonorable as to need to wear a chakra seal to prevent bleeding precious life energy.

Hinata tilted her head to one side with a gentle smile. "Of course Tsubaki-chan, I would never deny you that request." She indicated her bed with a sweep of her hand. "I'm sorry I don't have another chair, but I'm sure my bed would be a comfortable place to sit. Please, what do you have to say?"

Tsubaki nervously looked to the offered seat. Her legs were still bothering her. Even with the tendons repaired, she felt ghost pain. The medics explained she would feel it for a while, but she felt it was out of place to take such an offer. "I'm sorry, Hinata-sama; it would be inappropriate of me. If you would prefer, you can take your bed, so I can use the chair you're in."

Hinata frowned but gave in. She knew how stringent the older woman could be. Instead of trying to bend her will, she stood and gracefully walked to her bed. As she sat, she indicated her vacated seat. When the scarred Hyuuga sat, the heiress calmly restated her permission to speak. "Please Tsubaki-chan, what do you have to say?"

"Officially, I must thank you for speeding ANBU's investigation. We have no idea how long it would have taken if we had to break his will torturing him first." Tsubaki paused to take in the heiress' pout. "Unofficially, I wanted to see you again… It's been a long time, Hinata-sama."

Hinata nodded. "Since before I entered the academy, I believe." She eyed her warily. "You used to watch me when tou-san was out of the village. What happened to you? I heard you were going on a mission to Silver, and then…nothing. Shortly after…" She paused at the bitter memory. Though it scarred her to be disowned and handed to Kurenai, she still loved her father.

Tsubaki looked away to hide the malice flash across her expression. "Hiashi-sama told me as soon as I returned to the village. He then told me the elders had decided to banish me from the clan because my Byakugan was…" She paused to search for the right word. "…disfigured." She looked to the heiress fondly. "I joined ANBU, and he asked me to personally watch over you."

Hinata nodded. She hadn't heard anything after the mission to Silver. She was sure she would learn something. "I'm sorry, Tsubaki-chan. I'll talk to tou-san, and…"

"No." Tsubaki shook her head kindly. "I dare not risk your delicate position. For now, leave it alone. Hiashi-sama will address it when the time is right." She stood and grimaced slightly at the pain in her legs. "I'll have to talk to you later. I also officially came to deliver a message from Kakashi-taichou. You have a mission brief first thing in the morning."

She turned to leave, but Hinata stopped her. "Tsubaki-chan!" As the ANBU captain turned to face the heiress, the younger woman blushed slightly as she smiled. "It's good to know you're alive! Promise you'll tell what's happened since we last met some other time."

Tsubaki nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that Hinata-sama." She smiled and walked out the heiress' room. Before she took too many steps down the hallway, she pulled out her mask and donned it. After a few more steps, she was surrounded by Hyuuga branch guards. She continued to walk confidently down the halls as she was escorted out. With her business done, she had no reason to remain. She was, after all, an outcast. Instinctively, her sealed and covered eye twitched in ancient pain.

Naruto snorted loudly in his sleep when sunshine splashed his face. He shook as consciousness reclaimed his senses. He looked around drowsily to see Shizune draw the tent curtain. He also saw Kanaeru standing apprehensively at the portal. He looked down, ashamed at his previous behavior. He didn't mean to ignore her, but the shock seemed to overwhelm his system.

"Hey kit, let's get going." Kanaeru started affectionately before Shizune could. She was walking towards him before he could question her. "We have a long day ahead of us, and Kakashi wants to see us to top things up!" She grabbed him by the arm and practically yanked him out of bed.

Naruto hopped as he was dragged along and sent a questioning look to Shizune. She shrugged and shook her head. He groaned and pouted as he was extracted from the tent. When Kanaeru suddenly stopped, he spun around from the continued momentum only to see Hinata right in his path. Trying to force his legs to stop moving, he tripped over his own feet.

"Pfft…" He heard his aunt start as he lost his equilibrium and fell into a startled, shy girl. When he landed, he blushed heavily as she peeled into laughter. His wide, blue eyes looked into wide, lavender eyes. Both their faces were red from sudden embarrassment. They could practically feel Kanaeru acting the part of the tormenter as she laughed. Though neither could see it, she pointed one finger at them as she wiped a tear away with another.

Their lips were locked in an unintentional kiss. "You're getting started a little early; aren't you, lovebirds?" Kanaeru continued laughing as she watched Naruto quickly pulled away and apologized profusely to Hinata. She was starting to calm down as he offered a hand to help her up, which was graciously and nervously accepted.

Shaking the last of her merriment away, Kanaeru let out a satisfied breath. "Come on, lovebirds, we can't be late to meet Kakashi. I'm sure he has some wonderful news for us!" She practically skipped away as she expected them to follow. Sheepishly, they did as they averted each other's gaze.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the tent established for Kakashi to carry out his duties as interim Hokage. Kanaeru had not completely let go of her mirth, and Naruto and Hinata were still embarrassed. Naruto rested his head against his tented hands behind his head while Hinata slumped her shoulders to cover as much of her reddened face with her jacket as she could.

As they walked in, Kakashi shot Kanaeru a questioning glance. She mimed a kiss by pressing her fore and middle fingers against her lips and winked. He tilted his head asking for more details. She signed that it was an accident. Well, it was mostly an accident. A coincidence combined rather nicely with gravity, and cause and effect took its natural course.

Kakashi cleared his throat to get everybody's attention. "It's nice to see you on time. The others I called are going to be a little late. They had a few duties to take care of. Anyway, I'm sure you're curious why I called you here, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait." He pointedly eyed Naruto and Hinata. "I'm sure there's something you can do in the meantime."

Without further explanation, he purposely dove right back into his paperwork. Inwardly, he loathed the paperwork. It helped to make him look cool and aloof, but he still didn't have to like it. Even as he skimmed through reports and prepared to sign off on orders, he paid attention to what was going on.

Kanaeru led her nephew and new play toy out of the tent. She set them up somewhere with a modicum of privacy and 'left' them to their conversation. She then set herself up to easily spy on the conversation. As good as they might have thought they were, she was by far more experienced and ready. She looked to her side as a companion joined her. "Come to join the fun, Kakashi-kun?"

He didn't respond as they settled down to watch.

Their backs were to each other. Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously. Hinata pressed her index fingers against one another out of old habit. The awkward silence was finally broken by, surprisingly, Hinata. "I-I don't need an answer right away, Naruto-kun…" She wanted one. She so agonizingly wanted one.

"It was wrong of me to do something like that…" She knew in her heart he still loved his teammate, Sakura. He also had such a strong, beautiful woman as Shion chasing after him. Though, he supposedly already made a promise to her. "I-I just thought you should know… After all…" She didn't want to say it, but she expected to die facing Nagato's last Pein Rikudou.

"No, I…" Naruto started. "…I was really surprised." That was the understatement of the year. "I was surprised and scared." He turned to wave his arms realizing his implication. "I was scared of losing you! I couldn't stand to lose one of my friends, and you are a precious friend, Hinata-chan…"

Her chest rose and heart fluttered to hear her name called so affectionately. She still heard a 'but' in his statement, and he continued with little pause. "I just don't know what to feel. You know?" He watched her composure slip and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't do that to yourself. I just don't exactly know what to do or say."

He smiled kindly. "I like you, Hinata-chan. I really do. You're great! You're kind, strong, intelligent, but, most importantly, you're gentle." He shook his head. "I've chased after Sakura-chan so long… I've forgotten why. She just became a goal. You know?"

She knew. She desperately knew. She hated how well she knew. Her shoulders quivered as she fought to contain her emotions. Her eyes were tearing up, but she refused to cry. He wasn't rejecting her! She told herself several times over. He needed to come to terms with whatever he was feeling. She couldn't and refused to rush him through his confusion.

"When I thought… When I thought Pein killed you, my rage boiled over. I wanted nothing more than to avenge your death…" He leaned his forehead against the back of her head, and her heart swelled once more. "I walked down a very dark path, Hinata-chan. I saw what Sasuke sought, and it scared me."

Her breath caught in her throat, and she reached a comforting hand to rest on his. He smiled in appreciation of the gesture. "A lot of things happened, Hinata-chan." She was reassured as he constantly said her name with obvious affection. "I found out I had a family…" Her eyes widened. "…and Kyuubi no Kitsune knew my folks…"

Her hand tightened around his, and he caught the gesture's unspoken meaning. "Hey, I want to tell you, so no selling yourself short." She smiled in relief as he continued. "I've got a lot of stuff to think about, Hinata-chan, but I want to tell you this. I want to prove you're important to me, Hinata-chan, and I need to confirm exactly what I'm feeling."

She felt like she could melt. He was opening up to her, confessing his deepest feelings. Again, she was the one he turned to. She was the one he trusted. Even after returning from training with Jiraiya, he always hid behind a mask. Even after three years, she could see right through him. Like before the chunin exams, he was confiding in her. He was letting her into the darkest depths of his soul.

He felt her warmth and easily continued. "I know why the villagers hated me, resented me." He clasped her shoulder for a moment in reassurance. "I understand, and I thank you for always being kind to me. Really, the villagers wanted…needed somebody to blame for the deaths of so many. Maybe even more, they needed an object to hate for the fall of a hero."

He gently turned her to face the clearly visible, blocky faces of past leaders. Though greatly recovered, they still required fine tuning. "The Fourth sealed Kyuubi inside me, but I continued to look up to him even after I found out. Kakashi-sensei and Ero-sennin always told me how great he was, and I just couldn't hate him."

She looked at the blocky figure of arguably the greatest Hokage Konoha had ever seen. "Hinata-chan, he was my tou-san." He wasn't surprised by her reaction. She turned to face him, eyes wide in wonder. She turned to the monument again to take a closer look. She only knew what he looked like through pictures. "Heh, it is kinda hard to believe."

She shook her head vigorously. "That's not true, Naruto-kun!" She blushed and covered her mouth when she realized she'd yelled. She shook her head again as he hands fell to her side. "I just never saw very good pictures of him! The books in the academy were black-and-white, and they all showed him in robes of state!" She still only saw her words as excuses and berated herself internally for never seeing it.

He smiled gently and held both her shoulders. "People who knew him personally never saw it. I could never blame my precious people for not seeing it. Well, except Kakashi-sensei, but I think he knew and kept it from me." He scrunched his face. "I can't really be mad at him, though. It's like blaming tou-san for doing what had to be done."

She smiled at the thought. He was always so compassionate and forgiving. "I-I'm glad you're still here, Naruto-kun." Though she was confident in him, she worried that Pein Rikudou would have been too much. The thought of losing him made her move like she never had before. She was ready to die if it meant saving him.

He smiled a wide, genuine smile for only her to see. "I'm not going anywhere, Hinata-chan! Who do you think I am?!" She giggled in anticipation of his famous, next line. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I'm going to be Hokage!" He was truly glad to see her in better spirits than a moment ago. Tears didn't suit her.

His smile quickly became a mask as he had a serious question for her. "Hinata-chan, I also found out who my kaa-san was…" She nodded and looked at him seriously. He obviously had something he wanted her help with. "I have family…on her side. I… What am I supposed to feel? What should I say? I mean; I want to get to know them better. It's just… I'm so confused; I don't know what to do."

"Oh, Naruto-kun…" He had such a difficult request. She wasn't sure, herself. She reconciled with her father and nephew, but she attributed successes there mostly to him. She was at a loss, but she wasn't exactly sure who he was talking about. Nobody in the village really looked like him… "Have you met your family?" He nodded. "Who?" She wanted to know as much about him as possible.

Before he could answer, Kanaeru called out to them. "Okay lovebirds, it's time to start the meeting. Get over here before I have to drag you over." With appropriate blushes, they were quickly by her side and walking into Kakashi's tent. Once they entered, she waved to Sakura and Shikamaru.

Kakashi handed a single folder to Shikamaru. As the lazy strategist thumbed through it, the interim Hokage started. "I called you four here for a series of missions. They are of vital importance to the village, so listen up. We're in desperate need of cash, and the client has been kind enough to provide you a temporary headquarters from which to deploy to each mission."

Shikamaru looked between the folder he held and Kanaeru. He sighed and rolled his eyes, but Kakashi simply continued as if nothing happened. "Your first mission is rather customary and more a courtesy from the client. You are to escort the client and entourage to the headquarters you will be using. After completing this B-rank mission, you are to begin a series of A-rank missions. Because the client is requesting you for an extended period of time, room and board is to be provided and additional fees paid upfront."

Naruto nodded. He'd been in three, four, and five man cells before. He was curious why Shikamaru was given the mission brief, but he didn't have any real reason to question it. "Okay Kakashi-sensei, who's the client?" He was eager to get started. He had to see what he could scavenge from his equipment from the previous battle and apartment, or at least what remained of it.

Kakashi indicated Kanaeru, but she was the one who spoke. "That would be me, kit!" She sounded exuberant. He looked at her confused. "I know a lot of people who need little odds and ends taken care of, and they're willing to pay handsomely for my personal recommendations. Since Konoha is in this state, I decided to recommend some fine shinobi from here."

Naruto was a little surprised, but he was also relieved. It was a simple task to escort Kanaeru, Gayt, and Star anywhere they wanted to go. He felt it was safe to escort them to the heart of Akatsuki territory. Knowing they weren't going anywhere near them, he knew he'd have plenty of time to catch up with his long-lost aunt. "Okay, then where we headed?"

She smiled conspiratorially and placed her fore finger to her lips. "That's a secret." She turned and walked to the exit. "Now, go pack your things and get ready. If you need any extra supplies, check the Hyuuga and Nara estates. They were among the least damaged and will be your teammates anyway. I'll see you at the northern gate at noon." She didn't give them a chance to respond as she sauntered out.

Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome." He walked to the exit with his shoulders slouched. "I don't mind helping anybody out with equipment. I can't help with anything specialized, but I've always got a huge stockpile of the necessities." He left with a lazy wave over his shoulder.

Sakura walked up to Naruto and Hinata. "If I'm not there when everybody else arrives, tell Kanaeru that I got caught up with my medical responsibilities. Plus, I've got to get supplies from there if you expect me to be your medic nin for this mission." She turned and ran out. "Later!"

Before Naruto and Hinata could leave, Kakashi stopped them. "Naruto, don't think too much about it. Just follow your gut." He looked at his sensei questioningly. "Your family didn't abandon you. Whatever you do, don't alienate them." He returned to his paperwork and left his student to his thoughts.

As they were walking down the streets, Hinata finally spoke up first. "Kakashi-sensei's right." When Naruto looked to her, she continued with a slight blush. "You shouldn't alienate your family. They're irreplaceable. Even when you're at odds, they are important cornerstones in your life."

He smiled. "Kanaeru." She looked at him questioningly. "She's my oba-san." His smile widened. "She's my family!" He felt a little excited. It was nice to actually say it. He had worried the past several days about what he was supposed to say and do, but he kept it all inside. With it out in the open and off his chest, he felt as if a weight was lifted.

Mizukura bowed deeply as Shion approached with Momiji. The young red-head was clinging to the daimyo priestess' robes. As she approached, he reported the situation. "Preparations to leave are almost complete. We've been promised shinobi for a B-rank escort mission as you asked, and they are paid for. We will be ready at the designated time, Shion-sama."

She looked over the brave men. Like many in Konoha, they had died several days ago. Pein Rikudou attacked them, and she suspected he did so because they looked like allies of Konoha. They were indeed brave, and she felt a deep pain in her heart. Death was her greatest fear. Her visions didn't come as often as they once did, and she hadn't foreseen any of what transpired.

He noted her distant gaze. "Is something the matter, Shion-sama? Should I fetch some water? …food?" He wondered if there was anything she needed. "I can call your coach over if you need some shade or rest." He was honestly worried. He hoped nothing was wrong.

She shook her head. "No Mizukura-taichou. I'm fine." She paused. "I'm fine." She waved and turned Momiji around. "Carry on. I'll be back before we have to leave. I still have some things to take care of." He didn't object as she led her adoptive daughter back into Konoha. It was time for a long awaited reunion.

Sai woke with a gasp and shot into a seated position. He gulped in air and instinctively moved his arms to wipe sweat from his face. Only his right arm moved. With one eye covered, he warily looked to his other arm. It was cast in a sling, obviously broken. He heard dirt and gravel shuffle under footfalls and looked to see a medic approaching.

His eyes widened when he saw Anko and Yamato. They were injured and bandaged. Anko's torso was badly bandaged, and she breathed like ribs were broken and bruised. Her ear was gauzed, ankle wrapped, and leg in a cast. Yamato's head was wrapped, and he held it in pain. His arm was slung in a way that suggested a broken clavicle.

The medic stopped him from moving and pulled out a flashlight. He inspected both eyes for evidence of a concussion. He stopped over his left eye and shook his head. "Looks like he's got some head trauma, too. We need cover this eye and stitch the forehead wound." He was already picking out medical supplies to work on the listed injuries.

Sai wondered if it was all a dream. Was it some weird illusion he was subject to as they fought off the masked member of Akatsuki? Had they attempted to fight him and lost badly enough to simply be left to die? They were still within Fire, so chances were good neighboring citizens would find them. The medics weren't from Konoha, so he doubted they had chakra techniques to heal them.

A man approached Yamato. He looked like the leader, and it helped that the medics immediately paid him heed. He was also an older man. He was partially bald with thinning, salt and pepper hair. He walked with a slight limp indicating either a wound that never fully healed or artificial limb. He was slightly plump with a hump to his back. He wore a businessman yukata.

He easily took a conversational tone with the three man cell's leader. "You're near Kitaboueki; I'm the mayor. We have to transfer you there for medical treatment. We can send Konoha word as soon as we arrive. I'll need to know what to tell them, though. Can you tell me any mission details or who you faced?"

Yamato shook his head. "We're on a search mission, but that's all I can tell you." Kitaboueki's leader nodded. "Unfortunately, I don't remember who we fought." He held his head and looked to Anko. She shook her head. He looked to Sai and mistook his silence for an answer. "He might have used genjutsu or drugged us." He didn't like what his analysis meant. They might have found their target and let him get away.

Sai sat wide eyed and stared at the ground. He tried to answer the mission leader. He really did. He even tried something as seemingly insignificant as nodding his head. He felt paralysis grip him and snap his jaw shut and freeze his muscles. "It really was Madara… I-I can't tell Yamato about it! What am I going to do?" He swallowed hard and ignored the pain as antiseptic was applied to his head wound.

"How many days will it take Konoha to receive you message?" Sai snapped his attention to Yamato as he asked the necessary questions.

"Eh, it'll take a few days." He rubbed his rough chin in thought. "We don't have any fast messenger birds like you ninja. They ain't specially trained, but they get the job done."

Yamato shook his head. "No, we appreciate it." He paused to consider how his next question might be taken. "Can I write the message? I need to relay something important."

The mayor narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, you Konoha ninja have helped us out a number of times. Still have to pay for ya, but I'm always guaranteed the best work. I don't mind providing this expensive service for our necessary ninja."

Yamato felt a cold sweat. "We can provide a discount on our next mission for you…" He hoped his promise wouldn't come back to bite him, but he needed to remain diplomatic. He had no idea what had happened in Konoha just days before. He hadn't received a recall notice or anything.

"No, no, I could never accept that. Just the three of you, and whoever comes for ya, buy some stuff in our humble village. We live on trade, thrive on it really. Why without trade, we'd dry right up like desert dust." He barked some orders to the medics before returning his attention to Yamato, Anko, and Sai. "Now, our healers don't know how to use fancy chakra jutsu, so you're gonna hafta heal the hard, slow way."

He paused and scratched his chin. "There was one once. Real beaut she was, too. Tried to teach a few of her medical jutsu to some eager youths. I suppose people here just aren't cut out for it. None of 'em could learn it. Mighty difficult living without convenient jutsu, but we manage somehow. Can't remember the gal's name, but it was during the war. The front moved real close to here; ya see?"

The man rambled on and on the entire way into town. He eventually revealed his name was Chin Keita. He seemed harmless enough, but he liked to tell stories. He relived old memories and repeated them aloud. He felt deeply indebted to ninja, but he was a business man through and through. He wanted to turn a profit and refused to short-change anybody he dealt with.

Yamato knew it was going to be a painful few days as they waited for the messenger bird to arrive in Konoha. Once they received the message, decoding wouldn't take long. They were maybe four or five hours away at a comfortable speed. The longest wait was for the non-ninja trained messenger bird. He only hoped Anko didn't lose patience with the old man's stories before then. She already threatened snakes.

Naruto and Hinata were the first to arrive. They parted ways shortly after their conversation on family and agreed to meet at the Hyuuga main entrance an hour later. They both knew little to nothing was left of Naruto's apartment, and by extension equipment. He felt it was worth checking, and she was willing to share necessary gear. The mission was important, after all.

Naruto scavenged and scraped through what remained of his apartment. He was surprised when civilians and shinobi who lived nearby dropped what they were doing and decided to help out. He was grateful, but, in the end, he found few items that would be useful for the extended assignment.

He was outside the Hyuuga estates much earlier than anticipated. He patiently waited, knowing he wasn't expected. He was again surprised when he was graciously escorted in by two talkative branch members. Hinata helped him select gear and finish packing, and they quickly left.

The ruined streets were quickly filling with people, and Naruto noted the strangest occurrences. He wasn't jeered or ridiculed by silent stares or callous words. He was greeted by nods and welcomed with warm words. It was a change he wanted, but he was completely expecting it. He knew they recognized him for defeating Nagato, but he worried they'd blame him for the attack in the first place.

Nagato was, after all, hunting the bijuu he contained.

It was surreal, and he was still absorbing it when Kanaeru arrived with Gayt and Star. Shikamaru was shortly behind them, but he was still punctual. Sakura was late, and Naruto explained why just as she had asked. When she did arrive, he waved for her to hurry up, but he felt a presence approaching from behind.

He blinked and turned to see Shion being shadowed by a little, red-haired girl…

Please don't forget that I have a new poll up, and my forum is open. It also seems my updates are starting to fall onto Wednesdays... I'm going to try to keep up a Monday release schedule, but expect the chapter to be up by Wednesday if it is late. I've been so busy recently that I can't promise an omake even when I know I'll be late.

To relieve any concerns, I am not making a Kakashi/OC pairing. Enjoy!

As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.

Story Word Count: 8,096
Story Page Count: 16.5

Terms and Jutsu:

oba-san - aunt: Finally realized, eh?