Chapter 17: Jonin Interviews- Age 12, Day 3

"If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."

― E.B. White

Naruto & Kakashi

"When I ask a question, you're supposed to give me an answer, y'know." Naruto remarks at Kakashi's silence.

The trees sway quietly around them, rays of amber yellow to white hot light falling over them in jagged patterns.

His eyes track to Sasuke confused and observing for now what they're up to.

Pretty soon though he's going to move in.

Kakashi is his and Hinata's only connection to figuring out when Danzo gets more power, popular enough within the village for people to sing his praises and defend his extreme stances.

Enough for some to even grow wary of him, Hinata, and their kids.

These must be the days when he first starts to work with Kabuto, Tōno and any other scientists related to the time device.

"...I need more proof than you besting me." Kakashi mutters.

Naruto groans. "Koyuki and Hanoko die at the end of Makeout series one."

Kakashi bristles; horrified.

"What?!"

Naruto grins cheekily. "Yeah, Pervy-Sage said their characters were too boring to write for the rest of the series y'know! He based it on reviews from new readers and his editors. It was also based on what he enjoyed writing about so he killed them off in favor of-"

Kakashi holds up a hand, nearly feels tempted to cover his ears if Naruto feels like divulging any other major spoilers for the next parts as well.

"Enough." He commands tightly.

Naruto stops his coming kunai with his own, creates a sphere of wind poised for his gut.

The other hand crushes at his wrist, Kakashi gritting his teeth.

'He's faster than even Minato-sensei.'

Did Naruto find old notes of his? Secrets of his family heritage?

"You know I'm not really fighting with you; right? Because I can knock you out here and now if I wanted to. Can't you just make this easy for Hinata and I and give me answers y'know!"

Kakashi blows out a breath. "Everything you want to know is classified. Danzo always makes sure nobody has access to what he's thinking or planning next in regards to the village."

Naruto stare turns hard; darker. Azure of his eyes tinge with red before he scoffs.

"Classified, huh? Like knowing my Dad is the Fourth Hokage and my Mom was the previous jinchuriki holder?"

Kakashi stiffens, looks pained for a moment and Naruto pushes down the sting of guilt at his current actions.

Because Kakashi continues his refusal to speak and Naruto grunts; fully annoyed now.

"Obito is part of the reason you continue to do this Bell Test; isn't it?"

Kakashi's left eye spins to a blood red.

And Naruto twists his hand fully backwards before he can put him under genjutsu.

Sasuke jumps between them before he can completely snap it, a flurry of leaves and branch forcing Naruto to leap back from the rush of fire and metal.

"The point of the exercise is to just get his bells moron!" He snaps, looking at Naruto incredulously.

Naruto simply shrugs, half-smile making him give pause, eyes flickered with an unfamiliar deep red.

Sasuke frowns, stepping back just slightly from him.

He's pissed at his interruption, kunai in hand practically burning from his applied pressure.

'What is wrong with this idiot today?'

How has Kakashi-sensei not taken him out already? He glances towards his purpling hand in shock, Naruto tempted to blow him back with a gust of wind.

Sasuke stares at their sensei's hand a second longer before throwing Naruto another glare.

"Whatever your stupid plan was isn't going to work."

Naruto snorts. "I beg to differ."

Sasuke matches his stare. "Ugh, stop trying to act cool for once!"

Naruto shoves him away hard this time into the opposite tree, fixes a look back to Kakashi daring him to not properly respond to him this time.

"I need to interview him Sasuke; that's why I'm doing this! It's more important than his stupid bells!"

There's too much vitriol in his voice he dials back with a groan at seeing a flicker of true alarm in Kakashi's eyes.

"Naruto, do you learn nothing from your previous time loops?" Kurama questions with a sigh.

Naruto nods.

'Cool it, anger gets no answers.'

Kakashi finally speaks, this isn't a preteen Naruto he's dealing with again.

"At least let's go to Lord Third to-"

"No! No Old Kan Third and definitely no Interrogation squad! We're doing things on my terms!"

Kakashi deflates and Sakura bursts forth out of the bushes below, frowns at all 3 of them expectantly.

It's one thing for Naruto to cause trouble, but now he's roping Sasuke into it too?

Naruto winces seeing that familiar tightness in her face, cheeks a splotchy red in coming rage while Sasuke merely watches curiously at her balled fists.

Naruto looks between his other two teammates frowning. Sasuke who has probably never seen Sakura so enraged gazes at her in mild awe and Sakura not caring her upset is so openly hostile in front of him, ground beneath her trembling as she steps forward.

"Someone want to explain what the hell is going on?!"

Hinata

She knows already Kurenai-sensei will have trouble believing her.

Worry coats her tongue, makes it as dry as sandpaper.

Sunlight too burns at her neck reminding her that her time is finite to get this task done, sweat dampening her brows and under her arms walking with Kurenai to fetch Kiba and Shino next.

She'll lose out on even more time once they're altogether.

A cloud passes over and Hinata lets out a low sigh in relief, at least Konoha's summers are often partly cloudy, the threat of afternoon storms common nearly daily.

Father did, always is a bit skeptical in each loop until she proves her strength or knowledge.

"You're talking back to me? Where was this courage during your spars with Hanabi?" Hiashi questions sharply.

The table quiets, flurry of whispers paused as main and branch members watch the head of the clan publicly argue with his eldest.

Hinata forces a tight grin, nails clamping at her sides.

"Since today. I don't want to harm Hanabi and if you consider me weak for that; fine. You already sense my skill level; don't you? So can we please move on now Father?"

Hiashi scoffs. "No, we can't just flippantly pretend you aren't being rude right now."

Hinata gathers flame and lightning in her hands, a rich azure crisscrossing with white that finally quiets Hiashi.

Twin Lion Fists.

Hiashi watches her dance fire and lightning with ease through her fingertips, white eyes turning challenging.

"You must believe me now; right?"

A murmuring rises she's an imposter, that a spy has somehow infiltrated the clan only for Hiashi to call for silence.

"The dojo; now."

Scarlet eyes turn back to her warmly.

"Don't worry about whatever your Father said back there. You're officially a shinobi now and he'll see soon enough you can withstand anything anyone throws at you."

Hinata beams, nodding.

Her thoughts swirl of Naruto, Boruto, and Himawari. Moments playing in the park until the sky turned a fiery red, hiking mountain trails slick with leaves and rainwater...

And then her mind goes to Danzo.

"I believe you're right."

They go on quietly, Hinata debating how to broach this subject.

The quietest student suddenly boldly wanting to know about her superiors pasts isn't a good look.

'On top of that, if I'm remembering correctly, Kurenai-sensei became a jonin fairly recently...'

Truly, the one who will probably know the most about Danzo and his cronies isn't Kurenai, but-

Asuma.

She purses her lips at the thought. During her first loop as a young teen his dark eyes studied her quizzically over her questions on if Lord Third had any involvement with time and space related jutsu, his embarrassment over being caught with Kurenai also a distraction.

Asuma-sensei was mostly estranged from his Father anyways, even before his death. He probably wanted little to do with Danzo as well knowing his ties to Hiruzen.

And he clearly must've wondered if she and Naruto were spies to ask such bizarre questions out of the blue.

'I can't waste time with the same questions over and over.'

Today, she'll break at least that part of this cycle.

Hinata straightens, slows her pace.

"Kurenai-sensei, can we talk? Ah, just us two without the guys here."

Kurenai blinks, smile etching up.

"This isn't related to a certain loudmouth blond in your class; is it?"

Hinata grins shyly with a shrug, tapping her fingers together bringing up the old ebbs of her nervous tic.

But her telltale blush won't come.

'Come on! Think of something, anything to show you're you!'

She's seen Naruto fully in ways no one else has, striking for memories of them in the dark, light of gold amber candlelight bathing their skin.

Kurenai's shoulders relax further, beaming at her youngest mentee.

"I'm right; aren't I?"

"You're playing unfair sensei! Naruto is the only boy who fits that description from my class!" She counters back.

Kurenai hums before realizing that's true. His looks may favor the Fourth Hokage, but his personality leaves much to be desired.

Hinata squeezes at her arm, clears her voice.

"Sensei, please don't be shocked, but it's happened again. Naruto and I keep time looping. I need to know everything you know about Danzo Shimura"

Kurenai stills and breaks out of her hold. Hinata clenches her teeth, sees in her crimson eyes she's only made her confused.

And suspicious.

'No. Ugh!'

She holds up a hand quickly as the scent of rosemary and lily hit her nose.

"Don't use genjutsu on me! Please. I just want to talk one on one. What can I say to prove it to you quickly without the need of ANBU or interrogation?"

Kurenai cocks her head uncertain, studies her up and down.

This isn't the Hinata she knows acting and speaking in a manner akin to an adult, but she senses no malice or ill will coming from her.

"Tell me...something you said or did with me in one of these previous loops. Something you shouldn't know right now." Kurenai voices.

Hinata darts through a scattering of recollections quickly, goes for probably the most obvious one to the whole village.

"You're married to Asuma-sensei. You two keep it a secret for some reason that nobody questions, but you two plan to start a family together in the next few years. He...He even quits smoking."

Heat blooms across her sensei's face. "It's that obvious?! No, you could say the same for you and Naruto! And you're going to have to give me more than that."

Hinata taps her leg hurriedly as Kurenai's expression darkens, pushes onward.

"You two have been thinking of the name Mirai for your first child."

Her heartbeat drums and thumps loud in her ears, she can't go into Asuma's death, won't cause her sensei turmoil that could possibly very well no longer happen.

And it's this anyways that makes Kurenai's eyes widen, sucking in a breath.

When she looks at her again she tastes jasmine on her lips, vision getting hazy.

"I don't know who you are, but I'm not letting you impersonate my student any longer!" Kurenai grits out.

'Focus. Don't forget your surroundings.'

Her teeth break skin on her lips, blood filling her nose and mouth taking away anything else that can dampen her senses.

She dodges the coming barrage of kunai, ignites flames to the tips of her hands jabbing at Kurenai's arms before she can pierce her.

Fast as she is, Hinata manages to leap behind her, fingers poised for her neck.

"What else do you need to know? That will stop you from continuing to attack?" Hinata pressures.

Kurenai freezes, gasp erupting out.

"You aren't Hinata."

Hinata holds her position, ignores the twist in her chest at the coldness of those words. "I'm not the normal 12 year old Hinata you're used to, yes."

Kurenai half turns to look at her then, crimson to pearl.

Wind scatters up a crackle of leaves, maple and ginkgo leaves shades of yellows and reds falling around them.

Kurenai sighs. "I'm afraid you've wasted your time as I don't know anything on Danzo, but perhaps Asuma does."

And Hinata feels the beginnings of a smile bloom up until Kurenai goes on.

"But you need to tell me first everything you're not saying."

"I can't-" Hinata starts but Kurenai only holds up a hand, anger lacing her voice in a brewing storm.

"Trust isn't built on secrets. So tell me, what else are you hiding from me regarding the future?"

Naruto- Team 7

"You guys are making this difficult y'now." Naruto huffs.

"Because you won't answer our questions!" Sakura bellows.

And where did that burst of power he just showed come from? The Naruto she knows can't even sneak up on Iruka-sensei without being caught and instantly sent out to the hallway or to detention.

'Wait, he mentioned looping? Is he that adult Naruto again like the day we first became a team?' Sakura realizes.

Ideas swim forward, all the questions she wanted to ask him maybe she can try for today!

'No, he's even more tight-lipped than the last time we saw him! Darn, I want to know who I'll marry and how to become a better kunoichi! He said to study medicine and Earth-related jutsu, but there's so much else I want to know!'

She glances to Sasuke who can't hide his own curiosity, last time Naruto spoke of things regarding his own past he never mentioned during his introduction like that brother of his...

"Come on, how are we supposed to be willing to talk when you won't really do the same?" Sakura pries.

Sasuke nods his agreement, Naruto is doing nothing to sway their suspicions.

Kakashi regards him flatly in the middle of them. "You already know the lesson of this test is teamwork, you should've given your teammates a heads up first on your plans."

Naruto rolls his eyes at his scolding.

"You're the one not showing teamwork by continuing to avoid my questions and wasting a day of looping!"

Kakashi blinks innocently, though keeps enough space between them. It's clear Naruto, at least for today is stronger than him once again.

And while he said for now he wouldn't report him, he has to wonder if anything he knows is really going to be of help to him to stop his and Hinata's time jumps.

'He's still just mad over me spoiling his favorite books!' Naruto frowns.

"None of you ever believe me until I show off my skills y'now!" He retorts with a throw of his hands to the air.

Where's Pervy-Sage, at least even he would've believed him by now probably.

"How are you an adult? You look like the same dumb 12 year old to me." Sasuke questions at his griping.

Naruto half turns to look at him, stare enough to silence him from saying more. "Well, you can see why I didn't want to say anything insulting me like that! And by the way, you couldn't get the bells off of Kakashi-sensei the first time I experienced this day!"

Sakura sighs at a coming migraine, leaning her head against her cheek, points at Naruto in rising frustration.

"Look, you say you're an adult Naruto, right? Why did you so gung-ho rush Kakashi-sensei like that?"

Naruto cocks a thumb in Kakashi's direction. "Because he's one of the few people Hinata and I can think of that may know something in regards to our time looping since he used to be a part of ANBU. Danzo is connected to many of the ANBU's former and active members and I know he still operates from the shadows assigning missions for both the ANBU and his own Root organization."

Kakashi says nothing for a long minute, all 3 gazing at him now expectantly.

He holds up a hand in defeat, glancing skyward.

"Once...when I was around you all's age he did ask me to spy on Lord Third for him; this was shortly after the Third Shinobi World War and the Nine Tail's attack on the village."

Sasuke and Sakura blanch, rare to hear any jonin or shinobi in general discuss that fateful night.

Naruto nods for him to continue. "The night you lost Dad or Minato-sensei to you and my Mom."

Kakashi's features turn stony, probably need to in order to discuss such memories.

"Yes, it was a painful time for the village. Well, all wars are I suppose, however this was my first real foray into dealing with so much death around me in such a short period of time. Everyday, getting up my chest would ache, like stones or wood blocks were being pressed down on me I would have to physically push and break through."

Sakura nearly asks of his parents, biting her tongue before the words can tumble out.

So few of Kakashi-sensei's graduating class have a parent still alive.

Verdant eyes turn to Naruto and Sasuke then, swallow at a new thought.

'It's the same for them too.'

"One evening while visiting Minato-sensei's grave, Danzo did approach me yes. He of course knew of my upset over sensei and his wife's death. Lord Third had made orders at the time for absolutely no children, no matter how skilled or ranked to not participate in the Nine Tails attack. Danzo fed on my sadness and guilt then, asked me to spy on Hiruzen to plan for assassination." Kakashi continues, eye finding Naruto.

Sasuke draws in a breath, leans closer. "Wait, but Lord Third is still with us?"

Kakashi's mask crinkles, maybe a half-smile. "Correct. I double-crossed him and told Lord Third of his plans, that was the last time I had any major interaction with Danzo or any of this associates."

Naruto sighs, cobalt softening. "Sorry to ask you to bring up such painful memories Sensei."

'Great, this is a dead end then unfortunately.'

Hopefully Hinata might get something out of Kurenai or even Asuma-sensei.

Kakashi shakes his head. "I know why you pressured me, it makes sense in the future that Danzo would be displeased that Konoha's 'weapon' has gone on to become a beloved Hokage with a wife and two kids, though he's gotten a lot more extreme to so openly target your son this way. He's from a generation that only sees jinchuriki as tools, sacrifices that should be locked away for the good of the village unless needed."

He studies all 3 of them then; thoughtful.

"I probably was never going to tell you any of this Naruto. I don't know honestly if I'm fit to be a sensei carrying such recollections, though Lord Third thought it would help me move past my guilt and rage. So while it's true I have some ties to both the Uchiha and Uzumaki via my past sensei/team along with my own lightning nature, I never wanted this job really."

Sakura raises a hand, his gaze had passed over her much like a shadow and she tries and fails not to ball a fist at her side.

"So, um where does that leave me?"

Naruto sends her a helpful grin that does little to placate her. "Don't worry Sakura, you'll train under Granny Tsunade! In the interim, you can improve upon your medical ninjutsu, chakra control because you're the best at that out of all of us, and earth related techniques y'now! If it helps, I learn a lot under the other Sannin Jiraiya or Pervy-Sage as I call him too!"

Sakura's stare doesn't leave Kakashi's and Naruto winces at the noted hardness in her eyes, a flash of hurt.

And he knows then he's said too much.

None of that really involves Kakashi-sensei outside the basics, what exactly becomes of their team in the future that Naruto won't go into? Surely he said something in his other time loops to other versions of herself and Sasuke?

Getting stronger, Sasuke's secrets regarding Itachi, and training trips.

It adds to a growing pit in her stomach how different she truly is from the rest of her team, even their sensei...

Sakura blows out a slow breath, plasters on a fake grin.

"...Right."

Hinata- Team 8

"You guys were super late! What, is like Kakashi-sensei rubbing off on you two?" Kiba grunts.

Shino says nothing, though his insects swirl around his face and arms creating mini black clouds that match Kiba's mood.

"I would've been proper protocol to at least send a messenger. Why? Because we're nearly an hour late into doing our training session now."

Kurenai sends Kiba a glare that quiets him instantly, nods apologetically to Shino.

"Hinata was...feeling unwell so she was a bit slower getting ready."

Hinata sends her a thankful look she avoids, vermilion staring forward.

'Trust isn't built on secrets.' Her words echo.

It would be easy if said secrets weren't tied to death, tears, and too many what-if's.

Kiba crosses his hands behind his head, glances to Hinata up and down before sniffing the air.

"Really? Because she looks fine to me! However, I'm picking up on the scent of blood and maybe...ramen? You spending time with the resident Dead Last of our year or something?"

Hinata doesn't even hide her hands twitch. "Don't call Naruto that. And yes, I've spent time around him considering we're married."

Kiba grins cheekily. "Huh, married?! Wait, what do you even see in him? He sucks both academically and in practice matches-"

"Enough Kiba. I'm not going to listen to you insult my husband. We all need to train to improve ourselves or you'll fall behind. The chunin exams will soon be upon us and it will involve stronger shinobi from outside villages with skills we've never seen before."

Shino raises a brow. 'Husband?'

Even Kurenai finally looks to her, uncrosses her arms. "You're married to Naruto? Why didn't you bring that up earlier?"

Hinata bites down a stab of impatience. "I do! Or at least I'm sure I've brought up before during a previous loop, it's just that nobody seems to remember fully once the day is done and gone."

Kiba blinks, rubbing his chin. "I'm sure my Big Sis or Mom would've told me about one of Konoha's oldest clans marrying off their eldest daughter to the village's class clown!"

Hinata sends him a look to truly be quiet and he holds up his hands in surrender, surprised at her real rising fury.

'Alright, I don't want to get a gentle fist to the chest or arms today!'

Shino's bugs assess her, peer between her and Kurenai. "Well, she doesn't appear to be a clone or imposter of some sort, my beetles aren't detecting any sweat or nervous tics that could give away she's lying either."

Kurenai nods. "I did my own assessment earlier before we came here; I'm just waiting on Hinata to give me her full honestly on why she needs to know about Danzo and if I should even trouble Asuma with such news."

Hinata takes to studying the surrounding forests. In the future, she and Naruto will take afternoon walks here, winding cobblestone paths of coppers and grays to offset the greenery.

"And Yamato-sensei said he can make it at least 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths! So that will give like one room for us, one for each kid, and then like a home office space for me downstairs!" Naruto breathes out excitedly.

Hinata giggles, rubs at her stomach now the size of what Hanabi affectionately has called a plum. "Boruto isn't even here yet and you're already planning for his sibling?"

Naruto stops in place, reddening realizing what he's implied. "Ah, well yeah! So you know, Boruto won't be lonely y'now!"

Hinata leans into his shoulder, matches his silly grin. "That means we have to get busy making him or her, at least once Boruto is safely delivered."

He twists her right into his chest, breath warm of tea and rice recalling he probably just came from another session with Father. "Look at you talking all dirty, what would Hiashi or one of the elders think?!"

Hinata burrows into him. "I think they shouldn't care about what you and I get up to behind closed doors."

Hinata blinks away the memory, cruel maybe to think of her future when it's one she wished for Kurenai-sensei to have as well...

She shifts from side to side, feels tears prick at her eyes she doesn't bother swiping away. Her heartbeat swishes into a pounding drum, insides churning.

If she tells Kurenai here and now Asuma will die in a few years, it will cloud her every waking thought from now until that inevitable mission.

True, she can give him, Team 10, and every shinobi working alongside him the secret to their abilities, but then there's the high likelihood Kakuzu and Hidan will simply change their targets to someone else in Konoha, may just quickly find another shinobi or civilian who knows nothing of their powers leading to an even darker future.

'What should I do? I can't put you in such a position of pain, not like this.' Hinata clenches her teeth.

"I-I can't Kurenai-sensei. It...It involves death, death that will hit all of us because it's a member of the Konoha shinobi forces, can't that be enough? I don't know if speaking will prevent the death or cause another death to happen in it's place."

Kurenai studies her for a hard moment, this girl who is and isn't her student all at once.

She steps forward, steadies herself beside her into the grass, curls her hands with her own.

"...Alright, I won't force you tell me more beyond that. Though you should know, Asuma rarely interacted with Danzo. I will say that he once heard in passing that Danzo often grew frustrated with Lord Third's plans for the village, said that he was always too 'soft' on shinobi with prior criminal backgrounds and was too 'friendly' with our jinchuriki."

Hinata's eyes widen, squeeze at her hands just a bit tighter.

"Take it with a grain of salt, but during our last meeting, he heard him mutter something about needing to visit with 'that Uchiha', but it wasn't clear with all the other commotion going on."

'That Uchiha? Obito? Itachi? Madara?'

It's something to report back to Naruto, beaming gratefully.

Kiba yawns, hovering over the pair.

The sun sits squarely over them, patches of yellows running across logs and grass. He's sure she's going to test how fast they can tract a scent when it comes to environments covered with fire, ice, or rain based on her hint from last week.

If they stop wasting time that is.

"So, you guys done gossiping so we can start training?"

Naruto & Hinata- Naruto's Apartment

"Well, let's cross out Sasuke, considering Danzo y'now, dies by his hand." Naruto starts.

"That changes though; we don't know yet if Sasuke will kill him when we're older. But yes, Sasuke would never want to work with him and I honestly don't see why Itachi would either knowing his ties to the coup. Obito and Madara are more of a mystery, Madara maybe resurrected in secret? Obito working with him in regards to the Eye of the Moon Plan?"

Naruto rubs his chin, draws a line from Danzo to Obito and Madara with a question mark.

"I don't get why any Uchiha would want to work with him really. I mean, this is a guy using their dead clan's eyes for his own benefit, wouldn't that disgust and infuriate them?"

Hinata hums, points to the bullet points next to Obito regarding his history with Kakashi that led him to not returning back to Konoha. "Perhaps it's just for the time being until they can dispose of him."

Naruto snorts, that clearly doesn't happen considering Boruto in particular running into that time device's path. Danzo hates him enough to wish their children didn't exist, or at least are only used for military benefit perhaps.

Danzo could get a leg up on both Madara and Obito from his research with the likes of so many scientists, always making sure to try and stay a step ahead.

Most of what changes during the war is a mystery, they know enough that the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan is in action by the Akatsuki, but which members remain and how it starts has become foggy.

Hinata shuts off the lamp, darkness falling around them.

Moonlight slips in from the slits in his blinds, highlights their figures in silver.

Her hands reach for his face, fingers tapping and rubbing from his whisker marks to his forehead. "We're giving each other a headache trying to stay up all night figuring this out."

Opalescent land on his alarm clock, 1:12 am stares back in bold red.

Naruto leans their heads together, drops a light kiss to cheeks then her lips, hugging her to re-memorizing every curve, every touch that makes her breath catch and lightly moan in his ears.

"Tomorrow we could be kids like 4 or something, or as old as 40 y'now! I know people aren't always taking seriously what we say and do with each loop, but we need to take down somebody important to Danzo's plans, somebody that will have him recheck his current actions and behavior towards us."

Hinata nods, smiles into the curve of his neck as she tumbles them both back into sheets, into a bed that squeaks under their shared pressure.

"Well, that would need to be someone from Root or ANBU, a betrayal that would crush his spirit."

Naruto Age 16, Day 2

"Get up already." A voice demands behind him.

Naruto stirs awake, eyes first tracking to the corner where Jiraiya rests cross-legged, leaning against a wood frame. It's winter he thinks from the gray he sees half-looking back, morning sun not even visible.

Though the way the wind howls and the snow falls tells him it's the Land of Iron he's closer to than a Konoha winter he's dealing with.

Jiraiya cracks one eye open to the man's sharp tone, but doesn't move from his position.

And so Naruto tracks his own eyes to the voice, to the shudder of cold wind this man brings opening the window further.

Tobi. Obito.

Snow falls in heavy flurries behind him, Obito sitting against the wood barrier, head in his palm studying him impassively.

"Good, you're awake now. I come bearing news regarding Sasuke-"

"That he took on the Uchiha clan's hatred with Itachi's death? That a fight between us is inevitable and you're declaring war against the nations?" Naruto interrupts, moving to a standing position.

Obito straightens, scarlet eye becoming visible. "Interesting. You did your homework for once?"

Naruto shakes his head, smirks before daringly stepping forward to him with a speed he doesn't expect.

He grabs his arm before he can escape the area, leans into his ear dropping his tone and his body totters just slightly in surprise when he can't break himself from his grip immediately, enough for Naruto to notice and for Jiraiya to move in.

"No Obito. I just already know your plans and your skills; all of them. And I intend to stop you and anyone else you're connected to."

-x-

The thing about Danzo is, I don't know any character in the Naruto series that truly liked him! Maybe besides Hiruzen having a soft spot for him and I guess possibly Homura and Koharu too. The old people influence the future more in this case, at least for now.

Has anyone kept up with Boruto's new parts? While I don't intend to have any of that in this story or any other at the moment,. I'm just curious what people think of his newest skills. I still stand by that most people would've liked a prequel to Naruto or a slice of life with the Naruto cast being more of a focus lol.

As always, pat-re-ons get early access to my works! I post extra bonus NSFW writing goodies for NaruHina, MHA, and my original works! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!

Check out my Insta by the same name for my drawings, travel pics, and book reviews as well!

Please let me know your thoughts as always!

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