Chapter 14: Happy Birthday- Age 10

"A birth-date is a reminder to celebrate the life as well as to update the life."

― Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words

Naruto & Jiraiya

"Kid, you're being quite the downer and the day just started! I mean, you were counting down the minutes yesterday until you turned double digits! You know, 10 on October 10th! But now you're acting all mopey!" Jiraiya complains, crossing his arms.

He'd had to practically drag him out of bed, mood matching the dreary morning fog still lingering about the mountain range.

Before them is an assortment of his favorite foods, miso and tonkotsu ramen, onigiri, fried fish with natto, tamagoyaki, and salted pork.

Naruto tears his gaze from the window, of these bursts of scarlets and gold upon the trees when yesterday they were all sharp shades of verdant green.

He's right, he should be happy as he originally spent this birthday alone in the apartment eating leftover ramen and imagining he had a sibling or friend to pass the hours with. It'd been a rainy day that year, that old hag Kiyoko had refused to fix his heater, avoided his eyes as if his very look could burn her flesh.

"Just deal with it for one day boy, I'm sure you have enough blankets or that monster within you will keep you warm. Honestly, you think anyone wants to be around you on today of all days? My little Matsuda is never coming home thanks to that beast..." She mutters before slamming her door shut.

Naruto studies her door for a long moment as she clicks the lock shut, can sense her still watching him through the peephole waiting for him to leave. Rain patters at the metal of the rooftop above, wind igniting goosebumps along his skin.

He should go, he can't get sick on top of this knowing that everyone will avoid him even more if he has lets out so much as a cough or a sneeze. Old Man Third tells him time and again not to bother his neighbors, but wasn't this considered an emergency?

Still, no matter her harshness, it burns at him to ask what she means by monster.

'What monster?'

The rest of the day for once was spent avoiding going out, to not have to face the mournful and hateful glares of both civilian and shinobi that treat his birthday as a memorial, the ugly reminder they lost a loved one the same day he was born…

"Pervy-Sage, why are you really here?" Naruto goes straight into questioning mode.

Jiraiya huffs, leaning in across the swath of bowls and plates.

"Geez, you're hurting my feelings for no reason here Kid!"

Naruto blows out a breath, impatience steadily brewing. "Just tell me; I'm not a child really. You didn't come back to Konoha until I was around 12ish or 13. Did Sarutobi tell you to look into me, to stick around in the village because of my odd behavior in the past?"

'Is this was Hiruzen was talking about? He's not acting like himself.' Jiraiya straightens.

He smiles despite the rising tension between them. "Okay, enlighten me. Why do you think I shouldn't be here with you today Naruto on your birthday of all days?"

"Because you weren't here the first time I originally lived through this day, y'know. It must be because of what I said and did during my 7 year old loop. Now it's resulted in multiple changes I haven't fully pieced together yet, the biggest one right now being you here in my kitchen." Naruto notes.

Jiraiya to his mild relief, listens intently, dark eyes curious.

It makes sense he's still confused, Jiraiya probably only started taking notes on his and Hinata's time looping from the time they were 12, this is the earliest age he's gone back to that Jiraiya is actually present in the village.

"...So, if you're not 10 year old Naruto, who are you?" Jiraiya pries.

He hears the shift in his tone, demeanor and posture changing to the formable Sannin he's known for.

"I'm 25 year old Naruto stuck in my 10 year old body for the day. Ugh, y'know it gets tiring having to repeat all this to you Pervy-Sage!"

Jiraiya holds up his hands defensively, it's not his fault he has no idea what he told these other versions of himself.

A silly grin lights his features, breaking apart his chopsticks to start digging in already to their breakfast. "Oh yeah, whatcha up to 15 years from now Kid?"

Naruto chuckles. "I got married to Hinata; we have two kids: Boruto and Himawari."

Jiraiya stops midchew of his tamagoyaki. "Wait, the Hyuga girl?"

Naruto nods. "Also, I'm set to be the 7th Hokage, just like Dad was the 4th! Kakashi-sensei should be stepping down to formally retire in the next couple of years."

'He knows about Minato as well? That's definitely information he shouldn't know.' Jiraiya ponders.

There's no way anyone at the Academy brought it up, and he always makes sure to tiptoe around the subject of his parents...

So he really might just be telling the truth, or he's some rogue ninja that managed to break through their security measures.

'How? Right under my nose like this?' Jiraiya clicks his tongue.

He's supposed to be Konoha's best.

He takes a long sip of his oolong tea deciding to test him, Naruto's shoulders falling seeing that shift before he does anything. He grabs an onigiri and dumpling, neither taking away the sourness growing like a weed in his chest.

"You don't believe anything I'm saying; do you?" Naruto grumbles.

Jiraiya hums. "Well, I'm sure you had to prove it to me before, right? Actions speak louder than words."

Naruto instantly forms a rasenshuriken in response before he can even launch out toad oil or flame, wind billowing up scattering rice, egg, and fish across the table.

"I'm not lying." He grits out.

A pleased smirk forms as Jiraiya drops his chopsticks in surprise, the energy condensed in his sphere like nothing he's ever seen.

"Okay, don't attack me now! Geez, how can you form a rasengan so easily?!"

"You're startling him too much Naruto, he's going to assume the worse. Again." Kurama sighs.

"He said to prove it! How else am I supposed to show him that I'm telling the truth?" Naruto volleys back.

Kurama scoffs, laying his head back down. He'll just sleep through this until he and his wife somehow return to their correct ages.

"A transformation jutsu would've sufficed."

Naruto snorts lowly under his breath, he doubts that.

It's highly possible Jiraiya already taught him to perfect his transformation jutsu along with the other basics of the Academy's physical lessons hopefully. His memories are all over the place on what exactly has changed and what has stayed the same.

If he hasn't, well he's going to ensure before today ends he takes training him seriously.

Jiraiya whistles in awe, Naruto chuckling as he dissipates the swirl of wind.

Not even Minato could create a rasengan that fast at his age even after mastering it.

"Wow, I guess you weren't kidding with me!"

Naruto beams, he used to wish for more time with Pervy-Sage like this, wishes he'd hadn't complained so much about his stupid need to flirt and drink with any pretty woman who gave him a second glance. If he had this knowledge now that their time together was finite, that he'd die too soon and too early he would've complained less...

'Wait, Jiraiya doesn't die.' Naruto frowns. He's recalling it wrong.

But, didn't he?

A growing migraine pulses at the back of his head, memories that will soon vanish completely intermixed with all these new ones. It's becoming harder and harder to recall what was old recollections and what is completely new.

"So, why do you think you two keep having these 'loop-days' as you call them?" Jiraiya questions.

Naruto twirls with his chopsticks, sighing recalling what they'd discussed yesterday and days prior.

"There's someone who's out for Hinata and I. They especially don't like our kids either knowing they planted this time device amid my son's birthday presents."

Jiraiya rubs his chin at that. "Well, I think I have a hunch on who."

Naruto learns forward then, curious.

"Danzo. You've changed the past and future for me after all. No matter what positive changes you might've done, it doesn't mean he would silently stand by. After all, my living must mean others die in place of me no matter how you or Hinata may try to stop it." Jiraiya begins.

Naruto clenches his teeth, instantly thinks of Hiashi and Neji's switch in dying during the war.

Jiraiya nods to himself, mulling it over more.

"Danzo never wanted you to be a shinobi either keep in mind, he and many others from his generation would prefer you to stay locked away within Konoha's walls treated as a weapon rather than as a human. It's why your Mother Kushina often had so many guards around to prevent her from straying too far outside the village. I theorize he wouldn't be happy that not only did you become Hokage while he probably wasted away, you went on to produce two kids as well." He concludes.

Naruto nods, agreeing with his points.

It's easily possible one of Danzo's associates or he himself aligned with Kabuto, Tōno, or somebody else potentially warned him of Sasuke coming to kill him and he used that opportunity to go into hiding...

"Okay, let's look more into him and the Root Organization y'know!" Naruto beams.

But first they need to get Hinata out of the Hyuga compound, even if her Father or any of the Elders complain of their presence.

Again.

Jiraiya matches his grin in agreement, picking up his chopsticks once more to eat a bit faster.

"And I know just where we can start The investigating after that Kid! The red light-"

Naruto bangs a hand to the table interrupting him. "Please don't say the red light district y'know!"

Jiraiya snaps his fingers, smile turning positively giddy. "Yes, the red light district! Look at you reading my thoughts; great minds think alike!"

Hinata

"If you're not sick Lady Hinata, then you truly need to get up." Natsu urges.

It must be approaching late morning for Natsu to be knocking again, uncertain what to tell Father of her current behavior. She'd taken one peek through her blinds and saw the trees were shades of yellows and crimsons and instantly decided then and there to get additional rest versus head to breakfast and early morning meditation.

"I am sick, I don't want to be here." Hinata mumbles into her blankets as she hears her footsteps patter in.

What she'd give to have Himawari drooling on her right now or Boruto stomping on her and Naruto's legs asking when they'll get up so that they can all watch Kamen Ninja altogether.

There's nothing fun about seeing those she knows will die alive again walking these halls, to see Father's face scrunched in impatience dealing with her apparent strange mood spells.

Natsu's fingers brush at her neck before rubbing slow circles at her back.

"You're not feverish from how you feel. Aah, could it be your menarche started? I can fetch Lady Hirami-"

Hinata sits up abruptly, shaking her head.

"No, I don't want her in my room or anywhere near me today!" She declares with enough vehemence for Natsu to jolt back in alarm.

Hinata softens at seeing her bristle like she scalded her. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you Lady Natsu. Tell Father I'll be down in 5 to 10 minutes."

"Are you sure you're feeling well Lady Hinata? I can tell Lord Hiashi you're truly sick and he will leave you alone for the day." She asserts in true concern.

Hinata weighs with the option, she has no time to waste here conducting in sparring or meditation when Naruto will be arriving for her soon anyways. No, all she needs to do is eat breakfast and then head out.

"Thank you, I'll...I'll consider it once I get some food in my system."

Natsu nods, slipping away quickly.

'Alone once again.' Hinata sighs, absently listening to her clock tick overhead.

She moves for the bathroom to brush at her short locks, rubs away sleep from her eyes enough to hopefully not show how truly exhausted and annoyed she feels before padding downstairs.

Everyone is already in the midst of conversation, ears prickling knowing she's one of the main subjects.

"-It's not like Lady Hinata to sleep in late." Hiyoshi drawls.

"Perhaps Master Hiashi has been pushing her too far! You know she lost again to Neji once more yesterday and he's from the branch house. It must be embarrassing to lose to someone who shouldn't even know the main branch's techniques." Hikari murmurs.

Hanabi is the first to look her way, opal eyes glistened in concern, cheeks puffed in rising annoyance only brightening as she comes into view.

"There she is Father, she's fine!"

And then she's up out of her chair bounding into her arms, giggling happily.

"You're not sick, right? Father thought maybe you were afraid to come down after your loss yesterday?" She whispers and Hinata shakes her head.

Whatever scratch marks and bruises upon her skin she's covered up well enough.

And today she is perfectly fine with whatever rumors swirl about her.

Her loud declaration gets everyone's eyes on them, Hiashi studying her carefully.

"Lady Natsu said you had trouble getting up this morning? I can assume you're not sick or trying to hide away; are you?"

Hinata merely smiles and it's then that Hiashi can see once more she isn't his usual daughter once again.

Just a stranger that looks and sounds like her.

"No Father, not hiding. Just exhausted from this time looping. Naruto and Jiraiya should be by shortly to retrieve me; I don't know if you got a chance to look into any space or time scrolls?" She asks.

Hiashi pauses, feels the weight of the Elders confused and uncertain looks at her behavior and questioning.

"No, ah, I haven't. None of the businesses and smaller clans we the Hyuga conduct trade with mentioned or knew anything about such a scroll or book."

Hinata nods her understanding, this isn't something anyone from her younger days would really understand or would've thoroughly researched.

"As well, I have other matters to attend to today, so I won't be partaking in the meditation or sparring sessions for today." She adds.

Hiashi waves it off, nodding.

Silence overtakes the room, mouths agape at this odd casual discussion of time looping and space.

Hiashi gestures for her to sit, Hinata squeezing Hanabi's arm she's truly fine as she takes her place at the table. Conversation stalls before slowly discussions of the approaching winter arise, the who's who of the latest shinobi that have graduated from the Academy.

Hinata sips at her green tea between bites of onigiri and egg, meets Hiyoshi's perplexed look with a gentle smile. Being the nephew of one of the Elders has made him bold in speaking out against her and her weaknesses in the past, skills she's sure he doesn't have and never will have no matter her age.

She flicks lightning across her fingertips, motions in a way to set off a current to him making him lean back in alarm getting further eyes on them.

"I would appreciate that you don't talk about me behind my back anymore Hiyoshi. After all, there's much you and the rest of my distant cousins don't know about me or have any apparent skill in."

Pink floods his cheeks at the light snickers sent his way, glancing away with a clipped nod.

Hanabi doesn't bother stifling her own laugh, it's so rare to see these bursts of confidence from Big Sister. Hopefully, the next time it occurs won't be months before she sees her puts to shame another branch member who keeps looking down upon her, who thinks her caring heart isn't fit for the duty of heiress.

A moment later a guard enters the room, pearl orbs moving between her and Father.

"Master Hiashi, err Master Jiraiya along with the...the jinchuriki are here for Lady Hinata? Should I send them away?"

Hinata stands to voice her order before Hiashi can even speak.

"No, I was expecting them; let them in and I'll meet them in the foyer."

Naruto, Hinata, & Jiraiya

"We didn't find anything the last time we were here, so why would we now?" Naruto groans.

And now Hinata is being subjected to Jiraiya's silliness as well!

He rather as well be talking to a wall, Hinata squeezing his hand that she's listening to him.

"This is a birthday to remember, isn't it?" She can't help but giggle at the bizarreness of it all. Last year they spent his birthday getting upscale ramen that included lobster, pork broth, and wagyu beef.

Boruto and Himawari gave him paint drawings of himself, a mess of mostly orange, blues, and yellows with plenty of smiley face stickers.

Today it's going to club they don't even currently look the appropriate age to get into.

"Yeah, what type of birthday is this, you know?! Pervy-Sage here thinks clubs and bars are the only ways to get the answers we seek or collect information." Naruto loudly announces getting them a few odd stares.

Good, Jiraiya always hated when he shouted out loud his ogling.

Jiraiya ignores the duo by simply walking faster ahead of them, waves eagerly to a pair of sisters whose breasts are practically spilling out of their skintight dresses.

"Don't worry ladies, these kids are just my neighbors I'm watching for the day!" He mentions at one sister's coo of how good he appears to be with children.

The red light district is strangely alive despite it being daylight out, electric yellow signs flashing about, cheap liquors and cigars saturate the air when they aren't hit with sprays of perfume.

And of course there's women at every corner dressed in elaborate kimonos or colorful dresses, blowing kisses and winks outside their clubs beckoning potential patrons to take a sneak peek if they dare.

"That was that version of me, Kid! I haven't yet indulged in what these fine ladies or even gentlemen can spill for the right price or plowed with enough liquor!" Jiraiya declares with a halfway gaze back to them.

"Do you truly know the best place to collect information on Root members? Danzo placed a seal on any Root member's tongue to prevent them from spilling any of the organization's secrets." Hinata questions.

Jiraiya nods confidently, points to one of the larger clubs decorated with expensive redwood and marble design. The sign outside it's door is embedded with a web of jewels and gold lettering promising fun and privacy, curtains shades of velvet blues to violets blocking them from seeing what's truly inside.

"The Lucky Tempest, according to my associates, is one of the best places to find Root members on their off time despite Danzo's teachings and apparent complete wipe of emotions besides loyalty to him above everything. Everyone has a vice that's hard to break and most of these guys or gals prefer the best of the best sakes and food that they can only get here if in Konoha on break from one of his assignments."

He claps his hands then, gazing back to the pair.

"Now, they have a bouncer at the front, so I'm going to need you two to transform into your adult forms so that we can all get in."

Hinata sighs as she does the transformation jutsu, nails digging in her arms creating tiny moons. Jiraiya talks so breezily of heading into these clubs that he probably visits them on a nightly basis.

Naruto huffs with more dramatic flair, shoots Jiraiya glares that this better not be a waste of time.

Jiraiya walks circles around the pair, chuckling and nodding appreciatively. "Gonna go through a grow spurt, huh Kid?! And Hinata, you're going to-"

Naruto clamps a hand over his mouth, blocking his view of her adult figure. "Think about what you're going to say before you finish that sentence Pervy-Sage. Don't forget, we're married, y'know."

No matter how many times Naruto says that, it still sounds strange to his ears. That the runt who gives Sarutobi headache after headache stands before him now as a man with 2 kids.

He coughs, clearing his voice. "Anyways, we're going to be on the lookout for a man that goes by Kido Tsumiki! It's not 100% confirmed, but I've received enough information from my sources that Danzo uses him as a treasurer for his organization and helps fund his more...illegal operations. Now Kido doesn't come here for the booze or the ladies surprisingly."

Naruto snorts. "Every guy doesn't think with their second head downstairs like you."

Jiraiya calmly ignores him. "I'm going to pretend you just asked me about his looks, because he's probably a bit older than you two's true age with shaggy brown hair and gray eyes. Maybe in his mid to late 30s or so with a lean frame. He visits this club on weeknights to discuss revenue options for expanding the Anbu and military with other guys here on tourist passes or merchants trying to make a quick bit of ryo. But his most dangerous topics are those that involve the potential for illicit use of drugs or tools for starting new cycles of wars."

Hinata blows out a breath. "How should we go about gaining and keeping his attention?"

Jiraiya pats at both her and Naruto's shoulders.

"Leave that part to me!"

Naruto & Hinata- The Lucky Tempest

"He said you can pick anything you like off the menu." Hinata ventures softly.

Jiraiya has assigned them guard duty, the lookouts who ensure nobody interrupts his 'meeting' with Kido and anyone tagging along with him.

All they've learned is he comes in late, typically around 11:00 pm or later when most of the patrons are thoroughly buzzed or lightheaded.

Naruto rolls his eyes, leaning back into their booth. "This is the weirdest birthday I've ever had, y'know. I don't even have high hopes this Kido guy is going to spill anything of use. If he even can say anything with the cursed seal that's probably on his tongue knowing Danzo isn't dead yet at the time."

Hinata scoots closer to him in the dark, jasmine and lavender filling his nose. "Jiraiya must have a workaround for that. Like he said, everyone has a vice and Kido apparently has an obsession with money beyond that of the average shinobi or civilian."

A waitress comes by and Hinata orders them a plate of gyoza and edamame to split, poking at Naruto's cheek until a smile comes back to his face.

"Do you think people actually use those rooms upstairs?" Naruto jests.

Hinata follows his gaze, red flooding her cheeks at his suggestive smile.

"Probably. But I'm not sure what the staff would think of we inadvertently undid our transformation jutsus in the process."

He clasps her fingers with his, drops a featherlight kisses along the tips before heading for her lips.

"We have good control!" Naruto snickers.

Being with Hinata, 10 or 25 will always have its moments.

"Let's trust what Master Jiraiya has in mind, he's taking it seriously enough since he started taking notes of all the time loops we've had." Hinata mentions to get them back on topic.

They watch as Kido finally makes his entrance, slinks over to the bar with his assistant Magire close behind. Neither pay much attention to the goings on around the club, focus on the high-end sakes and whiskeys kept locked behind glass cases.

Jiraiya watches the pair from the opposite side of the bar before weaving a path towards them.

The pair's backs stiffen at his approach, neither returning his friendly smile already knowing who he is.

"I don't think it's going well." Naruto mutters between bites of edamame. He waives for the their waitress Morika to give them a sample of everything off of the menu, Hinata settling in beside them to play the waiting game.

One hour turns into two, Morika's casual smile slowly morphs into one of impatience.

All the extra ryo doesn't matter at the moment at their refusal to leave, holding up a booth where patrons far giddier to spend ryo could be seated.

The manager of Lucky Tempest, Yuko meanders past their table, chuckle laced with derision.

"'Rika here says you kids have had enough for the night, holding up her assigned booths for the higher paying customers."

Morika glances their way once before scurrying for an opposite dark corner, afraid maybe they'll cause a scene.

Naruto blinks, nearly thinks for a moment he and Hinata have truly inadvertently slipped back into appearing as 10 year old's, but a glance to his hands shows the same calluses he's had since his late teens.

Hinata swallows, stomach swishing about like a rocking boat. Bile coats the back of her throat taking in the collection of sake cups and snack bowls she and Naruto have amassed, clock in the center blurring under the haze of smoke and dim lights.

And it's then Naruto and Hinata gaze at each other in unison.

They're both complete lightweights. So obvious, too obvious to everyone else.

Yuko's gaze fall to Hinata, arching a brow. "A Hyuga girl? Never thought I would see somebody from that clan in my establishment of all places. Thought you all were sticks in the mud when it came to lewd businesses."

Hinata opens her mouth before closing it, how is it she is recognized and yet he sees nothing out of the ordinary in Naruto with his blond hair and whiskers he didn't bother to conceal?

Is 10 year old Naruto so invisible during this era that nobody sees their similarities?

Naruto pulls Hinata close seeing her shoulders shake, a ripple of annoyance run down her back. Heat ignites through his own veins at his cool smirk, that sneer upon his lips. He waits for a dizzy spell to pass that blurs Yuko into multiples, clicking his teeth to not say too much. "We'll go; we understand."

Jiraiya sends them a look as they push up from the table, none of his usual charms skills are working, nodding for them to go on ahead without him.

Of course nothing would be completed in just one night, sleep inevitably crawls up on them as soon as they reach Naruto's old apartment, fall into the sheets of a bed far too small for them both.

"I'm tired of this." Hinata murmurs into his neck.

Naruto nods dazedly, fingers winding slowly through her hair.

Danzo's secrets will take much more pressure to break.

Naruto & Hinata- Age 27

Hands brush at their foreheads, voices hovering over their heads in concern.

"Well, they don't feel feverish, right? I mean, normally Mama or Papa's cheeks would be all hot and red if they had a fever."

'That's Boruto's voice.' Naruto recognizes, sitting up. Hinata slides off their blankets, takes in Himawari's features as she leans against the side of the bed. Her violet hair is in a frizzy mess of tangles, holds a mix of Naruto's familiar spiky locks and her own softer curls.

She yawns before catching her gaze, covering her mouth with a smile.

"Mama, are you feeling okay?!" She proclaims, Boruto still studying them like they're patients rather than as his parents.

"I feel fine, maybe just a bit sleepy." Hinata mentions.

"I'm fine too y'know!" Naruto declares.

Boruto's frown deepens, his voice akin to sandpaper rather than Papa's usual jovial morning greetings. It must be the change into spring, though Uncle and Toad Grandpa never mentioned Papa ever getting allergies at this time of year.

'So why were they sleeping in so late?'

Papa rises normally with the sun after all, is up and moving about before the sky even turns from the ink black of night into the pastel blues and pinks of sunrise. Mama too is typically skirting about him between kisses, helping him with making the breakfast dishes and gathering his paperwork and schedule for the day.

He grabs for the thermometer upon the bedside table, pushes it into Naruto's mouth.

Cerulean eyes gaze from his face to the probe, brows knitting in clear worry.

"Boruto, I'm fine-" Naruto warbles out only to get a immediate hush and glare from Himawari.

"No speaking Papa until it beeps!" She orders.

Naruto nods, takes in his kids older than what they should be, though not as old as they were when he and Hinata looped to his coronation day or even actually working as Hokage.

A minute later he gets a reading of 36.4 C (97.5 F). Boruto looking it over before announcing Papa is all clear.

"Mama next!" Himawari decides, Boruto humming before nodding, cleaning off the thermometer and passing it to Hinata.

Hinata plays along, her temperature not much different from Naruto's. "36.9 C (98.4 F)."

Boruto crosses his arms at the normal results, shuffles off the bed with Himawari opening the blinds and curtains. Naruto and Hinata wince and blink as their eyes adjust, warm yellow rays streaming across the room, they've jumped from summer to autumn and now skipped over winter straight to spring.

"Nothing about this seems right, y'know?! Mama and Papa don't normally sleep til 10:00 am unless they have the flu or a cold. Maybe you picked something up from the office or hospital!" Boruto describes, tightening his hands.

Naruto sends him a reassuring grin that does nothing to placate him, huffing before pointing at Himawari and himself.

"What about going to the Academy, y'know?! Today is important, you said so over and over!" Boruto questions, following their gaze outside when neither Hinata or Naruto immediately respond.

The backyard is littered with petals pink and white, garden layered with a sea of frost and dew. A light chill in the air lingers across the house that winter hasn't fully lost it's grip over Konoha.

Naruto curls Hinata against his side for warmth at her shiver, wondering. "What day is it?"

He hadn't even realized he'd murmured it aloud, Boruto's expression turning to one of total alarm.

"It's Parent-Teacher conference day at the Academy! Is Mama or Papa taking Hima and I so that we can get officially registered?"

Naruto and Hinata freeze, Boruto's panic sinking down into them like stones in the sea, the coming of a storm.

They gaze to each other before looking between Boruto and Himawari, speaking at once so fast their words blur together.

"Wait, today is what?!"

-x-

I find things fitting into place more now for this story. Writing the NaruHina family moments are my favorite though! Half this story I consider a mystery and the other half is me just enjoying writing fluffy family moments akin to a slice of life.

Did anyone read Minato's one-shot manga that just came out? I thought it was good, makes me wish for Kishimoto to do one-shots of various characters throughout the series, especially ones we have little information on.

Pat-re-eons get early access! Many thanks to Ally M.! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there where I post early chapters, more NSFW goodness, and original stories of mine! I just posted an original short story involving time travel there as well called The Crossroads Of Time. Eventually, the goal is to have you guys vote for what you want to see me write next, the sky's the limit! Go crazy!

Let me know your thoughts as always!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!