Disclaimer: All respective characters and settings belong to their respective franchises.

Update: Edited 2/23/23

"What do you think's out there?"

It had been nearly half an hour since tensions had subsided, and everyone had elected to take some time to collect themselves. What's more, some intermediate exploration of the parallel Konoha proved too good to pass up. They would have pushed it back to a more convenient date with better equipment to measure the extent of the degradation, but gaining a good feel for the place and where this world and their own differed significantly became a priority all on its own.

Mostly to sate their curiosity.

Shikaku, Inoichi and Chōza were standing atop a portion of Konoha's walls adjacent to the gate, taking in the breathtaking sight of a gray and lifeless land. Many of the trees were graying from petrification, with a minuscule few still showing some green, though for how long, that remained to be seen. Perusing over the strange environment yielded other oddities, like neon green hexagonal patterns uniformly cast in the backdrop, as if painted over. Touching these shapes revealed them to be intangible, save for a slight blurring static effect from the point of contact, but there was no pain or any kind of discomfort. Scoping out sections of clouds that gave way revealed the same patterns running across the sky, which was dim, indicating nighttime. Either the parallel world was the opposite of theirs in the night and day cycle, or it was perpetually dark. The latter was more plausible.

"Miles and miles of wasteland," Shikaku answered Chōza's question, standing next to his friend and teammate with his arms crossed over his chest. "We would probably find other towns and villages in similar states of ruin."

Inoichi bit back a snort, saying, "Sunagakure is probably just one giant dust bowl right now."

The other two chuckled. "I can't help but wonder," Shikaku began. "Do you think our kids are ready for anything like this?"

Chōza answered this time. "With what we've been shown and seen here, they're barely qualified to even go into this Digital World or contend with these Digimon, especially if they happen to be more trouble than Hyougamon."

"Naruto-kun's already been there, though without Bokomon and Piyomon, he likely wouldn't have lasted," Inoichi added, a hand on his hip as he scanned the treeline. "He, and in essence we, lucked out. Going in blind would have cost us an arm and a leg, otherwise."

They were quiet once more, and Shikaku was again the one to break it. "We were going to prepare them as shinobi anyway. What makes it different now?"

Chōza raised a brow at him. "Why even ask, Shikaku?" he said, gesturing widely to what was in front of them. "This makes all the difference."

"With what we've gathered, they're supposed to look for these Spirits, remnants of their power from their past lives," Inoichi reminded. "Even for freshly minted Genin, a mission of that caliber, in another world no less, would put them squarely on A-Rank. S-Rank, if we count the risk."

A world that was hostile according to AncientIrismon's visions. Not just from the inhabitants, but also from what else they gleaned from Bokomon. Details of bizarre sprawling landscapes and extreme weather phenomena, of cities and countries with their own laws and order.

"Like we don't already have it hard enough," Shikaku grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

The other men smiled at their friend and leader wanly. As high-ranking shinobi and veterans, they were still fathers.

"What are we going to tell our wives?" Chōza pondered. "Hey, honey, just wanted to let you know, our kid is the reincarnation of an elemental deity from another world, in a computer I might add, and is set to go on a journey to recover their lost power and fulfill their destiny. Whatever that is."

"To battle Lucemon," Inoichi said gravely, his eyes narrowing. A chill washed over the three from being reminded of that part of the vision. "For a child to do that much damage..."

"And he was just a rookie," Shikaku pointed out. "Imagine how much more powerful he could have been if he'd reached a higher level."

Chōza wondered why he hadn't. "You'd think he'd mow down whatever opposition there was like nothing. Not even our kids would have stood a chance."

"Pride."

Inoichi and Chōza turned to Shikaku, exchanging inquisitive glances until it dawned on them.

"I say he was too proud to evolve, believing he could take them all on despite being a Rookie," Shikaku elaborated, his sharp deductive skills postulating, tilting his head forward. "And, he did."

"Do you think our children would have turned out differently if they hadn't been caught up in this Digimon business?" Chōza speculated. Shikamaru and Inoichi chewed on the thought.

A smirk tugged at the Jōnin Commander's lips as he looked up at the sky. "Heh, I don't see Shikamaru turning out any different even if that were the case. He's my boy, after all."

A throaty chuckle escaped from Chōza, Inoichi smiling silently with his eyes closed. Shikaku kept his gaze fixed ahead, adding, "We keep our wives in the dark. They don't need to know."

Inoichi followed curtly, "Yet."

"Haah," Shikaku sighed in exasperation, scratching his head. "This is, as I always say, troublesome."

The Hokage's Office - AR World

Hiruzen surveyed the room as he paced around, taking note of everything as he had left it, from the unfinished paperwork to the stamp lying carelessly beside the pile. Dust and grime coated the floor and furniture, almost suffocating his nostrils upon entering. He paused in front of his desk, examining it closely before glancing at the portraits of himself and the previous Hokages, the colors faded.

This was actually better than what he expected, save for the carpet being so frayed; a gentle tug of his foot ripped a piece off when he first stepped on it. He shuffled up to his chair next, its arms old and rotten, running a hand over the armrest. He then cast a look out the window, no light filtering in, just more of the same decrepit buildings that constituted their once great village in this world.

He was tempted to go to his home, a small hope inside him to find Konohamaru there, crying in distress and confusion, waiting for his grandfather to find and comfort him. He shook the thought away. No. He would not find his grandson there, no more than his son. This wasn't their Konoha, only that it could have been.

"Please come in, Kakashi."

Hatake Kakashi carefully entered through the door, no worse for wear save for the wrapping of his right arm, still riding the effects of the hyōrōgan, having recovered somewhat, though he needed at least a few days rest for a full recovery after his body would eventually burn through what was left of the food pill. "Hokage-sama," he said, "we're congregating on the rooftop."

"Hm," Hiruzen hummed in acknowledgment. "What do you think, Kakashi?"

Kakashi stood motionless by the door for a moment before shuffling inside. "There's not much to report, to be honest," he said.

Hiruzen sashayed to his cabinet, pulling the right panel ajar, then reaching in deeper to slide open the secret compartment to find his ever-trusty crystal ball, right where he'd left it. Dusty, but otherwise intact. "It does bear some thought," he mused. "What if this was to be our Konoha? Somehow, someday."

Kakashi chimed in, looking down, "Like I said, I'd rather not dwell on it."

Hiruzen smiled despite himself, still facing the cabinet as he closed it shut. He tucked his hands behind him, saying, "It's rather poignant, is it not? In all my years, since my clan settled here, Konoha has stood as a beacon for the hopes and dreams of those whose lives were upended by war and strife, for the chance at a better future. Yet, the very principles of our illustrious village are constantly tested by the realities of life, even more so after tasting such prosperity."

The silence between the two men grew increasingly thick.

Hiruzen spoke in a subdued manner, breaking the tense atmosphere. "Your father sacrificed everything. In his time of need, I of all people should have thrown my support behind him."

He turned to his most loyal subordinate, regret seeping into his features.

Kakashi, his own facial expression stoic, locked eyes with his superior. "I doubt it would have made a difference," the former ANBU said crisply. "My father's love for the village proved to be his own undoing. You would have only troubled your own standing by interfering."

"His compassion and loyalty to others took precedence over the village, actually," Hiruzen corrected him, the backdrop casting him in shadow from the Jōnin's perspective. "If only there had been more who followed his example."

"So, he took his own life for my sake? To not drag me down with him?" Kakashi would have laughed, the sight of Sakumo's lifeless body still fresh in his mind. "What he did was selfish, and you know it." He lowered his head. "Those who cursed his name, the same ones who shamed him, reviled him, all of a sudden changed their tune and hailed him as a great man after his death." His brows knitted into a glare. "It's funny how that works."

Hiruzen's remorse deepened bitterly. The fabled mission that Sakumo and his team undertook would have helped to diplomatically avert the Third War, not by much, but to delay for more peace talks. Had things gone differently, Sakumo would have indeed been hailed as one of Konoha's foremost heroes, with a proud Kakashi standing beside him, a bright and promising future waiting for father and son.

Tragically, fate had other plans.

"The past is what it is, and bringing it up won't change anything," Kakashi said with finality. He turned to face the door. "What can be changed is the future. That's what Minato-sensei would have wanted for us."

Upon hearing the door delicately click shut, Hiruzen sent a forlorn look out the window, wishing Kakashi's resolve would remain as stalwart if he were ever to learn the truth.

The Academy Rooftop - AR World

"So, what does it feel like?"

"Hm?"

The three students sat at the corner of the Academy rooftop, taking a break from all the madness that happened. With Shikamaru between them, Chōji had to lean in from his best friend's right. "When you use that henge. What does it feel like? Does it really make you older?"

Naruto sighed through his nostrils, leaning his head back so that he was facing the sky. "Again, it's not a henge. I 'evolved' into what's called a Champion Digimon. And, well…"

Shikamaru, who had been impassive for the majority of their downtime, lolled his head to glance at the blonde in slight curiosity. "It feels like...I'm me, I know it, but...I also feel like I'm somebody else. I can't really explain it or put it into words. It's different, and it isn't. I suddenly know things I didn't know before, and yet, at the same time, I feel like I've known all along. Does that make any sense?"

The two heirs stared at their friend vacantly, then shook their heads from side to side.

"No."

"Not really."

Naruto dipped his head and ruffled his hair with both hands. "Okay, fine, it's weird, but give me a break. It's not like I actually wanted for any of this to happen," he said. The perks he gained were pretty welcome, though.

"You being a Digimon, fighting with that monster or getting dragged into this hellhole?" Shikamaru asked flatly.

"...Yes?"

"What you're talking about sounds like data," Guy chimed in, walking up to the children and drawing their attention. He leaned against the wall three feet away from them, arms folded, smiling as he added, "Ever heard of the theory behind brain uploading?"

"Brain uploading?" Naruto asked inquisitively, sharing a confused look with Chōji.

"That wouldn't happen to be the theory that electrical signals of the brain can be transmitted or downloaded, would it?" Shikamaru remarked dryly.

Guy blinked, impressed. "Hoho! You're quite well read, Shikamaru-kun."

"Just the occasional science fiction magazine here and there," Shikamaru shrugged. "Besides, don't the Yamanaka have jutsu of that nature already?"

Guy pointed a finger at him, countering, "But imagine if one were to transfer everything they are into a new body. Permanently. That's where the heart of the theory actually lies."

Anko, who was listening in as she leaned against the wall next to the entrance from across them, grimaced at the subject of their conversation, which did not sit well with her. She too had read up on that theory, the kind that those seeking a form of immortality would invest a great deal in if it were proven feasible. She knew a particular individual who would, and her gut feeling told her that they might already have.

"That's the gist of it," Bokomon said, sauntering up to them. "Naruto, and in essence, all Digimon are uploaded the necessary data when they reach higher and higher levels as a fundamental survival imperative. Increased intelligence, higher capacity for processing information and stimuli, and greater power. It shows how adaptable we can be at a moment's notice."

Shikamaru asked, "So, where does it all come from?"

"The source of all Digimon, of course," Bokomon answered. "Yggdrasil."

"And what's that?"

"Not what, but Who. Our God. Our Creator."

"This Yggdrasil guy is supposed to be some kind of host computer, right?" Naruto explained. He looked to Bokomon, who nodded encouragingly. "I don't really know much about it, but Bokomon says he's a pretty big deal."

"A 'host', in case it needs to be explained; and in your case it does," Shikamaru began as he shot a look at the blonde, who frowned back with a pout, "is a computer that is linked to a network of other computers through a client-server system." He finished stating. "Does this Yggdrasil guy happen to have a physical form?"

Bokomon was further impressed by the boy's intuition and knowledge. "He exists, but his whereabouts or anything relating to him is under strict guard. No one, and I mean no one, can see or have an audience with him unless he wishes for it."

"Have you ever seen him, though?" Shikamaru asked half-heartedly.

Bokomon paused. "...Once."

"Wait, you met Yggdrasil, Bokomon?" Naruto asked the scholar in awe.

Bokomon admitted, "Not in person. Only that he spoke to me, but that was a long time ago."

"Well, what'd he say?"

Bokomon fixed Naruto with a blank look, as if he were sifting through his memories, before replying with a shrug, "Like I said, it was a long time ago, and I kind of forgot."

"Great, let me know where and when this temple thing is going to be held," Shikamaru quipped with a roll of his eyes, earning a nudge from Naruto's elbow.

"Incidentally, I was never that particularly religious," Bokomon countered He then turned to the taijutsu master, asking, "So, Might-han, how do you even know about brain uploading?"

The man wagged his finger at the diminutive scholar, clicking his tongue. "Don't be so quick to judge someone based on their profession and appearance," he said.

Everyone gave him judgmental looks anyway.

"Say, old man, who-"

"STOP!"

Naruto clamped his mouth shut at the sudden outburst, and recoiled when Guy pointed a finger at him while striking one of his signature poses. "Apologies for the delay in introductions, young Naruto," he said. "For that, after I make a full recovery, I'll do a thousand laps around Konoha!"

All three of the boys regarded the man vacantly; who was this kook?

A spotlight shone on Guy as he spun around until his back faced them, accompanied by the fluttering of cherry blossoms as he pointed at the sky with the finger he directed. "To friends and students, I am a passionate beacon of inspiration, bright as the shining sun, tranquil as the gentlest breeze. But to enemies, I am a raging storm, a devastating tsunami, a fierce explosion of everlasting youth!"

He made a sharp turnaround, twisting his hips, arm still raised, while the other thumbing at his face, his pearly whites exposed in a winning smile. "Who else but Konoha's Sublime Green Beast of Prey, Might Guy!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"You…could have just given them your name, Might-han," Bokomon commented flatly, perplexed over the unnecessarily showy introduction.

"Nonsense!" Guy countered, beating a fist to his chest. He flashed them a thumbs-up and an even wider smile. "I don't ever do anything lukewarm; my blazing eternal youth compels me to go at full throttle. Take it from me, boys! Face every day with everything you have!" The white of his teeth sparkled as he trailed off.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Also," Guy continued, stepping up to Naruto and kneeling down to eye-level. He clapped both hands on the blonde's shoulders and proceeded to say, in no uncertain terms, with his smile becoming strained, "I'm only 26 years old. I'm not qualified to be called an old man! That's rude! If you call me that again, I'll have you run double those one thousand laps with me!"

Naruto replied shakily, with a nervous twitch of his lips, "Uh...okay...sure."

"Alright, alright, break it up," Anko said, marching over, waving her arms up before bringing them down to hook her hands on her hips. "The Hokage and the others will be with us again soon. The least you guys could do is look sharp."

"Ne, Dango-neechan, where's Hyougamon's egg?" Naruto asked.

Anko thumbed in the direction where Piyomon was seated in her own corner, watching over the egg placed between her legs in front of her, eyeing it closely with interest. "That thing's not gonna hatch on us, is it?" she asked Bokomon, who shook his head.

The scholar answered, "It has to incubate first as the code reconstitutes. It will take some time, but normally a few weeks to months."

"I see," Anko said cryptically, not elaborating any further before spinning on her heel and walking away, leaving Bokomon briefly puzzled.

Soon enough, Hiruzen and Kakashi arrived after another ten minutes had flown by, followed by the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. The boys were beckoned over to stand in front of the Hokage, his voice dripping with authority as he regarded Shikamaru and Chōji. "With the exception of Naruto, I'm sure this day's events have left you both rattled, and more than a little confused. For your assurance, and ours, you will need to be briefed on these circumstances you've been dragged into."

The two heirs didn't reply, though if they could, they would have declared that they weren't as lost on the details from the snippets Bokomon provided.

Rather than speak further, Hiruzen directed a nod at Inoichi, who returned it. Ino's father signaled the two of them to come near, leaving Naruto to watch from afar. They sauntered up to the man, who proceeded to direct them through the motions. "You boys are aware of what I am about to do, I take it?" he asked. "I have to abide by protocol for your consent."

Shikamaru nonchalantly shrugged, while Chōji simply smiled. "Might as well get it over with, Uncle Inoichi," he said.

Inoichi grinned at the Nara heir's lackadaisical response, though he could tell from the boy's body language that he had been quite shaken by the recent happenings. Chōza's boy always had a knack for hiding his emotions beneath that simple smile, making it disquieting even for him to get a solid read on the lad. But, that's where talent lied, he supposed. If not only for his…sensitivity.

Forming the "Ram" hand seal, he initiated his jutsu. " Mind Body Transmission Technique (Shindenshin no Jutsu)! " Both heirs closed their eyes, lowering their heads as Inoichi placed a hand on each in preparation for the viewing of the intended memories.

And, they saw it all.

Of Naruto's journey to the Digital World, of his ordeal within the Kyūbi's seal, and of course, AncientIrismon's visions of the Digital World's ancient past. He didn't leave anything out, not even the parts that he personally preferred to be deferred due to their highly classified nature.

When the transmission was complete, the two heirs opened their eyes and simultaneously exhaled.

Chōji was the first to regain his bearings after a few minutes. "Whoa...that was..." Naruto and the rest of the adults expectantly watched the rotund boy seemingly trying to form what next to say, but all he could manage was a repeat of, "Whoa..."

Shikamaru was no less flustered, running a hand over his hair so briskly that it almost undid his ponytail. "Troublesome doesn't even begin to cover this," he muttered breathlessly, earning a soft, sympathetic shake of the head from his father.

Naruto's brow furrowed as he released an apprehensive breath through his nostrils that he had been holding in from barely suppressed anticipation; this was it, and if being secretive hadn't placed a rift between them, then this would.

After a few minutes of recouping their senses, Shikamaru and Chōji both fixed Naruto a pointed stare, not saying a single word, as if there was a silent communication between the trio.

"So, what now?" Shikamaru asked in his usual dry tone.

Naruto blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"Yeah, Naruto," Chōji followed. "What now?"

The young Uzumaki was at an utter loss for words, mouth hanging open. "Ha?"

"Give him a minute, lads," Anko butted in, boisterously slapping a hand to the blonde's back, who chuffed at the contact. "He's a little slow on the uptake, if you get my drift."

Naruto shot her an annoyed pout, earning a playful wink from the kunoichi. He refocused his attention to the other two, but he didn't meet their gazes, instead peeling his head down, betraying his anxiety with a rubbing of his forearm. "What... what can I say?"

"Anything that doesn't involve one of your stock phrases like becoming the Hokage, because I'm about this close to having a conniption," Shikamaru answered crossly, his thumb and index finger making a pinching gesture. "There's only so much bullshit I can take."

Chōji giggled. "Me? I'll be good after I've had a good meal." He smiled, but it quickly faded. "Probably."

"And, I guess it does explain a few things," Shikamaru drawled, tilting his head to the side.

"Like?" Naruto prodded.

"Like why a lot of the villagers act the way they do around you."

Everyone, sans Piyomon who was busy guarding Hyougamon's Digiegg, fell silent at that statement.

"That can be owed to my own negligence," Hiruzen said regretfully. "Lately, I've been doing what I can to fulfill the obligation I owe Naruto-kun, but the people's opinion of him must be left to their own. We cannot force them to change, much less what they think."

Everyone stared at him after he said that last part, making him fidget awkwardly and cough, clearing his throat.

"So, what the hell are we gonna do about this whole 'Spirit' business?" Shikamaru needled more bluntly, annoyance seeping into his tone, a hand on his hip while the other was pitched up. "Don't tell me we have to go to this Digital World and look under every rock."

"Wait, you're…actually okay with it?" Naruto asked in surprise. He recoiled when Shikamaru uncharacteristically glared daggers at him.

"If by 'okay', having little to no choice in coming to terms with how suddenly this all was thrust into our laps, never mind at how fucking ludicrous this entire situation already is without everything else attached," Shikamaru took a sharp intake of air to help calm himself, before concluding; in the driest manner possible through gritted teeth, "Then, yes, I'm okay with it."

Naruto chuckled sheepishly, averting his gaze. "Fair enough," he said.

Bokomon sighed. "Well, with that out of the way," he turned around to regard the adults as they discussed what to do next, only for his eyes to nearly pop out of his skull at the sight of Hyougamon's egg being encircled by Hiruzen and his escort, the egg itself flanked mainly by Kakashi and Guy, with Anko in the middle, ready to crush it in each their own way. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

He bolted, slipping past Hiruzen to reach the egg; catching Piyomon calmly standing next to him, and lunged to grab it within his arms in a firm, protective hug.

Anko sighed, righting herself from her stance, setting to puncture the egg with the kunai in her hand. Kakashi and Guy did so as well, intending to simply stomp it underfoot. "Out of the way, Dough Boy," she said.

Shaking like a leaf, Bokomon looked up at the kunoichi pleadingly. "Why?"

"Hyōgamon intruded into Konoha, fully intending to abduct our jinchūriki, our military asset. In doing so, he has also threatened the safety and sanctity of our village," Hiruzen explained with a cold finality. "We cannot let that pass without the appropriate punishment. Execution."

"B-B-B-B-But," Bokomon swallowed down the lump in his throat, breaking out into a sweat as he tightened his grip around the egg, but not enough to crack it, "this is a Digiegg. It may have been reincarnated from Hyougamon, but this is still an innocent life. Everything he was is effectively gone. Doesn't it deserve another chance?"

Bokomon eyed the group warily, tears welling, believing that they would not easily concede to his reasoning. Hiruzen's analytical gaze was transfixed squarely on the scholar, then at the egg, standing motionless as a memory reared itself.

…that includes the innocent children, as well.

The Hokage closed his eyes after another moment. "... Very well, Bokomon-dono," he conceded, lowering his head. The others didn't betray any reaction or emotion, only that their village leader had spoken, relaxing any hostility. Naruto, Shikamaru and Chōji walked up to the scene, pensive at what was happening. They had heard enough, but didn't comment. The young Uzumaki, who had neutralized Hyougamon as a threat, saw no further point in destroying the Digiegg, deeming it cruel. Anko, Kakashi and Oton had alluded a fair few times that Konoha was far from the ideal village on the surface, and rather than disregard their words or contest, his telltale childhood and experiences were evidence enough that not all was bright and shining as he had previously forced himself to believe.

"Wonderful, we have another mouth to feed," Anko complained lazily as she did a long stretch.

If only her jacket was unbuttoned. Hiruzen and the other men thought as they stole quick peeks.

Just then, all the more experienced shinobi sensed a new presence on the rooftop with them, going on guard immediately. Bokomon sensed it as well, a sensation that startled him into swiveling his head in the general direction where he found her, standing serenely with that same stone-faced grimace.

"Black…Tailmon Uver?" All heads turned to follow his gaze to find the delivery cat, her trusty red bag visible over her shoulder.

Both Naruto and Piyomon recoiled at the sight of her, remembering the rough treatment they had received. All of the adult shinobi were critically observing the newcomer as she traipsed towards them with that same adorable gait.

"Oh great, now what?" Shikamaru muttered, and froze when Black Tailmon Uver glanced at him, her ears having twitched, indicating that she had heard him. Shikaku immediately placed himself in front of his son, giving the cat a stern look that promised swift retaliation if she acted out of turn.

Resuming her pace, Hiruzen warily observed the feline, though made no attempts to stop her until she did so on her own by Bokomon.

"Y-You're… here for him, right?" Bokomon inquired, glancing quickly at Hyougamon's egg, which he was still embracing.

Black Tailmon Uver nodded as she unholstered her bag and placed it in front of her before zipping it open, then gestured with a gloved paw for him to hand her the egg.

" I see, so she's like a hunter-nin," Kakashi keenly deduced, the only difference being that she wasn't set on destroying the egg.

Chōji turned to Naruto, curiously whispering, "Hey, Naruto, who was that again?"

The blonde's lips were set into a distasteful grimace, replying sourly, "Black Tailmon Uver. Let's just say she's someone you don't wanna have trouble with. Me and Piyomon learned that the hard way."

"Bokomon-dono?" Hiruzen motioned for the scholar to helpfully explain.

The scholar easily handed the item in question to the feline, before turning to Hiruzen. "She's only here to retrieve the egg. Aside from regular deliveries, part of the Black Tailmon Uver Corps' duties is to scatter throughout the Digital World to retrieve Digieggs of fallen Digimon, if there are any, and bring them to Primary Village, where they'd be administered the proper care."

"Talk about a cozy sentence," Anko quipped softly, hardly believing that after what the ogre put them all through, it might as well be a slap on the wrist in a soft linen crib. Though, when she actually thought about it, who they knew for however fleeting of a period as Hyougamon was gone, having perished by Naruto's hand, replaced by what was essentially a blank slate ready to start life all over again. It did little to soften the blow.

"That's the place where Digimon are reborn, right?" Shikamaru said, drawing on the memories Inoichi had shared with them. "So, it's kind of like recycled code."

"More or less," Bokomon proclaimed. They all watched as Black Tailmon carefully placed the egg into her open bag, the square rim wide enough that it snugly slid in, before seemingly sinking deeper and disappearing. This wasn't much of a surprise to them, save for Naruto and Piyomon. Bokomon knew that the bag was specially made to accommodate items as large as a Whamon at the extreme, though there was indeed a limit. Meanwhile, the shinobi drew parallels with their own storage seals.

With that done, Black Tailmon Uver dusted her paws together. She then stepped up to Bokomon and held a palm out, flexing her stubby fingers. "Your credit card now," she said.

"Why?" Bokomon asked suspiciously with narrowed eyes, only for Black Tailmon Uver to bop him on the head without warning.

Anko bit back a snort, placing a hand over her mouth. Everyone else watching the scene was either amused or bemused.

Bokomon rubbed at the sore spot, getting the message. He slipped a begrudging hand into his haramaki to fish out the card in question, and presented it so reluctantly to the brash cat that she had to snatch it from him with a swipe of her arm. What she did next made the scholar balk; she held the card flat between her palms before snapping it apart.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Bokomon shrieked in horror, hands pressed against both sides of his cheeks. His arms and shoulders then fell limp, becoming woozy from the shock, wobbling in place before shaking his head vigorously to regain his senses. "WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!"

Instead of answering, stone-faced as ever, Black Tailmon Uver carelessly dropped the pieces onto the floor before returning her attention to her bag.

The scholar dropped to his hands and knees, hovering over the now severed card in grief, weeping emphatically, his tears pelting the dry and dusty floor, with some landing on a piece. "What am I going to do na-ha-ha-haaaaoow…!"

Anko marched up to him, bending down to take the scholar into her arms. "Easy there, Dough Boy," she said, "I've got you."

"All that waiting in line, all for nothi-hi-hi-hi-hiiiing!" Bokomon sobbed.

"Yeah, yeah, let it all out," Anko soothed, patting him gently on the back.

"I have to go back to the bank just to get a new one, or else I won't be able to have any access to my account. On top of that, if I don't renew within an allotted period of time, I'll be locked out indefinitely," Bokomon bemoaned.

"Well that sucks," Inoichi remarked to Chōza in a whisper, who nodded.

"That means, I have to go back to the Digital World," Bokomon said between sniffles. But before he could say anything more, a small white envelope was thrust in front of him. "Huh?"

Looking up, he saw that it was Black Tailmon Uver, holding it out. He took the envelope weakly from her and studied it closely through tear-stricken eyes, which he rubbed with his free hand as he righted himself on his knees. Anko glanced between the two Digimon, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end in the split second of catching the black cat glancing back at her from her peripheral. She snapped her gaze back to find that she was focused solely on Bokomon, as if she had been the whole time, but the kunoichi knew she hadn't imagined it.

"Creepy cat," Anko thought, betraying her poker face.

Bokomon flipped the envelope over, then used his stubby claws to carefully rip the top off. Gently squeezing the sides to peer in, his jaw dropped as a glow seemed to emanate from within.

The scholar let out a long, awed sound as he slowly and almost reverently pulled out something that was shining brilliantly. "A Gold Card!"

"Well?" Anko prodded sharply. "Don't keep us all in suspense."

Bokomon turned to her, the tears in his eyes no longer that of sadness, but relief and happiness, clearly visible through the small smile he now held. "I-I'm saved!"

Anko needled pointedly, "In what way?"

Bokomon rubbed away his tears as he explained, "The Gold Card is given only to the elite of the Digital World, granting a number of benefits and privileges. It offers unlimited purchasing power, access to 90% of the restricted zones and servers, first-class treatment on all facilities and services free of charge, exemption from any evolutionary stage restrictions, and it even serves as an all-in-one identification and passport."

All the adults gaped. If there existed a system of something similar in their world, the lucky individuals granted such a privilege would live like royalty; but not without certain caveats, no matter where they were. Though, given the very nature of their world, such a system would invite no shortage of unwanted parties coveting such, either by hook or by crook.

"So, Bokomon is still rich?" Naruto scratched his head, understanding the gist of the scholar's explanation.

"More like, socially and financially secure," Bokomon turned to him. "We won't ever want for anything in the Digital World so long as I have this Gold Card. We can even travel more easily. Transportation, borders, none of that would be a problem for us."

Everyone except Naruto and Piyomon understood the undertone, judging it to be no mere coincidence, as Shikaku commented, "All at the behest of this mysterious benefactor, I take it."

Bokomon did so, too, nodding. "Whoever they are, they must be high up in the pecking order. It can't be the Royal Knights, as I know that their reach doesn't extend to matters relating to finances."

Hiruzen took this information in with the greatest of caution and skepticism. His sharp mind; tempered from decades of politics, raced through the implications. From the very beginning, it was apparent that there had been a figure; perhaps even several, in the background pushing things along the board, one who had to possess significant pull and resources at their disposal. Evident from how they were able to first infiltrate Konoha with the measures taken after Mizuki's betrayal, granting Naruto his mysterious computer, and how they are still able to brazenly come and go as they please with the recent acquisition of the Digivice -V-. They needed to tread more carefully as the possibilities were only beginning to fester.

A more cynical part of him suspected that they had a hand in this entire incident, but it was best to defer such suspicions for now. Whether they were benevolent or not, whether they were helpful or not, there was always an angle. These were forces that they couldn't afford to take lightly.

On that note, if attaining these Spirits were indeed crucial in the trials ahead, then preparations and plans needed to be ironed out like any other mission - a mission that would take a team consisting of clan heirs off world, potentially placing them and their futures at risk. If it were up to him, such a mission needed to be put off until they made Chūnin, or racked up sufficient experience under their belts.

This was big. Bigger than any S-Rank Mission he had ever given, and could only go from there. His mind raced again, this time of the consequences. The possibility of a mission going sideways wasn't alien to a shinobi. In fact, it was expected. A mistake, a simple blunder, a moment of carelessness, and it would all crumble.

"Hokage-sama," Shikaku called to him. Hiruzen nodded, knowing that they couldn't stay for much longer. That was when his peripheral vision caught Black Tailmon Uver pulling something out of her bag and approaching the boys. Shikaku and Chōza responded quickly and slunk next to their sons, though they were ignored as the feline stopped in front of Shikamaru and Chōji. She held her paws out, and clasped in each was a-

"Ah!" Naruto recoiled and took a step back, aghast, as he pointed at the familiar devices. "Those things?!"

Shikamaru tilted his head back and then inclined his gaze downward to examine the odd curio being shown to him. "What now?" he asked.

"Excuse me," Shikaku approached Black Tailmon Uver, raising a reproachful hand up. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to see that first before-'' He was stopped in his tracks by a sharp glance from the cat, boring into him with that same deadpan stare. Shikaku collected himself before speaking out again, "As his father, I simply wish to see if it's safe."

"You don't have to worry, Nara-san," Naruto insisted lazily after composing himself, folding his arms behind his head. "It's safe. That's how I got mine."

Shikaku turned to the blonde. "Your-?"

Naruto slipped a hand into his pocket to retrieve and present his D-Scanner. "This," he said.

Chōji, seeing this, reached out first. "Really? That's it?" Before his father could stop him, the rotund boy took the drive, studying it with interest. "How could something like this turn into-" A feeble white glow suddenly enveloped the device, and before anyone else could get another word in, the plastic material changed before their very eyes as the glow intensified. Using his free hand to shield his vision, Chōji felt the shape morph in the palm of his hand that he almost loosened his grip instinctively. Chōza reached for his son's shoulder in concern, but he too had to shield his eyes. When the light faded, in Chōji's hand was a D-Scanner, identical to Naruto's own. Though, instead of a black body and red grip, the Akimichi heir's was purple, with a yellow grip, the border surrounding the tiny screen in the same color.

Chōji and his father stared at each other in amazement, sharing a brief look of astonishment. "Is this... mine?" asked the flabbergasted boy to himself, eyes shining in amazement.

Shikamaru decided to get his done, grabbing his own, and it too changed in the same manner. When the light faded, his didn't lose the white finish, but gained a blue grip, the border around the screen in the same color.

The Nara heir sighed. "Troublesome. So, this is really it, huh?"

"Welcome to the club, man," Naruto beamed, smacking the boy on the back.

Bokomon stared at them, three of the Ten, together. There was no doubt that innumerable challenges lay ahead. He of all people knew that, but he was confident that they could persevere, remembering how it had been for him and Hagoromo, weathering through the perils they faced with their heads held high. Except when they dove into a pool of mud that one time they were in a swamp. And that time in the sand when they were at the beach. Or when they were getting away from an army of angry Numemons and they accidentally fell into-

Inoichi reminded them, "We shouldn't stay here any longer."

"Inoichi's right," Shikaku agreed. They had been sidetracked, as there was still much to discuss, but that could be done at a later, more convenient date. They still needed to oversee the aftermath of the attack.

Which meant…

All the adults who weren't Kakashi, Guy or Anko sighed heavily, including Hiruzen and his former students; Chōza being the Lieutenant Commander, dreading what was undoubtedly coming once they set foot back in Konoha.

Paperwork.

All eyes slowly turned to Anko, whose brows creased into a deep frown as she crossed her arms across her chest in refusal. "Oh no! I already did my share of the heavy lifting. Cyclops and Guy are the designated drivers this time."

The other two wielding Digivices shrugged, not seeing the problem of being volunteered. That was until they found themselves bunched tightly together, with everyone shoving to grab a firm hold on at least one of them. When they were comfortable enough, a thoroughly unamused Kakashi and Guy were about to press the button to return, when the sharp sound of a zipper being drawn wrenched their attention. Black Tailmon Uver closed her bag shut, obvious that she herself was preparing to depart.

"Hey," Naruto called out to her as she walked by. When she turned to look at him, he gestured towards their group. "Want to join us?"

The feline regarded the boy for a moment, as if considering the offer, before she wordlessly spun on her heel, hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, and walked away from them, heading for the edge of the rooftop. They watched as she bounced and landed on top of the parapet, before jumping off the edge, vanishing from sight.

"Guess she's got her own way home, Short Man," Anko remarked, wondering if it was the same way Hyougamon had arrived. Further investigations would have to wait.

Kakashi and Guy pressed the buttons on their watches, returning them to Konoha in a swift rush of pixels, as if the village was being rejuvenated before their very eyes. Relief washed over them as the afternoon sun welcomed their return, the sound of birds echoing in the distance, reminding them how much the AR Konoha severely lacked. Never had they been more glad to hear such a melodious sound again.

After letting go of Anko's hand, Naruto did a stretch. "Man, all I want to do right now is lie down," he said.

"That makes two of us," Kakashi seconded in exhaustion, feeling the drain on his body even more now that the worst part was over.

Guy did a stretch, as well, then tucked his hands behind his lower back to push out the remaining kinks. "Rest for the body is just as essential as training," he said, roving his gaze over the area. "Heads up."

As soon as those words escaped Guy's mouth, two ANBU revealed themselves to the party, both on one knee. "Hokage-sama," one of them; a woman with long purple hair, addressed Hiruzen, who proceeded to respond evenly.

"Well?"

The ANBU on the left spoke first, answering in a raspy, frank manner, "Other than some petty crime, we haven't found anyone else linked to the attack this morning."

The ANBU then raised their heads, spotting their former Captain amongst the small crowd consisting of the Ino-Shika-Cho Jōnin, two of their heirs, the Jinchūriki, and Anko.

The woman nodded to Kakashi in acknowledgment, who reciprocated, giving them a silent look to not question the scene.

"Will that be all?" Hiruzen prodded, only to receive no further reply. "No? Good." The ANBU vanished as soon as they were dismissed, leaving the group to their own business.

"I'm gonna go ahead," Anko elected, breaking off to leave. "Gonna start a rumor mill that'll kill any talk of what went down at the kid's apartment."

"A rumor?" Naruto inquired.

"Bread and circuses, Short Man," Anko answered, turning to him. "One of the basics of a cover-up is to get people to talk about something else that's juicier than you nearly getting nabbed. That's where gossip comes in. We don't want anyone else digging too deep into this since it didn't escalate into anything major. In time, people will be yapping about the next big thing, and this whole mess will just blow over."

Before Naruto could comment further, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up, finding it to be Kakashi, reassuring him with a nod. The Jōnin lifted his gaze up at the kunoichi. "So, what's going to be the hot topic?"

Anko smiled from ear to ear at him. "I'll think of something," she said.

The next day…

"Hey, did you hear? Hatake Kakashi might be…you know."

"Oh, I heard, I heard," a middle-aged woman whispered to her friend, the two of them in the marketplace, carrying baskets of produce that they had purchased that day. "I never would have guessed."

"Who knew, right?" one of the middle-aged women remarked scandalously, a hand covering her mouth as she and her friend were deep in their conversation. They weren't the only ones either; the entire town seemed to be abuzz with the latest gossip.

"Pfft, I always knew that Kakashi guy played for the other team," a man in a nearby restaurant chatted with his buddies over some tea. "Pay up, fellas."

As he held his hand out, the two other men that were with him begrudgingly reached into their pockets. "Tch, of all the rotten luck," one of them muttered.

Others who had access to the Internet took the rumor as inspiration, hard at work on their latest BL fanfiction posted on their blogs, while others took to chat rooms.

As for the man in question.

In his apartment, where he had lived ever since moving out of his family home, he lay resting in bed and reading one of his books. "Hm?" He perked up, his ears picking up the faint noise of what sounded like his name coming from the window. Probably just another one of his numerous female fans stalking his apartment. He was flattered, of course, but you think they could spare a man his privacy.

Had he bothered to look, the ones casing the building were actually some of the local okamas, hearts in their eyes, all aflutter over the news.

" Ah~! Kakashi-kun~..."

Elsewhere…

The day after everything had calmed down, Konoha resumed like normal, any evidence of the attack collected by the ANBU, and so far, results were pending. Whatever trace that could be potentially linked to Hyougamon—hair or blood—had dissolved on its own over time, muddying the investigation. They couldn't rightly point to Snow Country without solid evidence. Hiruzen and the others would have preferred for the case to be dismissed as another failed attempt like all the others. If it weren't automatically deemed as classified, he would have personally signed on it to be so.

As for Naruto himself, he was resting in his own apartment, enjoying the last day of his off time, surfing the web on his computer. It had been a few weeks since he had come to learn of the internet and how to access it with Bokomon's help. While the CPU was wirelessly tethered to the Digital World; which would be a headache to fully explain to the boy anyway, it still needed to access the web on Earth normally. Not much had arrested his interest save for some chat rooms talking about random things like games, manga or the latest Fujikaze Yukie movie. He seldom got to use his computer due to his training, so it was nice to unwind, though it wasn't all careless fun.

A few weeks prior, he had previously stumbled into a room where people could discuss matters pertaining to shinobi. Sifting through some of what the users were talking and arguing about, it seemed innocuous enough, mainly consisting of who was their favorite, the coolest, strongest, fastest, etc. Not long after his username; "KamiBoko77", popped in, he had been asked by one of them where he was from, as he was new. On impulse, he answered with "Konoha", and another wasted no time in asking him a few basic questions about himself, like his hobbies or interests. Another asked him about the top spots in Konoha to relax or have fun. Kurama intervened, chiding him to not reveal anything more, having already made the mistake of admitting his home village.

When Naruto replied for them to ask him something else, they complied easily. The next question they asked was who happened to be his favorite shinobi. Before he could type in the answer, Kurama stopped him to test something.

He was told to type in "ramen" instead, and didn't receive a response until the person who had asked expressed amusement and repeated the question.

Kurama told him to keep typing random, unrelated words, never actual names or locations. When he kept doing it, the same user who had asked where he was from accused him of fucking with them. Others persisted, while some resorted to petty insults, insisting that he leave, as he was disrupting the chat.

I was right. They're frisking intel. Classic information gathering disguised as small talk.

Isn't that dangerous? Why is it so open on the web?

First off, who would be stupid enough to spill any info on their own village? Other than you, of course.

Hey!

Second, it can go both ways. Some of these users are likely ANBU from Konoha doing the same. Use of the web still isn't widely common due to how fairly new the novelty is. Coupled with the obvious security risks involved, it's likely restricted, heavily at that, meaning you have to have special permission from the government for either business or other matters. Other than that, some of it is just fucking around and engaging in actual small talk.

How come I have access, then? Do I need to sign a form?

Sensei must have gotten the okay from the old goat. Shows how much he has trust in you.

A smile drew itself on Naruto's lips from that.

Or, and this is likelier, he knew that I'd be chaperoning you.

The blonde tottered at that blunt assessment.

Wait, does that mean only shinobi use the web?

Not all. Civilians are likely under a gag order and are expected to practice the bare minimum of anonymity. Your blunder in stating that you're from Konoha could be taken as trolling.

Trolling?

…Oh, you sweet summer child.

From then on, Naruto took advantage of his anonymity, careful never to reveal anything about himself or the village, as any crumb of info he disclosed would subsequently stack up, providing a clearer picture that could be pieced together. Kurama also deduced that the same ANBU were the ones monitoring online activity in the village, a team at the helm for just such a task, as well as a program that blocked any means for other villages to track addresses. Bokomon took all the necessary precautions when he was asked, and he indeed anticipated that Naruto would fumble. He needed the experience to be careful with information, and being anonymous online was one way for him to learn the ropes.

Although he was quite the troublemaker, he rarely saw the point in trolling, preferring to see people's reactions up close and personal to derive any actual enjoyment. This didn't stop him from getting in a few chuckles every now and then from users raging at him for intruding in rooms and messing with them, as there was nothing to prevent him from doing so.

Hm, they haven't quite yet figured out how to password protect.

Intrigued, Naruto asked the fox what he meant.

In the Digital World, certain communication channels are password protected. Making only those who share a password have a private conversation. It's pretty straightforward.

He was broken out of his reminiscing by a knock on the door. Tearing away from the computer, he stood up and went to see who it could be. Flipping the latch open, he pulled the door ajar and peered through the gap, and saw that it was Shikamaru and Chōji, dressed in their usual clothes, while he was in a plain black t-shirt and orange shorts.

"Morning, Naruto," Chōji greeted jovially, while Shikamaru remained his usual scowling self, glancing around lazily without looking directly at the blond.

"Uh, good morning," Naruto replied in surprise, closing the door, unlatching it, and fully opening it. "What are you guys doing here?"

"To give you the good news, you've just won the lottery," Shikamaru answered sarcastically, which wasn't lost on the blonde.

He motioned for them to come in and said, "You can tell me all about your winnings inside."

After depositing their sandals by the doorway, Naruto led them deeper inside. As the two surveyed the area, it was actually quite nice, if quaint. There wasn't a distinct odor of stale ramen that choked the air, which earned some credit. This was the first time the two had entered the blonde's apartment. Not even when they were playmates in their younger days did they come here.

"Well?" Naruto started as soon as they reached the living room, falling back into his new swivel chair in front of the computer that was resting on a new desk by the wall. He spun around to face them, both hands anchored on the front edge of the seat. "Pretty sweet setup, huh?"

Shikamaru took the adjacent sofa, arms folded over his chest, an ankle slung over his knee. Chōji was fine to sit on a red bean bag chair facing the television at the corner. "I'll say," the Akimichi heir commented, both hands patting the soft material. "So, where's your uncle and Piyomon?"

Leaning his elbow against the desk, Naruto answered, "Bokomon's in a meeting with the Hokage and our fathers. Piyomon's at the kitchen making a snack for the both of us."

"Oh?" Chōji perked up, rising to his feet. "Can I help?"

"Sure," Naruto allowed as he leaned back. "Make as much as you want. We have more food than I know what to do with. Mostly protein."

"Even better," Chōji remarked as he left for the kitchen.

Shikamaru cast an idle glance at what was on Naruto's monitor. "Chat rooms?"

"Yeah," Naruto replied, turning back to resume typing on his keyboard. "Just talking about whatever."

"You might have just doomed us all. If I were you, and I'm thankful every day that I'm not, the ANBU would be on my ass before the first keystroke."

Naruto scoffed, "Relax, I already got the all clear from Jii-chan. And besides, who would be stupid enough to reveal anything about their home village?"

"Besides you?"

Naruto winced, his face contorting into a grimace, at hearing Kurama's snide chuckling. "Well, I haven't," he replied, before trailing off and wagging his eyebrows in lieu of the Nara heir rolling his eyes.

Shikamaru stood up and shuffled closer. "Let me see."

"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed as the other boy shoved past him.

Shikamaru carefully scrutinized the contents of the chat, making sure nothing sensitive was present. He grabbed hold of the mouse and scrolled up and down the box, going over every detail and username, counting five in total. The young Uzumaki's was an easy guess, but the others were less telling, like "c00lio" or "deapd1ver". One stood out, however, going by "dancingdoll", who kept complaining about their personal life. Generic bait and bullshit. As for Naruto's own posts, so far, none were particularly revealing other than abstaining from cup ramen when another user, "dusty", asked about what counted as healthy snacks.

Shikamaru retracted, concluding, "Everything seems to check out, I guess."

Naruto said with a pout, "See? Go watch some TV while we wait for the snacks."

"Fine," Shikamaru shrugged, as it was better than doing nothing.

Speaking of snacks, Chōji found Piyomon in the kitchen, in the midst of building a sandwich. Upon seeing her handiwork, he didn't think a slice of bread could be propped up like that, and so he kindly offered to help her.

"Say, Piyomon," Chōji started as he was chopping up the red cabbages. "You're a Digimon, right?"

Having been instructed by him to peel the onions, she looked up from her task and replied, "Yes, why?"

"What's it like? The Digital World, I mean."

Piyomon paused in thought. "I've only ever known the forest. I never had a chance to leave until Naru-chan and Boko-chan found me."

"A forest, huh?" Chōji mused as he continued to stir the mashed potatoes. "Did you live in a nest?"

"The ground."

"Oh, like a house inside a hollowed-out tree?"

Piyomon shook her head from side to side. "Underground," she said.

"You lived underground? Like in a cavern or a cave?"

Piyomon shook her head in the negative. "When I was still a Nyokimon, I would bury myself into the ground and sleep. When I woke up with the other Nyokimon I was with, we would get out and sunbathe."

Chōji gave the bird a peculiar look before shrugging. He could always ask Naruto for the context. About 40 minutes later, they had made enough sandwiches to feed a small army.

"Lunch time, guys," Chōji announced as they reentered the living room, both him and Piyomon carrying plates stacked with mounds of sandwiches.

Naruto looked to the clock on his monitor; 11:26. "About time," he said as he stood up and walked over to the table. He took a closer look at the sandwiches, seeing the red cabbage. "Are those what we had at the picnic?" he asked, surprised. The sandwiches were good, but he expected something different.

Chōji shook his head in disagreement. "No, I would have loved to make those, but I thought we could do without meat for now."

Gathering around, Naruto and Shikamaru examined the filling. Finely chopped red cabbage, sliced tomatoes, avocado slices, and potato croquettes. There was also something white and creamy between the croquettes and the bread.

Naruto took a bite, and soon enough, his taste buds sang with approval. "Delicious! Just as good as what we had at the picnic. And this white stuff. Did you add the cottage cheese?"

"Yep," Chōji confirmed before taking a big bite out of his own. "I found it in the fridge. There was a whole tub of it."

"You eat cottage cheese?" Shikamaru asked the blonde, who nodded. It was nutrient rich with little to no fat. His mother had been adding it into his diet, as well.

"Nearly all my meals have cottage cheese mixed in or as a side dish these days," Naruto said after swallowing, then took a smaller bite. "At first I thought it was gross like expired milk. Now? It's like I can't get enough of the stuff."

Hearing that, and taking into account the clothes Naruto was wearing that exposed his forearms and forelegs, he could see the outline of his muscles, lean but developed in a way that was uncommon for their age group. He had also grown slightly in height that they were now a head even. His complexion was fuller and rosier than before, a far cry from when he was pale and thinning from malnourishment. From the additional memories of the Hokage, how he was able to change in such a short time could be attributed to his Uzumaki genes finally flourishing after being left dormant from the neglect he suffered. Add in being the son of the Fourth, a genius that was said to rival the Shodaime himself, then Naruto had the potential to surpass their entire graduating class; and may already have, if the evidence didn't speak for itself. The fact that he was even moving around like he hadn't just been in a battle for his life the other day attested to such.

"So, are we going to put this off any longer?" Shikamaru's words cut into their meal inopportunely, but none of them chided him; the only one able to broach the subject. Even Piyomon was drilling into the Nara heir pensively.

"None of you has to come with me," Naruto said after a quiet minute passed, his half-eaten sandwich forgotten.

"Why do you even need to go back?" Chōji asked.

Naruto hung his head for a moment before looking at each of them. "Did you bring your D-Scanners?"

The heirs shared glances. "My old man has mine. Probably brought it with him to the meeting."

"Same," Chōji sounded.

Naruto held his hand out and willed his own Digivice to come to him, catching it after it flew across from the corridor. "Neat trick," Shikamaru commented, speaking for a more subdued, but no less impressed Chōji. "Can we do that?"

"Yeah," Naruto shrugged. "But your dads will probably give you hell for pulling it off right now." Brandishing it so that the screen was facing them, the blonde continued, "Inside this thing is my Spirit, a fraction of the power I had when I was AncientGreymon. I have to find the other one before anyone else does. Namely, jackasses like Etemon."

"He's supposed to be this warlord, right?" Shikamaru said as he reclined back. "And you want to take him down? What, you think you're some kind of hero?"

A hero? Naruto blinked, unable to stop a small smile from tugging at the corners of his lips at hearing it. A boyish dream, a lofty one at that. Him, becoming the strongest shinobi in Konoha, as Hokage, lauded as a great hero by the villagers, their usual jeers of scorn replaced by beaming praise and adulation.

His smile faded when he realized the villagers were just faceless figures.

Ones he didn't personally know or cared about.

It sounded wrong to him now, for some reason. It didn't feel as satisfying as all the times he'd fantasized about it, especially as Kurama's words rang through his head.

The images in his mind then shifted, the same featureless faces morphing into ones he could recognize. Anko, Oton, Kakashi, that guy weirdo, Hiruzen, Iruka, Bokomon, and Piyomon. Shikamaru and his parents, Chōji, Ino, all of whom were smiling at him.

"Not really," Naruto said in a subdued tone, earning a tiny bit of surprise from the other two, who knew him well enough to expect him to jump at such a moniker. He rubbed the back of his head, adding, "Sounds weird coming from me, huh?"

Shikamaru wondered sharply, "Did all that training rewire your brain? Or did you hit your head pretty hard when Hyougamon sent you flying?"

Naruto replied softly, "I'm not really sure anymore. All I know is that I have to do it. If I don't-"

"If you don't, you graduate from the Academy, become a Genin, join a team, and build your career from there," Shikamaru listed. "Nothing changes if you don't go. Why even care what happens in another world?"

"Lucemon?"

Shikamaru challenged, "Who we don't even know for sure is coming. For all we know, this could just be an elaborate scam. One that whoever's been pulling the strings is playing us, playing you."

Naruto chewed his lip, having never considered that possibility. Or, perhaps, he simply didn't want to, the sickly feeling after realizing Mizuki's treachery returning. Was this all some elaborate scheme? Was he simply being used?

Naruto growled, ruffling his hair with his free hand. "Why does this have to be so complicated?"

"Hey, I'm just giving you a reality check," Shikamaru shrugged, throwing his hands up. "Besides, conspiracies are part and parcel of our lifestyle."

"So, what? I'm just gonna leave it be?"

Shikamaru tilted his head at him. "Can you back out now? You're already pretty deep into this. Is it too late?"

Naruto wrestled with the thought. Should he back out? Live life like normal? He already had most of what he'd only ever dreamed of, so why not quit while he was ahead?

Because…

"I don't think I can," the blonde decided, shaking his head. "This is something I have to see through to the end."

Shikamaru sighed and ran a hand over his eyes. "You can't be serious," he said.

"Yes, I am," Naruto replied confidently, looking directly at him.

Shikamaru peeked out from under his palm. "What if I'm right?"

"Then we punch the moron's lights out for thinking they could pull a fast one on us," Naruto answered, brandishing a fist.

For a moment, the two locked gazes, as if fighting for the other to concede in a silent staring contest.

They were broken out of it by the sounds of chewing.

"So," Chōji began saying between chews, chucking what remained of a sandwich into his mouth, then grabbing another to pair with the one in his other hand, with Piyomon next to him literally gobbling one after another, "me and Piyomon get both your shares, right?"

"Ah!" Shikamaru and Naruto exclaimed, quickly breaking away to grab as many of the remaining sandwiches as they could.

After everyone had finished eating and was full, they all helped clean up the kitchen and wash the dishes.

Shikamaru suddenly said, in the midst of rinsing a plate, "Oh, yeah. About you being the container of the Kyūbi."

Naruto, standing next to him as he was scrubbing another plate, could only sigh in annoyance that he had chosen now of all times to ask him that.

Author's Notes: Took a small break.