Chapter 25: A Taste Of Fear

"Fear is a phoenix. You can watch it burn a thousand times and still it will return."

― Leigh Bardugo, Crooked Kingdom


Sakura

"You know we can't keep pressuring her like this Dear." Mebuki begins.

The pair sit huddled closely together to keep their voices down, dinner long since completed hours ago. Plates and bowls are stacked away on the drying rack, drip-drop of residual water filling the quiet.

"It's time Sakura fully cut ties to him Mebuki! I'm sure Lady Tsunade properly trained her on how to accurately and safely cut her red thread without harming herself too much in the process! I don't know why she hasn't done it by now!" Kizashi suddenly bursts out in frustration, Mebuki shushing him quickly with a warning look.

"Keep your voice down Kizashi! Sakura is old enough now to make decisions on her own regarding her thread...even if we don't exactly agree with them."

Neither notice the wasp on the wall in the far corner, hidden in the lamp's shadow.

"Well, how else do you suggest we get it across to her Mebuki? I'm starting to think we should just intervene on her behalf before things get worse! We've both seen the reports that Sasuke's becoming an international criminal; his name is going to show up in the bingo books of every region! Once that happens, Sakura's good name will become tainted just by being connected to him as his red thread; not to mention the risks she'll face potentially feeling any injuries he gets! And she's moving up so fast in the hospital too-" Kizashi sighs, trailing off.

Sakura draws in a breath at her Dad's silence, stomach clenching in anticipation.

Their voices drop an octave further, Kizashi letting out a resigned laugh.

"It'd be nice if we had a Heartbreaker Woman to talk to about this! Though if Sakura found out she might Heart-Flake on us!"

Sakura rolls her eyes and she's sure her Mother does as well.

"Not your best pun Dear. However, I see your point. We'll discuss it with her over breakfast tomorrow; a full hearty meal. Sakura's been coming home after midnight nearly every night this week; I know it can't be good for her health considering how much she scolds us for going to bed late. I'm sure she's just trying to put that monster Pain's attacks out of her mind by working harder or trying to not dwell on Sasuke's current whereabouts." Mebuki decides.

Sakura bites her lip, hates how correct she is on her line of thinking.

'Figures Mom can read my mind with how similar we act.'

The lights go off in the kitchen, Sakura shutting her eyes quickly turning over in her sheets.

Maybe they won't hear the fast rush of her heartbeat in her ears, notice the trembling of her fingers when they poke their heads into her room to ensure she's truly sleeping.

A minute later she begins to hear the creak of their footsteps back on the wood floor, feels her Dad's eyes linger on her, fingers brushing at her hair.

"Get plenty of rest sweetie, no steamy dreams or schemes involving that boy!" He softly orders.

Sakura wills her cheeks not to flush, thankful for the darkness and Mebuki's light swat to Kizashi's arm not wake her.

"Come on, we need to get some shut-eye too!" Mebuki declares.

She waits a good five minutes after hearing their bedroom door close before giving the signal of okay for Akito to fly back to her. He lands on the tip of her index finger, wings shining iridescent in passing moonlight.

"Thank you little one! I'm sorry you had to eavesdrop for so long; I'm sure Mom and Dad forgot that I use you guys for a variety of things outside of the hospital setting!" She laughs hoarsely, shakes away tears from her eyes.

No crying, Sasuke wouldn't see them anyways.

She pulls her mind to focus on what she knows, taking in her thread's dim glow in the darkness.

Whatever Sasuke's using to dampen their red thread isn't working really or maybe it's just the last thing on his mind right now.

If she wants to, she could use it as a guide to him...

Sasuke is closer than usual. Not exactly in the Land of Fire though as he's moving along the outskirts it seems by traveling towards the northeast. She makes a mental map of the villages and nations in that direction, sitting up in bed as a chilling thought occurs.

The Five Kage Summit.

While Lady Tsunade insisted she felt well enough to go with her own assigned team of guards to the Land of Iron, Danzo persisted with concern over how much chakra she used during Pain's attack. On top of that she had been in an exhausted enough state to need rehydration via IV fluids during an overnight stay at the hospital last week.

Of course with the way he painted it he easily got Homura and Koharu's approval to come along as well to ensure her 'safety'.

And with great reluctance, possibly to avoid an ensuing argument, Tsunade relented.

'Danzo may use this chance to kill her! He's been gunning for the Hokage position since practically the 2nd Hokage's era. I need to go check on her, ensure nothing happens to her while Danzo is in range.'

It doesn't matter that she knows Tsunade can handle herself despite her weakened state, pulse rising more so at the thought of crossing paths with Sasuke before he truly makes himself an enemy to all of the Great Nations.

Sakura slowly herself maneuvers out of bed, tiptoes out to the garden and shed.

Her feet sink into damp, cool earth following the smell of pollen, maple, and willow filling the air. Her hives buzz to life sensing her movement as wasps filter out of their homes in the nearby bushes and trees to greet her. Others twist her way from drinking at the puddles left from the afternoon rains, curious why a night meeting is happening. Yellow jackets, red paper wasps, and hornets crawl up her arms and chest, Sakura hushing them to stay quiet.

"Sorry to wake you guys, but I need half you to become an insect clone of me and the other half to come with me on a mini journey! We should hopefully be done by mid to late morning, early afternoon at the latest." Sakura promises.

Low buzzes of disagreement and annoyance ring in her ears, Kenichi calming the younger wasps.

"I know, I know! But it's important! I'm sure you all have Sasuke's scent memorized, right? Our paths may overlap because I need to tell him about Danzo's other abilities, perhaps give Danzo a parting gift of my own via a hornet's sting." Sakura adds while grabbing a pack of kunai, a vial of poisons, and her travel medical bag from the shed.

The moon runs along her back as she leaps out of her room into warm night air, skirts the guards who circle near her house at the this time of day. All of them follow a distinct pattern, Sakura long having memorized which routes they favor and at what times.

It's only as soon as she's outside of Konoha's gates does she hear a distinct flitter of wings hit her left ear.

A Kikaichū beetle.

Sakura stiffens, emerald orbs roaming the dark until Shino's form materializes out of the woods.

"Is...everything alright?" Sakura asks by way of greeting.

'Of course everything isn't alright! Shino doesn't greet people at 2:09 am for no reason!'

The mark of the Aburame clan prickles and burns, sharp pain thrumming down on her arm.

Her stomach knots, heartbeat turning into a drum, restlessly beating.

Shino merely shrugs in response, though Sakura knows him well enough that anger is rippling through his seemingly relaxed posture.

His hands remain burrowed deep into his pockets and her wasps fly out guarded, protective against Shino's swarm of insects despite Sakura's soft order to stand down. No, she can't waste time fighting him, creating excuses she doesn't have for being here at this time of day.

"I don't know Sakura, you tell me. Our clan's secrets, the techniques we taught you in good faith and trust when you came to us years ago is being questioned. Tell me, are you really going to use them to help aid Sasuke?"


Naruto & Hiashi

"And you're sure you're not hurting too much? With the thread being still partially sealed and all?" Naruto hovers over Hinata worriedly.

Hinata laughs before wincing, tries and fails not to fidget at another churn of pain. "It hurts yes, but not as bad as before and certainly not as much as being stabbed."

Absently she wants to ask if Naruto is hurting as well or if maybe he's just hiding his pain from their thread bond better than her this whole time...

Hinata lies herself back, shifting to try and get comfortable while wrapped in sheets of white, violet hair fanned out around her warm cheeks like a crown.

Her fever broke sometime after the sun properly spilled across the horizon in a burst of pinks and reds, staying in Konoha's makeshift observation unit at Shizune's insistence the infectious disease team take a look at her wound as well.

"Fever plus headaches could mean so much more than just everything currently going on with your thread! At least let the experts take a look at you before you get discharged!" Shizune orders.

She glances to Naruto who straightens in alert.

"That means making sure she stays Naruto! And no helping her try to escape!"

Naruto studies Hinata with a crook of a brow, helping her curl the blankets up to her neck. He needs to double up on his studying of fūinjutsu, enough to break the rest of their seal on his own.

Hinata sits up slowly again feeling his stare, hand reaching up and looping around his arm.

"You don't need to stay, Shizune said I should be discharged this afternoon. I'm sure you're still sleepy too."

Naruto smiles, barely hides a yawn before pressing a kiss to her head and lips.

"Won't get rid of me that easily! I'll get us some breakfast." He suggests.

Hinata nods her okay while falling back into her pillows, pain medicine and antibiotics making her eyes heavy once more. She's more sleepy than she is hungry, but she isn't about to stop Naruto from getting some food in his system after having ate little to nothing since last night.

Naruto meanders into the hallway slowly, lights overhead still dimmed casting IV poles and discarded beds in hazy black and gray shadows. His stomach unclenches only slightly now that he's away from the site of all those beeping monitors and tangling lines.

'Pervy-Sage, I wish you gave me some advice on this.'

Or maybe he did and he simply just forgot in the midst of his more perverted lessons on the opposite sex.

While he knows Hinata needs to stay here like Shizune and even Sakura advised, part of him still wants to grab her and take her back to his apartment, to not linger here in these gray tinged walls that took Jiraiya from him too soon...

Acid tinges the back of his throat at the influx of memories, breathing in and out that he's fine, that Hinata is fine too.

He pauses at hearing a familiar voice near the nurse's station, sees long chestnut hair pulled back and freezes in place.

'Hiashi?'

"Please, I know she's here. As her Father, don't I have a right to see her or at least get an update on her status?!" He questions tightly.

The charge nurse Miwa purses her lips, stormy blue eyes flashing with impatience before she forces on a calm, placating grin.

"I know you want to hear about your daughter Mr. Hyuga, but I'm afraid that with both patient confidentiality policies and your daughter's own request that I can't give you any updates on her at this time." She explains once more, Hinata's assigned nurse Kayako nodding along with her senior's words.

Hiashi's shoulders slump in defeat, half turning to leave only to lock eyes with Naruto.

'Crap, of all times to walk into the hall!' Naruto bemoans his luck.

Pearl orbs sharpen upon him, relief swimming into them striding towards Naruto quickly before he can leave the area.

"Ah, you're here too! Any update on Hinata?" Hiashi pressures, grabbing hold of his arms.

Naruto gulps, squirms out of his tight hold on him while feeling Miwa and Kayako's intense stares.

"I'm sorry Hiashi, but I really can't break Hinata's trust in telling you what's going on with her. I can...I can ask her maybe if she's comfortable with me telling you a small update y'know!" He suggests quickly.

Hiashi scowls before tampering it down with a slow nod.

Naruto scurries back to Hinata's room only to see her fully fast asleep, breathing soft and slow even as his fingers brush at her hand, sighing.

'Guess I can handle this on my own. I would have to eventually!' He peps himself up.

He returns back to the nurses station with a shake of his head, gestures for Hiashi to follow him downstairs to the cafeteria much to Miwa and Kayako's relief that their shifts can end in peace.

"Hinata's sleeping and I didn't want to wake her y'know! But err, we can catch up with some food, don't cha think?!" Naruto relates as cheerfully as he can as they walk.

Hiashi sighs wearily, half looks at Naruto wondering how he can inject such enthusiasm into his voice at 6:10 am and half checks the directory to make sure they're going in the right direction.

"I suppose some coffee or tea couldn't hurt." He finally mutters, walking ahead of him.

Naruto follows along as he joins the buffet line, at least he hasn't outright accused him of ruining Hinata or worse.

They find a table in the corner, Hiashi taking a sip of his miso soup while Naruto takes a bite of his tamagoyaki.

"Let me just start by saying I know that Hinata is a sensitive girl, that I put her through hell in training sessions from a young age if only to help her to become a strong enough heiress to lead the clan at my eventual retirement. I know it was wrong of me not to consult her first before sealing her thread, but you must see from my standpoint why I made that choice." Hiashi begins.

Naruto absently studies his tea, considers his next words.

"I knew that as the village's jinchuriki that it would take time to get people to trust me and I intend to do the same with you too, y'know! Hinata is stronger than you initially thought though, right? Despite her lies to you and the Elders about having a red thread, she's been training and blending your clan's techniques with her lightning and fire affinities, proving her strength since I first found out about our thread bond."

Hiashi looks up at Naruto properly then, brows setting together.

"You have no control over that beast within you." He states bluntly.

Naruto nods, no point in lying in that respect.

"True; right now I don't. However, I will in time and I promise I'll never let the Nine Tails take over me; harm Hinata."

Hiashi scoffs gently, moves on to his onigiri and natto. Naruto may have won a majority of the village's affection with his defeat of Pain, but none of them have to worry about him being tied to their daughters as a red thread match.

Still, it's hard not to find himself curious over Naruto's assurances, observing as he gets up to get them both some juice. As he walks towards the drinks stand he passes Mrs. Ozawa carrying far too many trays at once for her and her husband. Hiashi leans forward as the woman does a double-take in recognizing Naruto, hazel eyes widening. Being a retired teacher from the Academy he recalls hearing stories of her dislike of Naruto, her vocal vitriol for the boy to be locked up instead of receiving an education.

Sure enough her bowl of fruit and tsukemono start to topple, Naruto to both Hiashi and Ozawa's surprise catching both the tray and bowls before they can hit the ground.

"Are you okay? That's a lot to carry at once, y'know! Naruto straightens, gets directions from her on where she was going.

"Thank you! I-I was trying to avoid making two trips!" Ozawa chuckles in embarrassment, marveling at Naruto's ease of carrying her trays without the need for an additional clone.

"Oh! Well Iruka-sensei is always telling me not to juggle too many things at once! It has to do with like weight of each object and then the force of gravity that will just make everything splatter on the ground, something like that!" Naruto smiles.

Ozawa's grin widens. "Ah, so you really did start taking to all your lessons seriously then at the Academy! I'm sure you used those same tactics in your fight against Pain."

Naruto's expression turns confused. "Err...yes! That's right, I sure did, y'know!"

Hiashi hides his bemusement through the palm of his hand once Naruto finally returns with their drinks, Naruto frowning at his chuckling.

"You won't be able to make things up if you're truly serious about breaking the rest of seal on you and Hinata's thread." He remarks.

Naruto stares at him fully as he takes a seat once more, blue to white.

"It's fūinjutsu, isn't it? My Mom's clan were experts in it, I'm sure I can pick it up with enough study and time."

Hiashi weighs with his next words. It's clear Naruto is determined to stay with Hinata in spite of what he's done with Hinata feeling the same way...

"Well, you're not going to have much luck with the scrolls you've been reading. You should check Konoha's Central Library, specifically the archives towards the back that cover Uzumaki clan techniques and sealing techniques they used during the Warring States Period. A majority of them have been unfortunately destroyed with the passage of time, though I know a few remain locked away."

Naruto instantly perks up, smile tugging at his lips.

"Are you...actually helping me?!"

Hiashi snorts, goes back to eating his meal.

"I'm helping Hinata, not you."


Sasuke & Sakura

"You shouldn't have followed me." Sasuke grunts.

"Why are you working with Tobi? What changed for you to take his side when he's probably keeping things from you?!" Sakura volleys back harshly recalling Itachi's cryptic photo. If Sasuke's name is truly about to go into the bingo books as an S-class criminal, then she at least wants to hear from his own lips why he's going this far.

'Itachi may be dead now, but Sasuke still wants revenge.'

On who though? The village?

She doesn't believe Sasuke knows Tobi's true identity, but he's definitely twisted his thoughts.

One of her wasps dances near his throat, the other poised for his heart.

His kunai rests on her wrists and he wonders if she could salvage her hands while trying to stop the bleeding if he jabs them in.

Sasuke clicks his teeth, head pounding feeling his vision briefly spin.

He needs to conserve his energy for the Kage, for dealing with Danzo.

"Will you lower your wasps if I stop pointing my kunai at your hands?" He asks.

Sakura swallows dryly. "...Yes, but only one at a time."

Sasuke does so and Sakura nods to the yellow jacket crawling along his neck to return to her side.

Slowly, they step back from each other. Another temporary truce.

It doesn't make any sense, but whatever Tobi told Sasuke about the Uchiha clan's downfall since their last meeting, about Itachi's role in it all has darkened him.

His sharingan has changed again.

Sunrise creeps in along the snow-capped mountains in the distance, orange-red light trickling along frost-laden grass and bark further up ahead. It's cold in these regions no matter the time of year and for a fleeting moment he misses the greenery and heat of Konoha's spring and summer months.

He hopes Suigetsu and Jugo are thoroughly distracted enough having moved ahead to track down the right time for him to strike Danzo alone.

Karin simply scoffed at his excuse of needing to review what Tobi had told him regarding his clan.

"At the end of the day, Danzo had no qualms about the Uchiha dying and taking their eyes for himself."

Karin hadn't believed him, easier to lie to her and the team than give long-winded explanations.

"If you want to see your red thread that badly Sasuke, you can just fucking say it!"

Immediately afterwards she'd apologized for her snapping, Suigetsu taking the rest of her ire at his joking of her not accepting reality.

It's more annoying that Karin's words hold a weight of truth, that at seeing a flash of Sakura's pink hair through pine and moss, he slowed his pace to greet her.

And figure out what she knows.

Lady Tsunade he's sure would be highly displeased her mentee is here near the outskirts of the Land of Iron where she's supposed to be heading herself and not safely back at home in Konoha. He's heard from mutterings since Naruto's defeat of Pain that Tsunade put Sakura on a 'probationary' period of sorts limiting her missions to villages not too far from Konoha, places where they shouldn't cross paths like the way they are now.

Sakura quirks a brow. "It's strange, you knew I was coming and yet you didn't try stop me or to slow me down when you surely saw from our thread I was getting closer. Also, what makes you think I'm following just you when I need to make sure Danzo doesn't try anything against Lady Tsunade now that we're outside of Konoha's borders?"

Sasuke has no answer for that, instead taking in her swollen arm, shoulder as deep red as her favorite qipao dresses. He nods in the direction of this injury she somehow hid from him earlier, frowns when Sakura steps back from him.

"It's nothing. I've gotten on the Aburame's clan bad side a bit is all." Sakura states lightly to brush them away from the subject.

Sasuke's frown only deepens hearing that, Sakura not stopping him this time when he takes in the tattoo of their clan inked into her shoulder, purple-red splotches spread across it like a spider's web.

A coil snaps within his chest recalling the bruises he left upon her that fateful night they had together months ago, the dark blush upon her cheeks to the murmur of his name upon her lips as he took her for himself...

He never asked her when she started interacting with Shino's clan or why for that matter.

"Who did this?" Sasuke finds himself asking.

Sakura begins to move out of his hold, rolls her eyes. "You're so confusing Sasuke. You say I shouldn't bother with you and yet you want to know the cause of this injury. I don't need to tell you."

Sasuke tightens his grip before she can fully slip away, onyx eyes turning smoldering. "You don't belong to a clan Sakura, why did the Aburame clan give their secrets to you? Trust you and then hurt you?"

Sakura snorts, anger flashing in her verdant orbs as she balls up her hands, breaking his hold. "Geez, thanks for the reminder I'm from a family of civilians and not nobility like the Uchiha or Hyuga clan. They're mad because of you Sasuke! Because you're affiliating yourself with the Akatsuki of all people!"

Sasuke's stare remains on her arm and Sakura looks about ready to punch him before instead looking away back into the forest, calming her breathing. Heat pools in his chest as he hears everything Sakura refuses to say.

"...Me? I cut my ties to Konoha years ago." He remarks dryly.

"But not to me Sasuke. The Aburame clan is mad because they know I could cut my red thread to you and I haven't. They're concerned where my allegiance lies and gave me a reminder of the pact I made to not betray Konoha or their clan's secrets." Sakura interrupts.

Sasuke's eyes narrow, leaning close enough to her for his breath to fan her lips. "They have a point; you should've broken our bond. Why haven't you?"

Sakura's face burns red just like he wanted; expected. Though her verdant eyes turn teasing; mocking.

"The same reason you haven't Sasuke, I like being your red thread."

Her gaze challenges him then to deny it, to lie to her again that none of their encounters mean anything.

Sasuke meets her glare before swearing under his breath, closing the gap between them.

Sakura's hands quickly tangle into his hair as their kiss gets deeper, hunger and desire igniting as Sasuke molds her against him.

Her skin instantly heats from his touch, pleased when a soft gasp escapes her lips.

Sasuke moves them back, slams her against ice covered bark, kisses moving to her neck.

"No, not there. People would see it and assume things about me!" Sakura pants out, turning her head away.

Sasuke huffs impatiently. "Use make up then or hide it with some bandage. I'm your red thread, I don't want other people to harm you or touch you. Especially when you know I'll be able to sense it on some level."

Sakura's lips part in surprise, Sasuke stilling as well realizing what he's admitted.

And then a tree branch snaps from somewhere north.

Their thoughts align: Tsunade, Danzo, or one of their guards. Anyone of them could be close.

Sakura pulls away first, slowly slides herself from Sasuke's body feeling her heartbeat rise in her ears. Her face gains a darker hue as Sasuke absently watches her adjust her skirt and top, Sakura pointing for Sasuke to fix his own collar, do something about the gloss she left upon his lips.

Sasuke runs a hand through his hair, clicks his teeth at having given in to Sakura again.

Sakura quickly taps his cheek to regain his attention.

"Danzo has Izanagi, holds the eyes of your dead clan members upon his right arm."

Charcoal eyes spin with red, sure Sakura gained that information via snooping through his medical files.

"Good to know, you don't plan to stop me from killing him?" Sasuke questions.

Sakura shrugs in return. "No, I'm sure you don't really want my help anyways."

At the end of the day despite his unscrupulous actions, Danzo is still a highly regarded Konoha shinobi, Sakura being connected to his murder wouldn't look great to the older generation of her patients and clientele no matter her skill.

But perhaps Sakura doesn't care about any of that knowing that he's made her sensei a target in his path to power.

She smirks with a shake of her head, retreating back into the shadows as the footsteps grow closer, voices carrying in the wind.

"You honestly didn't need to come Danzo. In fact, I suspect you're just coming along to make me look worse to the other Kage. They don't need both of us there as representing Konoha." Tsunade sneers.

Danzo grunts, waves off her concerns.

"Like I've told you plenty of times Tsunade, I'm acting in the best interest of the village. Consider me as an extra guard or-"

"The best interest of the village is not to imprison Naruto or having your Root members following him day and night! Are you the one who put those ideas in Hiashi Hyuga's head to seal his daughter's thread in the first place? Because once we return I intend to have a word with him." Tsunade interrupts testily.

"I can assure you I did no such thing." Danzo hides his smirk. He would've done it far sooner than the Hyuga leader did if he had known about such a fūinjutsu that can seal one's red thread.

Sakura hurriedly takes to the upper trees, casts one final look at Sasuke before jade orbs harden seeing a senbon needle appear from Danzo's sleeves just as Tsunade balls up a fist in preparation to strike him at his coming attack.

Sakura fires out one of her own, needle thankfully knocked out of Danzo's hands.

"We're not alone!" Torune shouts.

Sakura hurriedly turns to leave the area, but not before hearing Danzo's snicker.

"Oh, so Sasuke Uchiha is gracing us with his presence."


Naruto & Hinata

"Apparently your Old Man said I could find more fūinjutsu scrolls in the Main Library, so let's start by going there, y'know!" Naruto declares.

Hinata gives him a small smile, ignores the sparks of pain tingling along her chest down.

'I can hold on for a bit longer; I can get through this.' Hinata blows out a breath, interlocking their hands to remind herself that she can handle these twinges of ache until the seal is completely removed.

They reach the library just before they go on break for lunch, Mr. Bushida shaking his head before letting them in with a sigh.

"You're lucky I have trouble saying no to red thread matches when they visit!" He chuckles, points them in the direction of Warring States Era topics.

Each shelf in the Warring States Era to Konoha's founding is stacked to the brim with various scrolls and books, most covered with sheet protectors protecting them from the various dust and gray-brown webs that line the oakwood.

"We need to wear the gloves Mr. Bushida gave us, these records go back hundreds of years taken from various journalists, writers, and recordkeepers from that generation." Hinata remarks, lightly jabbing Naruto to follow the head librarian's orders.

Naruto groans, working with the help of his clones to grab a scroll wrapped in gold stitching.

'From the desk of Dr. Sakaguchi, Secrets of Uzushiogakure: Whirlpool citizens relationships and red thread matches within the Senju Clan and outside.' He reads off the title.

His gaze lowers taking in the burnt marks along the sides, ink illegible in some spots.

'Maybe with Hinata's byakugan she might be able to decipher some of this?'

He takes a seat again beside her, dispersing his clones more interested in twirling with her hair or making her giggle.

"Focus, Hinata! We have to save hugging and making out for later, y'know!" He scolds.

Hinata reddens before covering up a louder snicker before it can echo out.

"I was thinking about any of that until you just put the thought in my head!" She laughs.

She scoots her chair closer, frowning at how both fire and water damage mar the scroll. They're lucky to have even found this still relatively intact considering how much of the Uzumaki clan has either died out from the passage of time since the Land's destruction or scattered across the nations using different last names. She pictures most have dyed their scarlet hair to a mousey brown or common black, avoided any talks of their abilities.

Hinata inspects the title before reading down. "It seems like this came from maybe a reporter or spy who gave intel of what went on between the various clans. Latest deaths and births to which clans were forming or breaking alliances."

"Sounds like Pervy-Sage a bit." Naruto hums.

Hinata continues reading the doctor's notes, trying to form an image from the man's travels.

'The Uzumaki clan continue to show impressive feats in sealing jutsu; it's like nothing I've ever seen before! Though I must admit, it's a bit troubling how strong their fūinjutsu is. I'm proud to say just last week near the riverbanks under a starless night I witnessed firsthand Mito's ability to seal a couple's red thread for the action of attempting to poison Master Hashirama's favorite afternoon tea. The two Senju lovers believed they were in the clear to potentially earn favor from the Uchiha clan, but it was all for naught.'

She winces as she reads down.

'It was 100 % effective. The couple instantly writhed in pain along the river side's grass and cattails, stirring up mud and fish in their fervor. They tore at their skin until red and pink flesh was exposed, might've gone down to the bone if they hadn't been calmed by valerian and mugwort! I have seen red thread matches from opposing clans such as the Senju and Uchiha instantly have a Heartbreaker Woman tear at their thread at the tender age of 13 and yet the pain upon those children's faces seemed tame compared to this.'

"It doesn't sound like there's a way to reverse this so easily." Naruto murmurs grimly.

Hinata holds up a finger, points to spot carefully brushing away a layer of ash.

'About a week later when Hashirama had gone away for another meeting to discuss land borders, I went to find Lady Mito to discuss ways to alleviate the couple's pain, if the seal could even be reversed. She hesitated of course to give away such secrets, but I provided her with examples of couples who may seal their thread in haste, that so many of our youngest here seal their threads believing they're just going to die an early death on the battlefield, too immature in handling the complex mix of stress, hormones, and constant war. The key she said to undoing the seal is to place one's hands atop the barrier channeling in a low amount of heat and chakra for release, move one's fingers slowly like cutting paper or knitting.'

Naruto bemoans aloud earning him a hush and glare from Bushida's assistant Tomiko.

"I have no idea how to knit Hinata!" He pouts only for Hinata to hold up her hand.

"I do though; let's begin!"


Elsewhere-Akatsuki

"Pain...Master Pain is dead?! Oh no, it can't be!" Tobi cries.

Konan watches him flatly from the corner of her eye, despite his theatrics, not a single tear seems to have fallen from under his mask.

If anything, he seems happy about the news.

Tobi catches her stare and shrugs.

"We can't keep dropping like flies, what are you proposing we do next? The Eight Tails eluded us with that fake body he used and of course the Nine Tails remains at large."

Konan hums, straightens herself so she knows he hears her loud and clear.

"I will trust as Nag- or Pain did and believe peace can still be achieved, albeit in a different manner from which we originally envisioned."

Tobi's visible eye narrows and Konan feels a tightness wrap of her stomach as a single thought pierces her.

'He wanted Nagato to die, wants his eyes next.'

No, he won't, can't find where she lied his corpse. She calms herself knowing his body rests at the shrine of internal paper roses beside Yahiko in death...

"Talk is cheap, you all of people should know that Konan." He utters, playful tone gone.

He steps away from his spot, expression turning thoughtful.

"Where are you off to? Gonna help Sasuke fight those world leaders?" Kisame snarks at his clear defiance. Perhaps he should join him, if only to watch what action Tobi is going to do next to benefit the organization's clear cracks within.

Tobi waggles a finger up, silly cover back on supposedly.

"Oh, no! I'm just going to pay a certain Nine Tails jinchuriki a visit! It's about time we formally got introduced to each other!"

The smile leaves his face as soon as he's back into the forests moving alone, scowl tearing away his jovial attitude.

'I'll finish where you and Konan failed.'

-x-


I wasn't sure if I should wait on posting this chapter until next week to mark the story's 1 year anniversary/My birthday (the 19th), but I figured I may be too busy next week with last minute party planning and what not. For my birthday this year, please send reviews! Ha ha, that's what any author wants, but really it would be nice to know people's thoughts as the story enters this new arc.

The war arc is the part of writing this story I've been struggling with the most. It will, I feel at least right now have a lot of variations from canon. There's just so many villains and everything just feels cramped and mushed altogether. I prefer Obito and Madara as the final villains compared to Kaguya, so I won't be using her. Also, I have these budding ideas that I can use for them whereas Kaguya...well I don't know what to do with her!

Anyways, I think that's about it for now. I'll still be jumping between this story and To Repeat and Return, but I don't think I'll have as much time to write either until later in May. Let me know your thoughts as always!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!