Boys' Night
An unspecified point in time, around that time period
Toru uncorked the bottle of fine whiskey and let the golden liquid flow into the crystal tumblers on the low wooden table.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of aged oak and caramel undertones. In the background, the lingering scent of a cigar added another layer to it.
"To the first night of the Boys' Club." Toru raised his glass, grinning.
Kage mirrored the gesture, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "To the first of many."
Jinsuke, in a show of casual elegance, raised his glass with a knowing smirk.
They were all impeccably dressed, as if preparing to dazzle high society — or overkill for an evening at the local grill, which still remained an option.
"The plan is, to drink until the pain over." Killer Bee began. "But what's worse, the pain or the hangover?"
Beside him, his brother, Naruto made a face. Hanabi raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "…What pain are we talking about?"
"Fresh air — Fuck it. I just need an excuse to drink, aight?" Bee shrugged.
"Hanabi, don't kill the mood." Toru chided.
"You invited me. You knew what you were getting into." She shot back. "Perhaps you should have invited Naruto instead — my husband, that is."
There was a slight pause. Then Toru chortled. "No, thank you."
"Then no complaints." Hanabi sipped her whiskey.
"Whatever. Gama's on his way, too — he's running late." Toru said. Hanabi groaned in answer. "Yeah, I know… the man can't be punctual."
"That is definitely what I meant by this."
Toru turned his gaze to the last man; a handsome one, with wavy dark hair and a quick smile, who had been quietly savoring the whiskey. "And what is Mr. Black's opinion on this fine evening?"
"What I think…?" Mr. Black looked up, eyes twinkling. "This is top-shelf whiskey."
Kage grinned. "And…?"
"And I reckon we might just be the most brilliant gathering of reprobates the universe has ever seen."
"Feeling self-important, are we?" Toru's eyes gleamed.
The younger Naruto, ever restless, stood up. "Who's up for darts?"
Hanabi rose with calculated casualness. "Prepare to be dazzled."
It was, indeed, the first of many nights.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
Uzumaki Sakura (née Haruno) had a fairly high tolerance for awkwardness.
Some naysayers may say that this was because she didn't even notice the awkwardness in the first place. Some of these naysayers also happened to have pale eyes, so perhaps they were simply blind.
Because she did notice.
It was still early in the morning on the Celestial Ring, although this was even more relative than mornings tended to be, back on Earth.
Still, the sun — if that was even the real sun, she wasn't entirely sure yet — peeked over the horizon and the scent of fresh dew lingered in the air.
Compared to being trapped inside the most terrifying being she had ever met — aside from a version of herself who'd willingly bear Jinsuke's child —, the tension between her wife and her friend was something she was more than willing to tolerate.
Sakura grinned, stretching her good arm wide. "It's good to be home. Even if 'home' happens to be your husband and a gaggle of geniuses' latest attempt at avoiding a catastrophe."
Beside her, Ino huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. She shot a sideways glance at the other woman in their company, Yoisen, who stood with an unflappable air of calm… and a polite smile etched onto her face. Sakura's seemingly oblivious enthusiasm didn't make the situation any less irritating to Ino.
"Well. I suppose it's been a while since we last walked together." Ino finally conceded with a strained smile.
"Six or seven months, I'd say." Sakura smiled. "Though I did see you briefly, that one time."
Yoisen nodded, her bland expression never wavering. "I am honored to join your tradition, then."
Ino's expression tightened a bit.
And so they began walking.
In complete silence.
It could have been awkward. Luckily, Sakura considered herself a decent conversationalist — nothing senseless like Toru, who would talk a stranger's ear off about his latest ADHD obsession, like astronomy, for one.
…It gave her an in, though.
"The stars seem brighter here, don't they?" Sakura asked. "I can see them clearly, even during the day. They're almost too bright."
Yoisen answered her. "It has nothing to do with kami." She said, and Sakura gave her a light chuckle. That had been her thought. "There is less atmospheric interference here. Less light is scattered. And we are farther away from the sun, as well."
"So it is the sun sun?" Sakura asked.
Yoisen nodded. "Yes." She said. "And the research teams are still working on an efficient way to reflect, store or hide its light depending on the moment of the day. A different night, day cycle might just be a bit too disorienting."
Ino's icy voice cut in. "…What would you know of it? Aside from what little info they relayed to you."
"Same as you, I suppose." Yoisen said coolly.
"…" Ino huffed. "They're still toying with the idea of using an entirely artificial one, which would help in case we're to leave this universe entirely."
"Where would we go?" Sakura asked.
"Anywhere, I guess." Ino shrugged.
Sakura chuckled a bit. "…It does feel a bit surreal." She said, scratching her chin. "All of this."
"It was a drastic measure." Yoisen admitted. "But these were dire times, too. Drastic measures are often all that's left."
Ino made a frustrated clicking sound.
They walked on, the dense foliage of the alien forest giving way to a picturesque vista of iridescent lakes and vast open plains. It was eerily beautiful, similar yet different from what they had known back home.
"The scenery here is… peculiar." Sakura stated. "I can't put my finger on it."
"It's all man-made." Ino said.
"…All of it?"
Ino nodded again. "We have had plenty of help — people from strange worlds, and stranger worlds, still." She said. "That's probably why it feels a little bit…"
"Different?" Sakura asked. "Or too perfect?"
"Both."
They paused there, soaking in the strange tranquility of the Celestial Ring.
A silence broken by a gurgling sound.
"…Got something to eat?" Sakura asked neutrally.
"Again?" Ino sighed. "It's a miracle that you didn't manage to kill yourself overeating today."
"Yet." Sakura said sagely. "The day's still young — and I've got a long while of rationing to make up for. There's only so much food I keep in my Mindspace, and I'm not as good as Karin when it comes to creating something actually edible — I poisoned myself once or twice, out there."
"That is… unwise. The overeating, I mean." Yoisen said. "And not how you should approach this—"
Sakura frowned. "If human bodies are not supposed to store food for later, what are fat reserves for? Just ask Chōji — and ignore everything he says about how the Akimichi are the manliest of all clans."
"No, I meant the part about eating that much right after having little to no food." Yoisen said.
Sakura laughed. "I'm aware, yes."
Still, Ino fed her dutifully — and she even lit her pipe afterward, grumbling, which made it much sweeter than when Yugito did it.
They sat in front of the vast, shimmering lake. The water was so clear that they could see the fine grains of sand on the bottom, as if it were made of crystal. The sunlight refracted through the water, creating a prismatic display of colors that danced on the surface.
Sakura hesitated a moment as she stared at the lake, seemingly frozen.
Ino turned to her. "Sakura…? Are you okay?"
Whatever it was that she was thinking about, Sakura didn't say. But Ino could guess — she had seen a small piece of Susanoo's inner realm.
"You don't have to—"
Sakura, as though she had just made her mind up, began to strip off her equipment and outerwear. "You guys coming?"
"Wait!" Ino blurted out. "You juste ate—"
Sakura merely grinned and dove in. Her laughter rang out across the expanse of water.
As she swam, a pulse of chakra spread from her. With each stroke, the water answered in kind, shaping itself into playful creations under her unconscious command.
First, a silver-dolphin sprang from the lake, carving a graceful arc in the air before dissolving back into the crystalline body. It was followed by an ethereal flock of birds that glided from the surface, soaring skyward before gently raining back down and disappearing.
More shapes emerged, just as casually, each one more spectacular than the last.
Galloping water-horses, a pack of frolicking wolves, they all danced around Sakura, brought to life by her sheer joy.
Ino understood her thoughts, even though she wouldn't voice them.
She was here, she was alive; she loved and was loved.
Ino's eyes softened, and perhaps she quickly blinked a tear away. If she noticed it, the ghoul didn't comment on it, which she could appreciate.
With a soft sigh, Ino peeled off her outer garments, to join Sakura in the water. Yoisen did the same, following suit.
For once, Ino didn't find it in herself to complain about it.
Kage's Konoha
"Hokage-sama!"
"At ease, Miwa." Kage said calmly, from his sunlit Hokage office. "What is the issue?"
There were a few things to plan out, such as the village's coming centennial — he was honored to be one in charge of it, of course.
The switch with his own Shadow was always nearly seamless, (and the memory transfer really helped there) but there were these moments where he was afraid he had missed something. Well, Toru had been taking care of things for the longest part of these last days, so he was sure things were fine.
"There's… Well." Miwa — his newest assistant — hesitated. "There are people at the Tower's gate."
At this, Kage leapt from his seat, a whirlwind of papers spiraling to the floor in his wake.
He knew what this was about: the people from Indruto's world, those who had chosen to leave for more familiar grounds — or a place where the supreme God-Emperor didn't have all the power in the world.
"Great!" He declared with a vigorous hand gesture, before his expression softened. "I mean, not great great… but this is an opportunity! An opportunity to show these other-worlders that Konoha offers them protection! Warp me to them."
"Shouldn't we do the opposite, Hokage-sama? You declared that was the new protocol—"
"Right. Warp them to me, then."
"…All of them?"
"Of course!" Kage nodded. They were coming in waves, anyway. That was what they had agreed on. "I'll want to greet them, after all."
Miwa went and told them to activate the gateway to send them in.
From the corner of the room, Hinata, seated with a warm cup of tea in her hands, interjected gently. "Naruto, dear, we have to consider our resources… Not to mention our village's capacity."
Kage waved her words away with an enthusiastic sweep of his hand, his twin blue eyes sparkling with fervor.
"Hinata, don't worry! We're Konoha! We have the Uzugan! We can make space!" He declared grandly. "We'll build extra houses, maybe even new districts!"
His excitement filled the room, and Hinata couldn't help but smile at his boundless energy. That was her Naruto. He was so different from the stoic, heartless man wearing his face that she could hardly understand why they even enjoyed each other's company. Then again, the same thing went for Sasuke — Jinsuke.
As she opened her mouth to reply, a sharp knock echoed from the door.
Miwa slipped in again, and slammed the door shut behind herself.
"What's up?" Kage asked.
Shikamaru's voice, from behind it, hitched slightly. "…They're here, Naruto."
"Great!" Kage grinned.
"But…" Shikamaru cut himself off.
With a raised eyebrow, Kage turned to his assistant, with a knowing grin. "Oh, what now? Do we need anything? Aside from thicker doors?" He joked.
"…Well, Hokage-sama…" Miwa began.
Shikamaru gingerly opened the door to reveal an assortment of numerous animals — pigs, dogs, cats, birds… and much more, including a curious-looking bear.
"That's just the beginning, Naruto." Shikamaru said.
Kage blinked. "…Uh" He said, coherently. "Are… are they asking for asylum too?"
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his temples. "Apparently. They've been sent here, along with the people."
There was only silence.
And then, dark light. A piece of paper fluttered in the air, and there were many pairs of eyes on it. Kage snatched it.
'We decided upon synthetic meat and products — won't need quite that many animals aboard, because of it. Ethics, or something. Take care of them — maybe we'll send them further away, once we find a suitable, empty world. N.'
Kage finished reading the letter and set it down.
There was silence.
Then he began chuckling, fondly. "…Oh, other-me."
Hinata pursed her lips. "Surely we shouldn't take advice about how to handle things from a man who managed to get his home planet destroyed in less than two years, darling."
"I'm sure he didn't mean to do it — and he managed pretty well." Kage said, shaking his head. "You should have seen what he and his Orochimaru army built!"
Hinata pursed her lips harder.
"…Ah, sorry." Kage winced. "I know you don't like it when I mention them."
"…It's nothing, dear." Hinata said, sighing. "But I'd rather push back visiting his tyrannic space empire for the time being."
"Right." Kage nodded, with a thumbs up. "We can go later!"
Hinata sighed. Miwa and Shikamaru were still waiting. "…Naruto?" The latter asked.
Kage blinked, glanced at them. He became the Seventh Fire Shadow once more. Or he took everything in stride, at least.
"…Very well. Shikamaru, Hinata, draft up plans for an animal district too!"
In the background, the minor kami of fire, Tomoshishi, now in a smaller, phoenix-like form, screeched in approval. Kage gave him a thumbs up.
Hinata smiled demurely — and hesitantly. That man's nonsense was spreading, it seemed.
The Celestial Ring
The oceans of Umigakure were unlike any other.
Crafted after Earth's oceans were left behind, they spanned vast regions of humanity's newfound sanctuary.
The waters, sourced from chakra and asteroid-encased icy reservoirs alike, were treated and modified to resemble Earth's saline wonders.
The marine life, genetically engineered from DNA archives and adaptive biotechnologies, would someday thrive in this aquatic realm, bringing with it a burst of life and color.
Islands dotted the waters each an ecosystem of its own, maintaining a delicate balance between flora and fauna.
These islands served multiple purposes: habitation, agriculture, and as monitoring stations to ensure the stability of the water ecosystems.
But the crowning jewel was undoubtedly the majestic white tower of Umigakure.
It rose from the very heart of the ocean like a sentinel, as though its roots extended deep into the ocean floor. The tower, constructed with the very same material as the Outer Ring itself… that reflected the hues of the sky, stood as a beacon of hope — hopefully — and was visible even from distant lands.
The base of the tower was surrounded by a sprawling city, buoyant and mobile. The city of Umigakure, aptly named 'The Hidden Village by the Sea', was widely considered a marvel. Floating marketplaces, anchored gardens, and luminous pathways created a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow upon the water's surface.
And speaking of roots…
South of Umigakure, and at the core of this world they were building, the World Tree grew ever more magnificent with each passing day.
It glinted gold in the distance, and even the people who remained unimpressed by the tower usually had something positive to say about the tree.
Closer to the World Tree, a vast undersea network sprawled out, hidden from view. This was called the woodwide web, according to Senju Hashirama. But only Uchiha Sasuke could make any sort of sense of his nature-related explanations, so this was considered something not to think about too hard by most.
Inside one of Umigakure's tower's most regal chambers, a room enveloped in gleaming white and gold, lit by floating orbs that emitted a soft glow, mimicking the brilliant stars above, stood the Emperor. A figure draped in beautiful robes.
His countenance bore the proper balance of gravity and wisdom as he awaited the arrival of his guests.
(At least, that's what Naruto hoped came through. In truth, he simply wasn't really looking forward to hearing more of Chigusa, Kazekage… of Enbu Kōyoku, ambitious Lord… of Koizumi Shinji, cautious Lord — any of their complaining.)
One by one, the Twenty Lords of the Lands entered, their regal attire reflecting the diverse and rich cultures they hailed from. From the lush and green terrains of Kaiju, Lord Hashire, a man with silvery hair and bearing a pendant shaped like a dragon, entered with quiet confidence. From the icy realms of Suimei, Lady Yuki entered, her attire sparkling like crystalline snow.
And apparently, the room held its collective breath when the Five Kage made their entrance. Unlike the Lords, they were figures of near-legend, each representing the soon-to-be-deemed-historical ninja villages. The Hokage's cool presence and fiery chakra, the Mizukage's fluid grace, the Tsuchikage's sturdy presence, the Raikage's powerful energy, and the Kazekage's tempestuous moods announced their arrival even before they set foot in the chamber.
Once all had settled, the Emperor raised his hand, and the room went silent.
"…Let's talk plainly for a moment. The last arrivants from Earth are on their way. Our old home is now almost vacant." He said. "The final groups — those who stood guard, ensuring every last soul was offered a chance to leave — are now going through the last rounds.
"I received the reports just hours ago, and my own clones confirmed it. Families, the very old and the very young, the keepsakes of our culture — have safely made the journey here. And while science and chakra shaped this haven, it's our collective spirit that's seeing this through.
"I won't sugarcoat it. Some nights are long and heavy. Thoughts of what we might've missed, left behind… or will forget about… plague me. Centuries-old oaks, ways of life, forgotten places — they weigh on my mind. But it's our duty to remember, to cherish… And to forge ahead."
There was silence in the chamber.
And the weight of shared responsibility for the future, too.
Soft murmurs began to ripple through the assembly, each member processing the gravity of the situation, some nodding in agreement, others sharing glances of mutual understanding.
The sentiment of assent grew, the Emperor could tell, and he didn't need to be able to read their hearts to do so — their emotions, like many others would have been picked up, had they reached negative enough levels, in any case.
A wave of nodding heads and affirmative murmurs grew stronger, steadily filling the chamber with a sense of unity.
Lord Kirijima, the representative from the lush terrains of Gekka Heiya, the moonflower plains, rose to his feet. "Emperor." He began, his voice strong and clear. "Though the path ahead is unfamiliar and fraught with challenges, we place our trust in your leadership."
Lady Shion of Ryūsei, the Meteor Valley, joined him.
Lord Yamada bowed low.
So did Lord Koizumi, and for once, he had nothing to add.
Then, Lady Yuki. "Our icy realms have seen many a storm, and through each one, we've learned the value of unity and foresight. We stand by your side in these new beginnings as well."
One after one, the Lords rose and pledged their support once more.
None of them had taken the offer to leave for other worlds.
The Hokage, ever the pillar of strength, met the Emperor's gaze, a silent agreement passed between them, further solidifying the assembly's commitment to the vision.
Then the Mizukage, who just smiled a wry grin. Then the Tsuchikage, known for his reserved nature. And the Raikage, who didn't seem surprised by any of the proceedings at all.
And then…
The Kazekage, Hundred Hands Chigusa, stirred. Her flowing robes glinted with every shift. "Uzumaki-sama." She began, her voice cool. "While I appreciate the broad perspective on our shared journey, I have a more… particular concern."
She stood, casting a long shadow, making her presence even more dominant to most. Several members of the present assembly wondered where she found the strength to ask him for more — a single look from the Emperor was known to breajk many, whether on purpose or not.
The current assembly was not afraid of the man, of course. But they would also be fools not to take him very seriously.
The greater population believed that the Emperor was able to read the hearts of Man, to summon thunderstorms with a mere wave of his hand, to move worlds, to fight gods on even footing. That his wives could cheat death, cure illness, bring down the moon or make one anew, break souls like glass or steal them away, restore youth… or make grown Uchiha men cry like babies with but a few choice words.
The assembly knew it to be true, all of it.
Still, the Kazekage continued, and there was only the slightest trace of hesitation in her voice.
"Our desert clans have sacrificed much in this exodus. More than mere resources." That they did have, now. "We have a rich history, traditions and ways of life unique to our lineage. How, Emperor, do you propose to compensate us for our losses? What assurances can you provide that the desert clans' interests will be adequately represented and our power secured in this new world order—"
The Emperor sighed. "Look, I know you, by now. And I can read between the lines. We'll build a damn desert, Chigusa. Gaara will do it."
The Kazekage tensed. "Gaara…? That little psychopath?! He was alive, all along? I should have known Umi—"
"Not that one." The Emperor sighed. "I killed him when I was thirteen."
The Kazekage became paler, if it was possible. "…You did?"
"…Who else did you think it was?" The Emperor asked evenly. "Toru…? Sasuke?"
"…No matter." The Kazekage said, and she was shivering slightly. Legend has it it had been Hatake Kakashi or Uchiha Itachi. "…Fine by me. I will… ah. Run the idea past our clans."
"Yes." The Emperor said dryly. "Do that."
Near Konoha
"Why are we here, Uncle Toru?" Uchiha Naruto asked, his little face scrunched in confusion.
Kneeling to be at eye level with the boys, Toru replied. "Do you see those petals falling, Naruto, Sasuke?" He pointed to the gentle rain of cherry blossoms.
The Sasuke who wasn't eight or nine was likely the one who had grown it, but that wasn't a particularly important part of the lesson.
Naruto nodded slowly, his gaze following the soft drift of petals. Sasuke did, too.
"It's a lot like life." Toru continued with a gentle smile. "Everything has its moment of beauty and then it moves on, just like these petals. We should cherish each and every moment."
Naruto looked up, puzzled. "Okay… But they're just petals."
Toru chuckled softly, ruffling Naruto's hair — and Sasuke's too, mostly because he bristled at that. "Yes, but they're beautiful, aren't they? Just like moments with family are."
Naruto's eyes grew wide with realization. "…I think I get it, now!"
Sasuke, nearby, nodded hesitantly.
"Good." Toru nodded sagely. "Because I really was ad-libbing it."
"Uncle!" Naruto moaned. "You said you wouldn't do it again!"
"…I knew it." Sasuke declared, trying to look confident.
Toru laughed. "Family's important, though. Make sure that doesn't include introverts with powerful eyes that are not Uchiha, they're all damn weird."
The two still glared at him.
"It's okay, kids." He said easily. "Don't beat yourself up for it. I'm pretty decent at bullshitting — someday I'll tell you how I pulled a fast one over these rock-heads back in the war — ah, no that's probably a slur now. And… Perhaps you're a bit young for that—"
"Aren't!" Both said, in perfect synchrony.
"…Well." Toru shrugged. "That's for another day, anyway. Who wants to help me build a cherry petal bomb to slip into Shisui's room?"
Both of them, apparently.
Rejuvenation Pool
Rocky outcroppings cradled this secluded part of the hot springs.
Wisps of steam rose from the water, dancing with the gentle wind before disappearing into the air. The sky, as it always was in this part, was pitch black. Aside from the distant, gleaming stars.
There were plenty of people in the different baths, Roku could feel their chakra.
But this place was so large that he could still easily find one for himself.
The war veteran eased himself into the steaming water. Each scar on his body had a story, and the hot water seemed to tenderly touch each one, soothing the memories they held. He groaned in pleasure, something he rarely allowed himself.
Nearby, Gama was floating on his back, and mostly content to stare at the eternal night sky.
"…The world seems so different from here." Gama remarked, breaking the tranquil silence.
Roku nodded, his eye closed in relaxation. He didn't even bother making a snide comment, like he could have, at Gama's easily dismissed words. "This… is a rare sanctuary."
Gama glanced at the older man from the corner of his eye. "Do you ever wish for more moments like this?"
Roku did not bother with a cutting remark. Perhaps it was the water, he thought.
He sighed, a smile touching the corners of his eye. "…In my younger days, peace was an alien concept, something I thought was unattainable. Unmaintainable. Or something that would make me rust, and the same thing went for relaxation."
"You changed, then?"
"Of course." Roku snorted. "I know what it takes to maintain peace, now, for one."
"…Dissuasive murder?"
"Yes, also." Roku nodded. "But about this feeling… I don't know." He admitted. "…Perhaps it's not so bad."
The two men soaked in the warmth, letting the therapeutic waters work their magic on their weary bones and souls alike.
The gentle bubbling of the spring, and the distant rustling of conversation made for a lullaby that resonated with the beat of their hearts.
Gama sat against the stone, and stared at the night sky. "…I hope I will be able to find solace in things like that, too. When I'm your age, I mean."
Roku stared at him. "…I'm only twenty-eight."
Gama nearly sprained his neck when he whipped around. "For real?!"
Roku chuckled. "No. Just fucking with you."
Farming Grounds
"What do you suppose that person is doing, now?" Madara asked his brother.
Izuna paused, but Hebi dutifully continued to prepare the fields for later use.
"When you say that person…" Izuna began. "Do you mean that woman, that man, that man, that woman… or that monster masquerading as a human? There's also—"
"The latter." Madara said, after thinking about it. "I do not care to talk about Tobirama now." He grunted. "…Besides, I suppose he is doing a decent enough job holding the fort back home." He added, begrudgingly.
"I suppose he truly… nearly is my equal." Izuna admitted. "There could have been worse people at the helm. Like Senju Matsumura."
Madara hissed in displeasure.
Izuna continued. "It is fortunate he died in that accident, really — And how ironic he would die playing with our tools." He said, laughing. "I can't think of a more fitting end."
"I could think of a few." Madara said. "Give me some time."
"If that man is dead, perhaps you should move on." Hebi said, absentmindedly.
"Yeah, he did die." Izuna supplied helpfully. "Doesn't mean we can't curse his name some more."
"And here I thought this Senju Tōki was your second worst enemy." Hebi said. "What happened to that?"
"Tōka." Izuna corrected. "Not Tōki — she's a she. And she is the second worst, yes… but it's different, because I have some modicum of respect for her ability. she's…" He hesitated. "Acceptable."
Madara glanced at him. "Oh, brother. Please, no."
"…What did I say?" Izuna frowned.
Hebi chuckled and continued to prepare the land — a careful application of Kyūbi's incredibly strong Yang chakra rendered it particularly suitable for agriculture. Izuna's own ability would take it to the next level, once the engineered seeds were planted. Then the robots, or whatever it was they would be using by then, could step in for further cycles.
"In any case…" Hebi said. "I suppose that man is busy planning—"
"Scheming. Our doom." Madara said, hissing.
"…Why did you even join him in the first place, if that's what you think he's doing?" Hebi asked, nonplussed.
Madara raised an eyebrow. "What would he have done to us if we didn't?"
"…Left you alone?"
Madara's face twitched. "Then you clearly know nothing about how men like him work. He would have made us submit."
"Like we tried to do to him." Izuna nodded sagely. "It would only be fair."
Hebi laughed. "I don't think he cares much."
"He only looks like he doesn't." Madara said. "I would know."
"No, I mean he really said it made sense in your position and that he doesn't hold it—"
"Hebi, please." Izuna said, shaking his head. "He can hold a grudge as well as an Uchiha."
Hebi sighed. "No wonder."
The Lords' Meeting Room
The last of them left and Naruto stared at nothing in particular for a long while.
He was not alone, he knew it already. "You can come out of these shadows, Aruni."
The Eldar did, as quietly as he had slipped in. "Most impressive." He said.
"Not particularly." Naruto said, evenly. "I've been a shinobi for most of my life…—s."
"Even so."
Naruto turned to face him. "Is there something I can help you with?"
He knew how much the Eldar disliked the idea of being helped by a human, but didn't really have it in him to accommodate his ego today.
"I have been wondering, that's it." Aruni said, shrugging. Gracefully, in this eerie manner of his. "What are you going to do?"
"What about?"
"You and your people are traversing many worlds." Aruni said. "And others will inevitably hear about your little… utopia, I suppose."
A place where no one had to die, with seemingly infinite resources and time.
"What of it?" Naruto asked. Inwardly, he was somewhat surprised that Orochimaru hadn't talked about it with the Eldar.
"You won't be able to expand forever."
Naruto stared at him, slightly amused. "…Who's to say?"
Aruni paused. "…Is that what you intend to do?"
"Maybe." Naruto said noncommittally. "Once we figure out the right balance. Right now, I'm still trying to grasp the entire concept of 'belief'. How big can we currently make this place, if we really push it? And when we add another… believer, how much does that allow us to expand our domain? Does the potential for growth that someone brings outweigh the space we'd need to accommodate them?"
"…" Aruni hesitated. "I believe this is not a problem my people faced."
Naruto smiled. "I wasn't really looking for an answer." He said. "But I'll try to figure it out."
He leaned back and stared at the stars through the massive glass windows.
"I think we are going to share the secret to immortality. Or perhaps just life extension — the workable ways. Those that won't come to bite us in the ass, at least." Naruto said. "With people outside of here, I mean. Across the worlds."
"…Is that supposed to be a wise idea?"
"I have no idea." Naruto admitted. "And we're still trying to figure out how to do it — if there even is a right way. People." He sighed. "Well. People are going to find ways to fuck each other up, still."
"The potential for abuse is there." Aruni said. "Then again, I hardly care about the fate of Mon-keigh as a whole, and even less for those out of my sight."
Naruto chuckled. "I kinda had the impression." He scratched his chin. "Well, it's just something we're thinking about, right now. With these self-replicating constructs, it should be within reach, in the future."
They still would have to find decent… candidates to share it with, of course. None of them had any intention of taking over the seemingly infinite number of worlds out there.
"It still might be…" Aruni began.
"Pretty fucked?" Naruto offered. Aruni nodded. "I guess. Better than having all this at our fingertips and not doing anything at all with it."
Aruni glanced at him, and for a moment, Naruto thought he saw something like kinship in his eyes.
Then the Eldar made a derisive noise. "And here I believed this was the Mon-keigh way."
"Yeah, that's how we usually do things. Hoard them and all." Naruto said. "It's just… this whole concept of long-lasting damnation while the kami laugh from their peaceful heavens never really sat well with me. As for the Pure Lands… Well, who goes there and who doesn't seems pretty arbitrary to me, frankly."
Aruni sounded amused at his impudence. "And your way isn't?"
"That is true." Naruto smiled. "I simply believe that there is a better way for everyone involved. And I will visit Enma, once the time comes. Ask him to deliver a message to a few of his colleagues… This sort of thing."
The Lake
Admittedly, it was the first time Ino thought she could relax, if only a bit, around Yoisen.
Perhaps it was because they had been beating the shit out of each other just a few hours ago; perhaps it was the water.
"—I'm telling you it's true." Sakura said to Yoisen, laughing. "I did finish reading 'Silent Forest.' It was simply bad. That's it."
"I hardly believe it." Yoisen stated. "When would you have had the time? And I disagree, it is perfectly readable. Simply because it is… a simple read… does not detract from it. Far from it — some things are only more beautiful because of their simplicity."
Ino frowned. "…Is that the book with the mysterious village and the unsolved secrets?"
"That is the one." Yoisen nodded.
"I definitely heard it was bad, too."
Sakura laughed. "See? She didn't even need to read it to know."
"…Not having read it is not something that should be used to highlight your point." Yoisen said.
"I'm starting to think bad taste is just genetic, after all." Sakura laughed. "That's like… what? Ten Uzumaki with terrible taste, now?"
"…Karin has good taste in movies." Yoisen said.
Sakura asked, still chuckling. "No one sane would say that."
"I never pretended to be." A small smile grew upon Yoisen's lips. "And perhaps, Sakura, our tastes simply run in deeper, more complex rivers than yours."
In spite of herself, Ino found herself smiling slightly. "I believe she just called your taste shallow, Forehead."
"Nah." Sakura shrugged. "Shallow is Silent Forest, and the rest of Hisagi's books."
"It takes complexity to truly enjoy a shallow book." Yoisen nodded. "And after a while, most books seem to fall inside neat little boxes. I prefer something that surprises me."
"Even when it's bad?" Sakura asked.
"Are we still speaking of forms of media?"
"Yes."
Yoisen thought about. "Then yes, usually."
"Well, among all of the opinions I've heard, it's definitely one of them." Sakura nodded sagely.
…
"What are your thoughts about what we did with Umi?" Yoisen asked.
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were sleeping when they rebuilt everything from the ground up."
"She was." Ino supplied helpfully.
"I was, certainly, but I was the one to provide the designs this… O.R.O. system used." Yoisen said, nodding.
"Ah." Sakura said. "You did have a hand in this — I thought so, what with the obsession for alabaster walls and all."
"…Are you not enjoying it?" Yoisen asked, tilting her head.
"I like it just fine." Sakura shrugged. "It just kinda looks like Uzushio and… not to say that I nearly got roasted alive and then died in those gardens, but I nearly got roasted alive and then died in those gardens."
Silence.
"My." Ino said, with barely restrained mirth in her eyes. "You still have a way of killing a conversation."
…
"No, I don't really know much about what Sarada's doing." Ino said.
Sakura frowned. "Is she still in that wizard school I brought her to?"
"Yes." Ino nodded.
"Good." Sakura nodded. "It's a pretty safe space for her, in the meantime. Maybe I'll go pick her up in a day or two, the school year should be over — assuming she even bothered with school at all, she can be rebellious, you know…"
"…Isn't that how and why you picked her up in the first place?"
"Well, I never said it was a bad thing, of course." Sakura said, shaking her head. "You should know better than accusing me of being a good role-model."
Ino grinned. "Of course I do. You'd never fall to peer pressure, anyway."
"And what, become a regular person…?" Sakura said, shaking her head. "Did you see what happened to other-me?" She shivered.
"Which one?" Ino asked. "The one who became a Daimyō? The one who left the ninja academy after harsh words?"
"Of course not." Sakura shook her head. "The one who married Jinsuke."
Ino sighed. "Are you still going on about that?"
Sakura frowned. "…Am I supposed to stop, at some point?"
Ino stared at her.
Yoisen, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
"They can change." Yoisen said. "The colors, I mean."
"…What nonsense are you babbling about?" Ino asked, frowning.
"The walls." Yoisen clarified. "The material that was used can be altered at any point in time. With something like color, these changes can be made visible to either the person who has access to it, to a specific group, or to everyone—"
Sakura lifted a hand. "Uh… I was joking, before." She said. "I don't care that much about everything being pure white."
"…Oh."
"Besides, I'm a good ninja — I never spent enough time in hospitals to learn to loathe that color."
…
"You did something to your hair, didn't you?" Sakura asked Yoisen. "I didn't notice yesterday, but…"
Yoisen blinked. "…It is just hair." She said.
"Yeah, but it's still different."
"I didn't believe you to be someone to attach meaning to a change of hair." Yoisen deflected.
Sakura laughed. "I should be the one saying that."
Yoisen looked away. And away from Ino, who was looking slightly less relaxed, suddenly.
"What of it?" Yoisen asked.
"Not much." Sakura shrugged. "As you said, it's just hair. You don't magically become a new person just because you decide to touch it up, cut it… dye it. It does give people a little sense of control, though. Sometimes, when everything else crumbles…" Sakura trailed off. "Hey, you're not depressed or something, are you?"
"No." Yoisen laughed slightly. "I am not. I… am feeling hopeful, if anything."
"Hopeful?" Sakura asked. "What for?"
Yoisen glanced away again… and Ino was entirely too silent. "It is rather mundane, I am afraid."
"I love mundane." Sakura said.
"You don't."
"I do now." Sakura insisted. "You convinced me with your speech about books."
"That was hardly the point I was trying to make." Yoisen said.
"So you won't tell me?" Sakura frowned.
"No. Perhaps another time."
Sakura laughed. "You're lucky I'm terrible at guilt-tripping."
"We all are."
Ino, on the other hand, didn't need to be told anything to understand what Yoisen was thinking about.
She clenched her fists slightly, and both of the others noticed.
…
Sakura poured tea for three, and they sat atop the water, overlooking the lake bathed in golden hues.
She talked about a bit of everything and nothing at all.
Ino wasn't listening. She set her cup down on a rock with a soft clink.
"Why don't you come out and say it?" Ino asked softly.
The conversation halted.
"What is it that you believe I should say?" Yoisen asked in return.
"Why you're so hopeful, all of a sudden." Ino snapped.
Before Yoisen could respond, Sakura attempted to mediate. "Ino, maybe we—"
"Don't." Ino snapped at her, hissing. "You're enabling her shit."
"…How?"
"Did you think I wouldn't end up seeing what's on your mind? You're broadcasting, Forehead."
Sakura chuckled a bit, which didn't help matters. "No, this I get. I mean how am I encouraging her?"
"Last night." Ino spat. "What you said to her last night. Which part of it sounded considerate to you, exactly?"
Sakura scratched her head. "…The part where I was helping out a friend in dire need of—"
Yoisen intervened. "I do not think this to be wise right now, Sakura."
Of course, it gave Ino another target to focus on. She bit back her retort to Sakura — something about 'helping her out at the expense of your damn wife' — and snapped at Yoisen instead. "Because you would know what's wise, of course."
"…I was hoping to talk to you about this." Yoisen said softly.
"What the fuck is left to say?" Ino retorted.
Sakura noticed a decent way to exit an awkward conversation, of course. "You girls really should talk it out." She said, giving them an awkward thumbs up. "I'll be… uh… seeing my parents. Or something."
Ino's voice dripped with venom. "You think you can just run away from the mess you helped create?"
"I just thought—"
"Save it." Ino snapped. She knew what Sakura meant anyway — she had assumed things between Ino and Yoisen were more cordial than they were, and went from there, in heavy-handed Sakura fashion.
"Uh, I'm sorry, Ino, then."
"Whatever. Go and do that, then. One day, Sakura. It took one day for me to want to choke you. Only you could — Why couldn't this just be a nice homecoming?"
"Uh…" Sakura hesitated.
"What?!"
"It was not a full day, actually — Never mind, got it."
"Just go!"
"See you later, girls." Sakura grinned weakly.
"See you, Sakura." Yoisen said. She politely didn't say anything about the extent of the backup Sakura had once promised to offer her — perhaps there would be a better time for that.
Sakura disappeared, entirely silently. Ino and Yoisen sat, and the chasm between them was palpable.
…
"Hey guys." Sakura said, grinning, as she appeared within her family home — she had had to ask for directions, because things here were pretty new to her.
Her mother dropped the glass she was holding — it didn't shatter, but simply vanished when it hit the floor. Sakura noted it reappeared on the nearby countertop.
'Huh, neat.'
"Why do you guys look like you've seen a ghost?" Sakura asked. "Oh. Didn't Naruto, Ino… Karin or Hanabi warn you? Yugito, maybe…? Toru…? Sasuke?" She then shrugged. "Oh, well. I came back, and I'm sure the traumatizing experience made me stronger—"
There were twin shouts; joy, relief, frustration too.
"Sakura!"
She remembered to turn her Kamui off.
…
Ino, steadying her breath, leveled a hard look at Yoisen.
"You have read my thoughts, then." Yoisen said, her voice steady, almost indifferent. "Or Sakura's."
"What's this all really about?" Ino tried to keep the edge out of her voice but was failing. She could still hear some of the other woman's passing thoughts. "Him?"
"I suppose there's no point in mincing words, then." Yoisen said.
"No." Ino gritted out. "There really isn't."
"What was I when we first met?" Yoisen asked. "A devoted servant, equally willing to butcher in the name of one who would discard me the moment I was no longer useful as I was to die. It is only thanks to him that—"
Ino raised a hand. "Get to the point."
Yoisen held her gaze, her voice softer than usual.
"It is about him, Ino." She confirmed. "I love him, just as you do."
Ino's eyes widened for a moment. She quickly reigned in her surprise. Her anger, less so.
"So what?" She asked harshly. "You're a thousand years too late for that."
Yoisen shook her head. "I never sought to claim him from you. Any earlier desire for that was naive at best, futile. But I suppose you would understand."
That was the last thing Ino wanted from her.
"That's one truth we can agree on." Ino's voice dripped with derision. "Your empathy isn't a prize I'm keen on winning. And I've made my peace with… how he sees things, a long time ago."
"And so did I." Yoisen said, with a long look.
Her thoughts were clear — or at least, Ino believed she was insinuating that one of them didn't. A choked laugh escaped Ino.
"So you think you can just… intrude into our marriage?" The last word came out with more force than intended. "Like you've been trying to do—"
"Because of the unconventional nature of your relationship, I thought, perhaps, there could be a space for me, Ino." Yoisen said, her voice a soft contrast to Ino's harsh tones. "I care about him the same way you do. And I care for Sakura and Karin, at least — although perhaps not in that way, not yet. A space is enough for me."
"What the fuck are you even saying…? Do you think this means anything?" Ino's laugh was brief and bitter. "This isn't about some fucked up notion of fairness. This is about trust, respect, understanding."
Ino drew a short, angry breath before continuing. "Of these three, I only have one for you, and it's crumbling quickly. And no desire to welcome you in. In spite of what you might think, our marriage isn't a buffet where you can help yourself to whatever you want."
"I am fully aware."
"Then, what?" Ino asked. "Speak clearly, I can hear your thoughts."
Yoisen hesitated. "…I believe that I belong here, with all of you."
"Are you insane?! That's not your call to make!" Ino snapped, her anger breaking through entirely. "Your sense of entitlement is astounding! That's a decision for all of us — The ones who are in this relationship."
"I am aware." Yoisen said, her gaze steady on Ino's. "Which is why I am asking you first, instead of him. Can you consider it? I can wait — For as long as necessary."
Ino stared at Yoisen, incredulity spreading across her face. "You can wait?" She repeated dumbly. "Wait? Is that it? That's your grand plan?"
"There is no grand plan."
"You think this is about waiting? This is about us, about the relationship we've carefully built over time. Do you have any idea how—"
"I understand what this is about." Yoisen interrupted. "I respect the intricacies of your bond. I wouldn't be here today, broaching this topic, if I didn't."
"Oh, no?" Ino snapped. "Where would you be, then? Dead, years ago, when Nagato turned us all to glass and you did nothing?"
"That is not what I mean." Yoisen frowned.
"Where, then?"
Yoisen met her eyes. "I would be with Naruto, of course. Doing my best to take him away from you."
Ino's anger rose again.
She bristled, ready for another retort. Yoisen raised a hand in a gesture of peace. "But as you can see, I'm here. Not there."
Silence.
Yoisen inhaled deeply, steadying herself. "If I'm crossing a boundary here, then—"
"You've vaulted over it already." Ino said, her smile more a bared weapon than a gesture of warmth. "Go on."
"I think there's space for me. A place in this... arrangement."
Ino chuckled. "Desperate, are we?"
"I've already weighed my dignity and found it wanting. There's nothing you could say that I haven't already considered."
Ino's eyes narrowed. "So you come forward with this epiphany and expect us to fling the doors wide open? Expect me to just be okay with it?"
"No." Yoisen's voice was quiet but firm. "I hope to be a part of what you all have here. To truly be a part of this. Maybe even contribute something unique. But if that proves to be impossible..."
Ino's voice was cold, her eyes hard; her tone, biting. "If I refuse to let you in, you mean?"
Yoisen nodded slowly. "Then, nothing. It's nothing but a silly, selfish wish, as of now."
Ino's eyes blazed. She crossed her arms tightly, eyebrows knitting as she scrutinized Yoisen.
When she spoke her voice was low but laced with fury.
"Do you even understand what you're asking?"
A beat of silence hung between them.
"Yes." Yoisen answered simply, voice unwavering.
Somehow, Ino believed it. And she loathed her, in this moment. In spite of her age, all she could see in Yoisen was a mirror image of herself, a few years ago.
All she could think about was a leap into the unknown she had taken — and would take again, if she had to choose. A thousand times.
Yes. She hated her, right now.
Ino let out a furious sigh. "Because of… what? You died to help him, and now believe that—"
"I do not see what me dying has to do with it." Yoisen said smoothly.
Ino paused. That was not the answer she had expected.
"…And do you even know what being a part of this would mean?" She hissed, feeling a bit thrown off.
"I do." Yoisen responded firmly. "I've had a while to understand. And I have centuries more to learn, in the future. Thousands of years to live. This is not a whim, Ino. Nor a fleeting idea."
Ino's laugh echoed again, hollow and bitter. "Centuries, huh? Thousands of years? And still, you decided now was the right time to ask?"
"…Yes." Yoisen said softly, her gaze steady. "Not only because of what may happen in eight years. Nor is my intent to disrupt the current order of things. I am willing to adapt, to find a way for this to work harmoniously for all involved—"
"I'm not."
"I am not asking for an immediate answer." Yoisen said. "Only true consideration. That is all I dare ask."
Ino's hands were balled into fists, a knot of emotions making it difficult to meet Yoisen's eyes.
Yoisen bowed her head. "I do understand that I am asking for a lot. I… want you to know that I'm serious about this, however, Ino. Wholly committed. I'll wait for as long as it takes. I have an eternity." And hopefully everything will not come to a screaming stop in eight years.
A long silence stretched.
"And what…" Ino began. "What makes you think you're going to get the answer you want? That we won't simply refuse?"
"I am prepared for that." Yoisen replied, her voice soft but determined.
"Fine. If it gets you off my back." Ino spat. "I'll discuss it with the others. But mark my words — it may never come to fruition."
…
Yoisen left Ino alone with her thoughts for a long while.
…
Ino then warped home.
The three people she was looking for were here — her wives, that was.
And watching that damn docudrama about the Warring Clans era — "Warring Shadows: The Great Clans' Strife!"
Again.
"Wait, Ino's back — Pause it, you animals, it's my favorite part." Sakura said.
Karin sighed. "You've only seen Inuzuka Oinu get nearly blown up by the Nara land mines a thousand times, now."
"It's not my fault the movie made it so damn funny. Not everyone can survive on a diet of terrible action movies."
"That is one, though." Hanabi pointed out.
Sakura glared at her. "Did you spend weeks inside a kami with no entertainment but light psychosis, or was that me?"
"That was you." Hanabi said.
"Thought so."
"The psychosis would explain why you like it so much now. Doesn't say much about before." Hanabi shrugged.
Sakura laughed. "Go fuck yourself."
"Sure. Wanna watch?" Hanabi grinned. Sakura grinned back, too.
Ino decided to intervene now.
"Can I talk to you or are you going to be insufferable?"
Hanabi paused. "Do we have to choose?"
Ino sighed.
"Well." Sakura began, her pink hair glowing in the soft light of the room. "You look like you've talked ethics with Orochimaru again."
"I'm still mad at you, just so you know." Ino said.
Karin gave Ino an understanding look. "Let me guess. Yoisen?"
Ino just glared at them before dropping onto the couch. "…Yeah, Yoisen."
Hanabi raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, she finally asked you, then?" She asked. "Great, when are we having her move in? Concubine house first, perhaps? Yugito truly would benefit—"
At her words, Ino leapt back to her feet, her blue eyes blazing with frustration. "What? You all knew about this?"
Sakura gave a nonchalant shrug, her emerald eye(s) calm. "It's hard to miss, and I'm not saying this just because I've been around her for months — but I've been around her for months."
"I said I'm still mad at you — And you're actually okay with this?! Not just telling her to go try and become romantically involved with our husband because it sounds like a reasonable idea in your strange mind?"
Sakura frowned minutely. She thought about it. "…Well, yeah. I only told you like three times, by now."
Ino scowled, her frustration growing.
"…I get that you're mad." Sakura said. "And I'm sorry I told her to go for it."
"Stop." Ino snapped. "You're just saying what you think I want to hear."
"…Give her a chance?" Sakura asked, shrugging. "What's the worst that can happen? …Ninshū?"
Ino whirled around, to face Karin.
Karin gave her a saucy grin.
"Okay." Ino growled. "Not asking you."
"Well, I'm still going to give my answer." Karin laughed. "You know my stance. This whole thing is not about ownership, it's about—"
"Don't you dare fucking say it, Karin!" Ino threatened.
"Love." Ino's three wives echoed, their voices blending together.
Ino growled in fury, her hands clenched into fists at her side.
"…And if Yoisen loves him, truly loves him, who are we to deny her feelings?" Karin finished, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Stop thinking with your fucking clit!"
"Am not." Karin frowned. "…Am I, Hanabi?"
"…I don't know, which day are we?" Hanabi asked, feigning confusion.
"Tues—"
"Then yes." Hanabi decided, cutting Karin off and sending Sakura into peals of laughter.
Ino just shook her head, her frustration simmering beneath her icy glare. "…And you, Hanabi?"
"I suppose now's a good time. I have been thinking of instating mandatory cunnilingus — to me, of course — in this house, as you all know." She began, her lips curving into a knowing grin. "And considering you all have been rather slacking off your duty, perhaps the new help—"
Ino's eyes blazed with anger. "Fuck — All — Of — You." She growled, the words leaving her lips as a low, dangerous threat.
"What did you want me to say, exactly?" Hanabi asked slowly. No guilt was to be found in her eyes. "I find her far more tolerable than this Uchiha Satsuki person, for one."
"…Who?" Ino scowled. "Do you mean Mikoto? Besides, I think I can guess why you would prefer someone who's not from that clan to be a better choice."
"Doesn't matter." Hanabi shrugged — if she had meant Mikoto, she would have said Mikoto. "I will have her meet Father, as he is a decent judge of character—"
"You hate your dad."
"—Minato, not Hiashi. And I don't hate him, I just don't think of him at all." Hanabi shook her head. "Although… if Hiashi disapproves… I will find myself forced to fast track her for a wedding."
Ino stared at them, speechless. Absurd jokes, when a serious situation hung in the balance. Why had she expected anything else…?
Perhaps Yugito…
Karin nodded. "You should ask Yugito, of course. But she will say she doesn't 'care what that man does either way.'"
Ino knew it.
"…Does she even have wife privileges?" Hanabi asked.
"Be nice." Sakura chided. "Yugito is a real person."
"…Am I stuck in Bizarro world…?" Hanabi glanced around.
"I wouldn't know, are you the humble civilian girl who rose to incredible heights, and am I the uppity clan girl?" Sakura shot back.
"We'll have to ask a neutral party." Hanabi decided. "Ino?"
No answer.
"Oh, she left." Sakura remarked.
The three of them sighed at the exact same time.
"…This went decently well, I'd say." Karin said. She still stared at the spot where Ino had been. "…I know she asked for our opinions, but… Do you think we should have tried being more—"
Sakura groaned. "How many times did we try the gentle approach, again?"
Hanabi shrugged. "I lost count."
"Exactly." Sakura decided. "At some point, she has to realize that if she doesn't want it, nothing's going to happen."
"…I don't think that's her problem with all this, though." Karin said slowly.
"Oh?" Sakura lifted an eyebrow. "What is, then?"
"I mean, I think she does know how all this is supposed to be, but..." Karin trailed off.
Sakura squinted. "Elaborate."
"Ever heard of boundaries, perhaps?" Hanabi offered.
Sakura shook her head. "I'm Sharingan Sakura, I just fade through those. Also, I kinda maybe want her in — I'm willing to wait a few decades for it."
…
"Still, I'm not sure whether that Clan Restoration Act thing was your brightest idea, dear." Karin said.
Sakura frowned. "…I wasn't the one to put it out."
Karin stared at her, dubiously.
"…No, I mean it." Sakura insisted.
"Who, then?"
"How should I know?"
"…Did you pay someone to do it so that you're technically right about not being behind this, or something?" Karin asked.
"…I mean, it does sound like something I'd do, but no." Sakura said. "Nor did I do anything like that."
Hanabi, who did know who did it, stayed entirely silent.
Uchiha Satsuki nodded in grim satisfaction.
The reality of the Clan Restoration Act being a political fabrication was inconsequential. It was merely a clever strategy to position herself where she aspired… no, required to be.
That was a first step toward reviving the Uchiha clan — the pursuit of the finest genetic material.
The alternatives? Well… It was either this, or that Uchiha Toru man himself, after all.
...Once she figured to which degree they were related.
…
Toru sneezed again. Fucking allergies.
Ino went to see Naruto.
Admittedly, she was fed up with this entire day, by this point. And visibly seething.
He greeted her with a warm smile. "Ah, Ino—"
"Do something about Yoisen." The words burst forth from her lips with an edge sharper than a kunai.
He paused. "…Yoisen?" He asked. "Did something happen between you two? A disagreement?"
Her hands clenched at her sides, eyes flashing with anger. "What do you think is happening?!"
Naruto took a second to think. "I have told you that I am starting to like her that way, yes. But that's just… feelings."
"Am I losing my fucking mind, or am I the only one to even be bothered by this shit?!" She hissed, voice icy. "What's your fucking problem…?"
"…My problem?" Naruto echoed. To him, at least, it sounded like she was all over the place — which was never a good thing to voice out, and probably understandable, too.
"Yes." She spat. "Take a fucking decision, why won't you?"
He tilted his head slightly, searching her face for answers. "I warned you, early on." He sighed. "But even then, things are a bit different, now. I won't do anything that you would—"
"Fuck that." She cut him off. "And fuck that half-assed bullshit. Tell her off or make that selfish move, then — like we both know you eventually will. You're just tiptoeing around this, trying not to piss either of us off. Well, congratulations, Naruto." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You still managed to piss me off."
"And I'm sorry, then." He said, and he meant it. "But that's really not how I see it—"
"Then you're seeing it wrong!" She spat. "I can hear your thoughts — you're still planning on doing nothing."
"It's not that simple, Ino."
She ran a hand through her air, frustration evident in every gesture. "It is. You're just sitting on the fence. And it's driving me crazy! And in her shoes, I'd be fucking mad! Just because she's too damn willing to wait—"
There was a pause.
"…Are you…" Naruto hesitated. "Feeling mad on her behalf?"
"I'm not." Ino growled.
Naruto remained unconvinced. "As I said…" He said, purple eyes fixed on her calmly. "It's not that simple, even discounting the fact that I know you would hate me doing so. It's not a simple matter of sleeping with someone here."
He saw her about to cut him off, and shook his head.
"Let me get to the point. I was, or perhaps to put it more accurately, Indra was Yoisen's guiding force for what feels like an eternity. Her master, too. And then, that carried over to me, against both of our wills. She is on a journey… to find herself, to understand who she is beyond that binding, beyond my influence. If I step in again, even with the best intentions, I fear I would be robbing her of that chance, in a way."
Ino did not answer him right away. She quieted down some, even.
Naruto thought he had reached her.
"…You're a moron." She decided. "A goddamn moron."
A pause.
"…Why?" He asked.
"Did you ever tell her all that?" She asked in return, not telling him why she thought he was wrong about the entire line of thinking — that was his problem.
Naruto made a face. "…Have you ever talked with her?" He asked. "Do you know how this would be received…? It would just make her double down on it."
Ino crossed her arms. "Even then. You're just choosing to do nothing—"
"…I told you what I feel toward her already." He said. "It's never been about choosing between you or anyone else. Not about pacifying you. Nor is it about stringing her along. I was… am transparent about it. That's what we agreed upon."
"That's a technicality — Okay, maybe not — You can't just sidestep this whole shit—" She let out a long, tired sigh. "Look. Her mere presence is affecting me."
Ah. Naruto sighed. "I get it, Ino."
"Do you?" She hissed, turning away from him. "When you never really seemed to be worried about this sort of thing happening on my end."
"…I think so." Naruto said. "I hear you. And seeing you this upset hurts."
"I'm not upset." Ino spat.
"…This is not solely about her, or me. You're…" He sighed. "Sorry, I'm still terrible at this. Are you feeling less secure—"
"Why do you think that is?" She asked pointedly. "And don't bother. I know where you're going with this. I already know it — and I do realize that this is not a typical relationship. You made this very clear, and I've made my peace with it. The others, I wouldn't trade for anything. Casual dalliances... well, whatever." She paused. "…Part of this is just my own shit. I… do understand that you're not leaving anyone behind. That you're not choosing one over another."
"Of course not."
"I'm not afraid of you liking her more than me, either. Or any of that insecure bullshit." She said, a bit more quietly. "…Not anymore, at least."
There had been a time, considering their complicated history.
At this, he blinked. "Ino… That was never something to be compared. I've been trying to see if there was a way to make this work without causing harm, but maybe I've been negligent—"
"How would you even fucking know how it feels — Let me finish."
"…Right."
"It's easy for you to say that, when you've never had to be in this position." She continued. "It's been four times, by now."
"…Four? Who are you not counting?" Naruto asked, smiling, despite himself.
"Forehead is Forehead." Ino huffed. "Who'd see her as a threat? Just imagine the disaster that her love life would have been if I didn't step in — she's barely thankful at all."
"…Right."
A pause. Ino fought a minute twitch of her lips.
"Stop it." She snapped out of it. "Don't try to mellow me out."
"My bad." Naruto said. "I'll just let you talk yourself in circles, then." He nodded sagely.
"Fuck you — Ah, shit." Ino cursed. "I just lost where I was going with this."
"You were saying you love me very much and know I'm not leaving you, even for a long-legged immortal." Naruto said, glibly.
"You dumb motherfucker — Jokes, now?" She hissed, but was trying to hide some traitorous amusement. "Go and fix this whole shit."
Naruto thought about it.
"…What if we sit down with Yoisen, all three of us, and talk this out—"
Ino nearly bit him. "I'm done talking with her for today. And with you. And them, too."
"Alright."
Sasuke found Naruto sitting atop the World Tree.
"…Really?" Sasuke asked, sounding disgruntled. "You're going to take this from me, too?"
"I won't." Naruto said easily. "Although it is a very dramatic place to sulk. I get why you come here, now."
Sasuke sat. "Says the guy who made brooding a global source of concern."
Naruto chuckled. "You just never aimed high enough — you could have done the job yourself. Instead, I had to step up."
"I'm sure you were not brooding—… Sorry. Deep in thought. For valid reasons — such as… Where we're going from now on, or the invincible god that will obliterate at least you in eight years."
"Nah, this part is handled decently well." Naruto admitted.
"Good." Sasuke said. "So I assume we're just going to do the usual… Look around, nearly die every other day… get stronger in the process, and hope for the best?"
"More or less." Naruto said. "It's worked before."
"In that case, it's about Ino." Sasuke stated.
Naruto blinked. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."
"Oh?" Sasuke asked, and he sounded amused. As he often did, when it came at Naruto's expanse. "Your poker face is good — but it's too obvious to me that you are putting it on."
Naruto grunted and Sasuke continued:
"So. Are you still not used to dealing with balancing discussions about the fate of our world with more… domestic matters, perhaps?"
Naruto stared at him.
"…How do you even know?" Naruto asked, squinting. Also, he had talked life, death, and immortality matters, too. Technically.
"…I'm a married man." Sasuke said. "And… perhaps I'm not the best with anniversaries. I wouldn't know, since I 'never remember anything that doesn't have to do with plants,' of course."
A chuckle escaped Naruto. "…Please don't try to make us relate to each other. It's disgusting."
"I agree." Sasuke nodded. "So, is Ino justified, in whatever that is?"
"Yup. I'd say so."
"Thought so. Beer?"
"…For real?" Naruto asked. "Are you storing them in your Mindspace, like Kage does, in this cheap copy he called Whirl-pool…?"
"No." Sasuke smiled. "But Toru is likely going to come with some once he figures out that we're here — See?"
As he said the words, Toru appeared, carrying a full crate. Naruto stared at him.
"What?" Toru asked, and then took a mock step back. "If you're finally coming to terms with the incredibly strong attraction you're feel towards me—"
"I was just thinking that if you somehow managed to put a trigger on your name, it's still time to remove it." Naruto grunted. "Before I do it myself."
"I didn't." Toru said, seating himself in the middle of the two others. "That would just be dumb, actually. I wouldn't want to be pinged every damn minute."
"That would mostly be Akemi complaining." Sasuke said. "You're not that popular."
"That's what you would think." Toru said, wagging a finger. "You should follow the actual popularity contests. Destroying a planet really didn't help matters, if one of you two happens to be curious."
"I wasn't." Naruto denied.
"Though it did gain you a lot of points with some strange crowds, so there's that." Toru continued. "Good job with the World Tree, Sasuke. People loved it."
"Thanks." Sasuke said in flat tones. "I made it for you."
Toru smiled. "I thought I saw something of my chiseled face in there. What were you guys talking about anyway? When you triggered that ward you suspect I put upon my own good name."
"I was just telling Sasuke that I have given up on my life making any sort of sense." Naruto said.
"I think he has some wife trouble." Sasuke said, over him.
"It's just something Ino said." Naruto said. "About Yoisen. And she's right."
Toru seemed to stifle a chuckle.
"Am I that funny today?" Naruto grunted.
"Not really." Toru said. "Cold beer, Sasuke? I made sure to keep a few lukewarm ones, in case anyone's feeling particularly psychopathic. It's just…"
"Yeah?"
"I thought this was the norm for you. And I warned you." Toru said. "…Four of them, really…? Plus Yugito and… whatever is going on there with Yoisen…? That's exactly why I used to tell everyone else in the Academy you weren't that clever…"
lensdump:
i/qwLfa3 : The Lake
i/qwMEC2 : The World Tree
As I thought, FFnet is acting up, I didn't receive any notifications for reviews or PMs in the last few weeks. Sorry, I just noticed and answered them!
Thanks for reading, as usual :)