Shikamaru stood stunned for a moment before he seemed to regain himself. He looked to her as he answered her confession with, "well—sounds like you were breaking rules just offering indirect help. So whatever, it was years ago and Hidan starved to death in that hole—but I have a question. If all of this is true what about Asuma's daughter? She grew up without a father."

The dark haired girl nodded, her head bowed in remorse as she answered, "I know, but didn't you ever wonder how Kurenai managed to provide for Mirai after she became a stay-at-home mom? And she never asked you for anything other than tutoring Mirai, right?"

Shikamaru was silent while the girl glanced to him with the smallest hint of a smile as she continued, "the answer is simple. There was a farm here that had been in our clan for several generations. We sold it. Every last bit of it went to Kurenai and Mirai. We may not have been able to protect Asuma without risking death ourselves—however there's no law saying we can't help a surviving spouse or child financially."

"The last harvest we made from that farm was used to purchase a small condo apartment that mom, Kiyoshi and I lived in until they were injured—the same apartment where I raised Iwabee from a toddler into the teenager he is now," she concluded.

"Boruto said that apartment was a two bedroom," Naruto pointed out.

"True. But mom and Kiyoshi took turns sleeping on the couch in the livingroom. You see after our family was disgraced out of our greater noble status, we were relocated into a part of soul society called Rukongai. It's where former humans go when they die and go to soul society—the areas closer to the center of soul society are nicer and have less poverty. The further out you go, the more destitute and desolate the area becomes. The districts furthest from the center, the 80th districts of Rukongai in all directions, are more or less barren wastelands. People are thieves or murderers, children are usually orphans," Sakiya countered.

She glanced to the white haired woman again and added, "that's where my mom ended up. She was born and raised in one of the outer districts. Minori was born in a mid range district and Kiyoshi was born in the tenth eastern district of Rukongai."

"Where is your father?"

Sasuke's question wasn't without merit, as a force of habit, Sakiya never spoke of her father. However, she understood why the lone wolf Shinobi would ask that very question. He had been away redeeming himself and his clan's name ever since his daughter was born, it made sense he'd be interested in why another father was absent from their daughter's life.

"He's in Soul Society. Doesn't even know I exist. Mom went on this mission without knowing that I was growing within her—and one of the first things the defectors did was destroy the communications array here that allowed us to communicate with soul society," Sakiya admitted.

Hanabi approached the blond haired man within the barrier and asked, "What happened to Kiyoshi? You haven't told us."

"Kiyoshi was never much of a fighter— although he did his best as did I but they ended up using a fobirdden technique on me. So in response, Kiyoshi used a forbidden kido to transfer the damage they'd intended for me onto himself," Sakiya ansered with a scowl, she hastily wiped away at a tear that strayed down her cheek. The brunette woman gently placed a hand on Sakiya's shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile.

Sakiya hesitantly returned the smile the Hyuga woman had given her and then added, "it's Kiyoshi we'll be transporting, and trying to utilize the sun to heal. I can get us a fair distance away from here with him but not all the way."

"Just take us as far as you can, we'll manage with the rest," Sasuke suggested.

Naruto nodded while Shikamaru located an object that he felt would help the process, grabbing the item he brought it over to the others.

Sakiya gave a small sigh as she objected, "that won't work the barrier and Kiyoshi would pass right through it. He's in his original state. A non-corporeal body, a soul—as such there's no physical way to assist with moving him. Only those who are either spiritually aware or have been dead would be able to see him. The same goes for touching him."

"Well, then I'll carry him," Kakashi offered. Shikamaru chuckled a bit as he objected, "not on your own, Kakashi. You're not as young as you used to be."

"It's agreed then. We'll all take turns transporting him," Naruto decided.

"Question: You said that only those who are spiritually aware or have been dead can see him—as far as I'm aware, I don't fit into either category," Sasuke objected. Naruto looked to Sasuke and countered, "Neither had Neji, he had been on the brink of death before and that was enough for him to see Shinigami even without using his Byakugan."

At this, Kakashi, Sasuke and Shikamaru gave the seventh Hokage stunned expressions while Hanabi sighed loudly before growling, "Naruto, you may as well just tell them!"

It was now Sakiya's turn to narrow her eyes as she inquired, "Hanabi, what are you talking about?"

"We have family in soul society as well. My cousin Neji, when he was still human met a Shinigami named Chiaki Kyoraku," the kunoichi responded.

"She's the adoptive daughter of Captain Shunsui Kyoraku," Sakiya clarified, indicating that she'd at least heard the name.

"Well—after Neji died, he and Chiaki married. They're raising Chiaki's nephew, Tetsuya, Neji adopted a daughter, Suzume from Rukongai, and they have a biological daughter, Hikari," Hanabi revealed. She then added, "the last time I saw any of them, Hikari was very young, a little over a year old."

"So in death he found the life he'd wanted for himself all along," Naruto concluded.

Kakashi smiled under his mask while Sakiya silently thought to herself, 'I get it. More than any would think. There are a few humans here that are bound to me. Iwabee is aware of my ties to him, and the others don't know they're tied to me. I've sometimes wondered if I should say anything. What would it help though?'

She then smiled as she simply stated, "I see. Well, maybe we should get moving. Who's carrying him first?"