The next chapter comes out next Wednesday, the one year anniversary of me publishing the first chapter of this story! Hope y'all like this chapter. Thank you so much for all of your support!
"Haruto?" I ask as the hawk comes to land on my shoulder.
"Hey Kiku-chan," he says.
"So cute!" One of the small girls sitting on the bottom step says. Her hands are slapped against her round cheeks as she looks at Haruto with awe.
"And so are you, mija!" Haruto fluffs his feathers in amusement as some of the other young kids start getting excited about his presence. But his chakra is off. He also carries a scroll from Konoha.
This isn't good news. But he's playing it up for the kids and me. I run a hand over his feathers lightly as I take the scroll from him. He hops down from my shoulder to sit with the kids on the stoop and Abuelo laughs freely with the kids.
He'd pulled me into his storytime with the kids who live nearby. Although Abuleo's stories always bring kids from around Little Uzu.
Today, he asked for me to share some stories of mine from Uzu. He wanted the younger kids to hear about Uzushio from the perspective of someone who didn't grow up there. Who learned about the island from being on it, and who worked to maintain it.
"Abuelo will have to continue the stories, niños. I've got to read this letter."
"But Uzukage-sama!" One of the younger boy whines and I smile down at him.
"It's important to listen to the stories of our elders, I would do anything to be able to have those stories when I was a kid," I tell him. His eyes widen. "Besides, Abuelo is a better storyteller, you have to admit that."
Many of the kids nod and I laugh.
"Will you at least stay with us?" One of the girls by my feet asks. I reach down and pat her head.
"I'll hang out here, I like listening to Abuelo's stories too."
She smiles up at me, two of her front teeth newly missing. She leans her head against one of my legs tentatively and I remain still as another girl leans against my other leg.
Abuelo laughs, his warm chuckle soothes my nerves as I open the scroll and lean back against the porch railing behind me.
Hey brat,
I snort quietly. I shouldn't expect any less from Tsunade.
I hope you had a good holiday. From Uta's letter it seems like you're growing into your role as the Uzukage - congratulations by the way.
I look up at Abuelo as he moves his hands wildly. He always does that when he tells stories. Not just to the kids, but to me and the elders as well.
I should've known he's been writing to Tsunade. Abuelo loves to meddle. And gossip.
I guess it's enough payback for you making me take this damn hat. Now you've got to deal with even more bullshit than me!
I roll my eyes. Of course that's her focus.
There's even more waiting for you back in Konoha.
Great.
Which, I expect you to come back as soon as you can, don't tell me when or what route you're taking. It just makes things safer.
My entire body stiffens. One of the girls cuddles closer to my leg and I force myself to circulate my chakra at a normal pace. I don't want to upset the kids. Especially since they can tell it's not an Uzu scroll I'm reading.
It's still going to be a while before we can do anything, yet. But I want to try to handle this mess before Naruto and Jiraiya get back to the village. That way when they return we can focus all of our resources on the Akatsuki.
Shikaku, Fugaku, and Kakashi are the leaders of the investigation. I'm sure they'll pull you in when they think it's necessary.
I've managed to figure out some of the Root shinobi in Anbu, so your guard will be someone I trust. And no, you don't get to fight having a guard. It's in the Konoha charter to provide at least one Anbu guard to other Kage. Be happy that I'm only assigning you one.
That's all the information you need now. We'll have a very long meeting about all of this when you get back.
And no, before you ask, you can't have sake. Nara Shikaku is already on a warpath and I don't want to be added to that list.
Take care of yourself, kid.
I'm proud of you.
Senju Tsunade, Godaime Hokage
"Mendokusai," I mutter under my breath as I roll up the scroll and turn back to Abuelo. His lips twitch into a smile as he continues his story.
I've got to prank him before I leave.
"Thanks, imouto," Naruto says. His voice is uncharacteristically soft. I smile at the back of his head before I wrap my arms around him in a hug. He laughs softly as Bee-sensei claps his hands across from us.
"Time for tattoos," he grins at us.
"Again?" Naruto and I say at the same time. Bee rolls his eyes as Naruto slips his shirt back over his head. I finally marked Bee-sensei and Naruto with my Hiraishin. And I already feel so relieved. If they're in trouble they can flare their chakra and I can be there as soon as they need me.
"This one is for all four of us."
"All four of us?" I ask as Naruto struggles to put on his bright orange jacket. I huff as I easily help him slip it on. He turns his head and gives a sheepish grin as he rubs the back of his head.
"Thanks, Kiku-chan!"
"For us and my bro, if we don't hurry up he's gonna run for sho!"
Naruto and I giggle. Bee-sensei smiles. And then he drags us from the training ground we're on towards the tattoo shop.
"We can walk ya know!" I says as he throws me over his shoulder. "And I'm the Uzukage! You can't just carry me around!"
"I'm your sensei, I can do what I want," Bee-sensei says as Naruto starts walking faster to avoid my fate.
"So unfair," I pout.
"You can have fun doing this to your team when you're a sensei," Bee says as he motions for Naruto to open the door of the tattoo shop.
"You're late!" The Raikage rumbles as soon as we step in the shop.
"A," Mabui says, resting a hand on his arm. He immediately softens. I grin but his glare stops me from saying anything. It's taken Naruto and I years of working with Bee-sensei to get them to finally date.
I don't want to ruin anything by teasing them.
"So what are we getting?" Naruto bounces on his feet as Bee-sensei finally lets me down. "We're all getting the same thing, right? Is it a cool tattoo of Gyuki and Kurama together or-"
"Niisan," I say as I pat his shoulder. "Give sensei a chance to tell us." Naruto grins as the Raikage huffs and crosses his arms.
"We're getting a carnation," Bee-sensei says.
"Aw man," Naruto's shoulders slump and I roll my eyes.
"You should know what that means, Naruto. You've spent enough time with Ino-chan," I say.
"Bro and I will choose a carnation to give to one of you, and you choose one to give to us," sensei says as one of the artists hands him a book.
"Oh! I'm an idiot!" Naruto smacks his forehead and I cover my mouth to hide my smile. "That's so nice, sensei! Wait, you two view us as family?" Naruto yells his question with tears in his eyes. My shoulders shake as he jumps and pulls the Raikage into a hug. The explosive sigh that escapes the esteemed Kage is the funniest thing I've heard in ages.
I hide my face in sensei's arm to try to muffle my laughter at the scene.
"Thank you, sensei."
"You don't have to thank me for being family," he says quietly. "Just don't include me in your goodbye prank when you leave the village this time."
"No promises," I say as I grin up at him.
He sighs just like his brother had a few minutes before.
"Give me that damn book so we can get this over with," A says as he steals the book from sensei's hand. He looks through the pages as Naruto hangs off one of his arms.
I can only imagine what it would have been like if we had grown up with dad as Hokage. Naruto would have started doing this when we were toddlers instead of now.
"Give this one to the younger brat," he points to a design in the book and the artist on his other side nods.
"Come on, Uzukage-sama, we'll get started while the others choose their designs." I follow the short man to one of the stations in the shop and get comfortable in my seat. "Where would you like it?" He asks as he shows me the design. It's a simple pink carnation with a dark green stem.
"On my leg maybe? Like the stem starting beside my ankle?"
"It's going to hurt," he says as he looks at me over his glasses.
"Really?" I deadpan and he smirks.
I'm going to miss being here.
"What's up camarón?" Akihiko asks as he sits down beside me. There's a larger apartment building in little Uzu that looks almost identical to the one in Uzushiogakure. It's the place I always end up in Kumo when I need to think. "I would've thought you'd be stressed with packing everything up," he nudges my shoulder.
I look down to see a large cup for hot drinks and smile.
"Café con leche?"
"Only the best for my favorite camarón," he smiles down at me and I pout.
"I'm not small anymore you know?"
"To me, you'll always be the tiny little camarón who was struggling to get out of the net," fondness coats his voice as my head hits the side of his arm.
"I'm scared," I finally whisper.
"I am, too." I feel tears burn behind my eyes and force myself to take a drink of the coffee in my hands. As soon as I swallow a sip of the warm drink, a choked sob escapes.
"Oh, Kiku-chan," he says as he pulls me into his lap. "You don't have to go."
"Yes I d-do."
"Why?"
"I n-need to protect Naruto. Konoha will never let him go."
"But what about you, mija?" He asks gently. "What would have happened if you weren't there with Aimi? If you hadn't revived Uzu, the summons wouldn't have left to find the rest of the family. Kiku-chan, you brought us back together, you deserve to experience the happiness you brought to us."
"If I'm here, he'll find us."
"Kiku-chan-"
"N-no," I shake my head. "It's my job to protect us, to protect Uzu's people, I can't protect Uzu while Danzo is working behind the scenes."
"Kikuko-"
"I can't let Konoha solve this, no one is safe while Danzo lives and Konoha is notorious for letting people like him g-go."
"You can't do this alone," he says quietly. "And you shouldn't be expected to."
"I can't let anyone from Uzu fight, I know people train, but-"
"Kiku-chan, breathe." I struggle to follow his direction. I haven't been this out of it since early on in my time in Uzu. I hate this feeling.
"Good, now, before you do anything crazy, you're going to call for backup from Uzu, no." He stops me from interrupting. "I've been working with Darui since the week after you left us for the first time. I've been training with the others, we will be ready and you will call on us."
"But-"
"The responsibility to carry on the will of Uzushiogakure lives in all of us, Uzumaki Kikuko. It's your job as Uzukage to foster that."
"I can't foster that if you're dead!"
"And you can't protect the others if you're dead, either!" I look up and see the fear and anger I feel mirrored in Akihiko's eyes.
"I'm sorry," I whisper and look back down at his chest.
"Your café is getting cold," he says.
"I can sense the stasis seal you put on it, pendejo." Akihiko laughs. My shoulders slump, I know I've lost this fight just as Akihiko knows he's won.
"Now, what did you want me to meet you here for?"
"If you're willing-"
"Uh-oh, pranking the Raikage before you leave?"
"No," I finally laugh. "Can I give you my Hiraishin seal?"
"Like, permanent?" He asks and I nod. "Of course you can," he says immediately.
"Thank you," I say as I pull a pen and ink out of one of my seals.
"No, thank you, camarón-sama."
My drink burns as it flies out of my nose.
But the laughter is worth the pain.
"It doesn't feel real, hm?" Ichika asks as she brushes against my side. I'm finally back in Uzu, just in time to leave again.
"No," I say as I carefully pull down the mourning quilt I made for Minoru. My hands shake violently. "Should I-" I pause as I look down at the quilt in my hands.
"Should I give this to-"
"They're meant for the family, Kikuko," Ichika says as I put the quilt into a scroll slowly.
"That's what I was saying 'ttbane."
"You are the family," Ichika says fiercely. Her words pull me right back to that night in the clearing.
"Look at me Kiku-chan," Minoru says. I struggle to pull back and look at him through my tears. I feel sensei and Reiji's panic through the bracelet as they run over to us.
"I love you, imouto. Don't blame yourself for this."
"I love you too, Minoru-nii."
"Minoru," sensei says, his voice panicked.
"Hey, sensei," Minoru says casually. None of us can say anything. "I love you all. Thank you for being my family."
"You don't thank people for being family, dummy." I say to him. He gives a hoarse laugh before talking with sensei and Reiji for a few moments. I'm not able to hear anything except for the rushing in my ears as his chakra begins to fade.
The once strong thrum of his chakra against my wrist starts to weaken as he starts to lean more and more into me. I hear his breathing start to slow as sensei murmurs reassurances to Minoru. I feel a lump in my throat as I feel Minoru's signature smile against my neck.
"I'll always be with you, dummy."
Instead of feeling Minoru's chakra fade against my wrist, I feel Reiji's thrum wildly against mine. It's chaotic, stressed, is something happening to him? I've been able to feel his chakra over the years, but it's never been this loud. Is he in danger?
"Breathe Kikuko," Ichika says.
"But Reiji-"
"Is that the chakra pulsing through your bracelet?" I nod my head against her side. When had I fallen to the ground?
"He's worried about you, it's Konoha code, you know it," Ichika murmurs.
"What?" I ask as I focus more on his chakra. It grows and weakens and soon I realize it's one of the tapping codes used in Konoha.
"Uzumaki Kikuko if you don't answer me, I'm bringing you home myself."
"Oh," I whisper.
"Oh!"
"I'm sorry!" I pulse my chakra quickly.
"Kiku-chan," I can practically hear him sigh. "You're obviously not okay."
"I know, I'm just, I miss Minoru." There's a pause.
"We do too," sensei's chakra comes to life. We've never used the bracelets to communicate like this before. I could feel strong emotions and check in to see if they're okay sometimes, but we've never actively communicated.
They've always been too far away.
"We've missed you too," Reiji's chakra seems to get closer.
"Which is why you should come to the barrier and let us in," sensei finishes.
"The barrier?" I ask as Kairi comes to land on my shoulder.
"There's an Aburame and a Hyuga along the barrier," she says. "They're not Root, and the ocean let them through."
"No way," I whisper as I slip the sealing scroll in my hand into my pocket.
"Kiku! Did you hear? Reiji and Oda are here!" Haruto screams as he dives into the courtyard.
"Those are your teammates?" Kairi asks and I nod my head slowly.
"Aren't you going to go welcome them?" Ichika asks.
"I'm a mess!" I say as I stand.
"They're used to that if they're your teammates," Kairi says as Haruto cackles.
"Come on Kiku-chan, they look worried!"
"I'm going!"
"I'm going to fly," Kairi deadpans as she hops off of my shoulder quickly. I snicker as I look down at Ichika who starts running away.
They don't like my Hiraishin training at all. I close my eyes and key into the seal that's on the tree where Ren first left the forest to greet me. Everything shifts and when I open my eyes, I can see them through the trees.
Sensei's eyes immediately turn to me and he smiles.
"No fucking way," I read his lips and laugh as I run from the tree line. I put one hand on the barrier as soon as I get there, and a second later the barrier is back up and I'm squished between Reiji and sensei.
"You did it!" Sensei says, his voice filled with pride. "Kakashi owes me so much fucking money."
"You accomplished the Hiraishin?" Reiji asks as his kikai begin to crawl on my arms. A familiar chakra signature flies up and crawls on my nose.
"Hikari," Reiji scolds. I feel even more amusement from the kikai as she flies back to him. "I apolo-"
"You don't have to, I don't mind your kikaichu."
"We were wondering if you wanted to eat lunch together?" Minoru says from Reiji's side. I smile at both of the boys. They weren't leaving me behind after all.
"Hikari!" I squeal, her chakra thrums happily against my nose.
"Kiku," Reiji groans and I sniffle.
"Sorry, but yeah, I did."
"I'm so proud of you," he holds me tighter and it takes everything in me to not sob.
"I can't believe you're already a jonin 'ttbane!"
"It seems like Hokage-sama has plans for you to become one soon, too," Reiji says.
"That's so much work," I pout as we finally pull away from our hug.
"Forgot this, Kiku-chan!" Haruto screeches with laughter when I curse at him in Uzu. Fabric obscures my vision and I feel the shock of my team on either side of me.
"They've turned it into a game," I finally mumble. "They do it at the worst times, too!"
"Prior to the celebrations wasn't the worst time," Kairi says as she lands on my shoulder. "You were already in your robes."
"The council meetings? Training? Last week when we were walking Aimi and Chiyo home?"
"The Uzukage should wear their hat during meetings with the council of elders, you need to be able to fight in your hat, and guiding a new Uzumaki into the world is literally part of your job description," Kairi deadpans before she starts to pluck her feathers.
"Guiding a new Uzumaki- Kikuko if you've had a kid-"
"No, sensei!" I screech as I cover my face.
"Oh thank Kami, Miki and Hideko would murder all of us if you retired before you could be their sensei," Reiji says as he holds a hand over his chest.
"They want me to be their sensei?"
"Kikuko, they pranked Anbu headquarters to the point they had to move the base again," sensei says. He sounds exacerbated, but the smile on his face tells a different story.
"How much money did you make off of it this time?"
"They still haven't found out," Reiji smirks. "They take after their big sister."
"I never told them-"
"And you think Reiji kept quiet about anything?" Sensei teases and my lips twitch. He seems so happy. Just like he had been when he realized that he won the bet he made on me and Naruto.
"Well, at least I won a bet," I hear the humor in sensei's voice. I struggle to lean up on my elbows to look at him. Minoru and Reiji are quick to help me sit up fully, Minoru moving behind me to help keep me propped up.
"Thanks," I whisper to them before actually looking up at sensei. His hair and face are wet, so he must have used some water to clean the glitter out of his eyes and face.
"We obtained all the bells, sensei," Reiji says in response to sensei's earlier comment.
"Oh, I know. You three worked so well together I had to let you get them."
"You let us get them?" Minoru squeaks.
"Of course," sensei gives me a smile that does not reassure me.
"Then what bet did you win?" Minoru asks as he carefully tucks a piece of my hair that had fallen out of my braid into one of my clips. I smile at the action, warmth filling my chest.
"There was a mysterious team that managed to infiltrate one of the most secure bases in the village," sensei says. I immediately feel dread as I see his smile start to grow.
"What?" Reiji deadpans.
"Yes, they managed to paint all the walls pink, including the fridge if I remember correctly." Minoru snorts in amusement behind me. "In addition to that, they managed to give anyone who entered the base buck teeth."
"What?" Reiji says again, causing sensei to smile even more. I'd never seen a Hyuga smile so much, but it makes sensei look so young!
"But the most annoying aspect of the prank was that all the clothing in the base was dyed pink and covered in glitter as it dried." I bite my lip to stop a smile from appearing on my face.
"This was in one of Konoha's most secure bases." Reiji says, completely unamused.
"Yes, we all decided to place bets on who the culprits could be," sensei shrugs as he moves forward to sit on the ground in front of us. "Many people thought it was Jiraiya of the Sannin, as there were toads hidden in some of the beds." Minoru bursts out laughing at that.
"But it wasn't him?" Reiji asks, sounding intrigued.
"No, although many bet it was him after they found his body expansion seal hidden in the base. That is what was used to give the buck teeth."
"But you just said you won the bet," Minoru reminds sensei. "Who did you say it was?"
"Uzumaki Naruto and Uzumaki Kikuko."
"Kiku-chan?" Reiji asks and I blink my eyes quickly.
"Sorry, just remembering-" I'm pulled into a tight hug again and I relax against my teammate. "I miss it so much."
"I do, too," Reiji whispers. "But we have each other again."
"We do," my voice cracks as I hide my face in his shoulder.
"Come on Kiku-chan, now that the boys are here we can finish off the rest of the food before you go back to Konoha," Ichika's warm voice comes from behind me.
"You just want the steak Abuelo sent," I say, my exhaustion from the last few weeks finally hitting me. I feel an arm hook around behind my back and another behind my knees and I'm struggling to hold onto Reiji's shoulders as he carries me.
"You need to eat," he says, sounding like a mother hen. I finally relax against his chest as sensei walks in step beside us.
"I have been eating, I'm where most Uzumaki were with my weight, you know?"
"Then why are you so weak?" Sensei asks.
"I'm tired, the last few weeks have been a lot," I say honestly.
"How about we rest here for a few days before we head back? Hokage-sama didn't want to know anything about our path back to the village or when we would be back, so we've got time."
"I've missed you, sensei," I say as I feel the Uzukage hat get pulled off my head to rest against my back.
"I've missed you too, Uzukage-sama," he grins down at me and I stick my tongue out at him.
"With you as Uzukage and Naruto as Hokage the world just might end," Reiji sighs as we get close to the gates.
"Or I might finally be able to retire," sensei says, his voice sounding so light.
"Nope, gonna make Naruto give you a really annoying in-village job," I say, my words slurring.
I fall asleep in my teammate's arms, with his and sensei's laughter surrounding me.