The distant dome of gold rose majestically, bearing the most sacred of Sealing Arts, and his heart swelled with hope.

Perhaps, just perhaps, they had a chance.

That thought was severed abruptly as searing pain cleaved through him.

Something slid into him, right between two of his ribs, with a horrible grinding sound; steel against bone. It went all the way through him, slower than he thought anything had the right to be. And then it was gone.

And he thought he was falling.

The world spun, a kaleidoscope of odd colors and shapes, sprites that reminded him of the first butterfly he had ever seen… Naruto felt everything getting bigger and bigger; smaller and smaller.

Then bigger and bigger, something that spiraled past what he thought human comprehension should be; smaller and smaller. Time stretched on, time sped away like a freight train, a paradox in motion. He thought he could feel something, at the edge of his awareness, something worth reaching out toward. But it was elusive, dancing just beyond reach…

"—Snap out of it, Naruto!"

The words reached him in a distorted echo, as if muffled by the distance of a deep dream. But this wasn't a dream: those were gentler, more forgiving. This was raw, biting reality.

His eyelids were heavy, slow to obey the command to open. The figure of his comrade materialized through the blur. Confusion clouded his mind, a thick fog that refused to lift.

There was a haze of red in front of him, dancing, a distinct red from the coppery one he tasted, a distinct one from the red that filled his nostrils, along with the smells of damp earthiness and pine.

Snap out of what…?

"—you dare die on me!" The voice was more insistent now, tinged with a desperation Naruto wasn't used to hearing. "Heal yourself!"

Ah…

The realization hit him then, a slow, dawning horror. So he was dying. The thought had never truly occurred to him before.

Why did the voice sound as though its owner were begging…? The voice never begged, did not beg Naruto, especially.

But it had a point.

Naruto coughed, and something rattled painfully in his chest. Swords had no place in lungs, even flash fried ones, that much he could remember. He reached deep within, for his chakra — it tasted like iron between teeth, ozone burning, and collapsing breaths.

Naruto breathed deep and let himself choke on it.

Yellow seemed to flood his veins like liquid gold. Death, this cold shadow, receded.

Strength filled his body, and tissue that had been ripped apart knitted itself back together in a burst of raw power. Even his chest stopped burning, as his vision cleared and he gasped.

He stood, a little unsteady but alive. His chakra burst forth, a heat haze, as the last remnants of his sealed power faded.

"Are… Are you okay?" His comrade's voice wavered, stripped of its usual confidence.

That wasn't good. Confidence was their backbone, their unspoken creed.

Naruto laughed, a sound that carried a tinge of hysteria. "Never better!"

The defiant spark returned to Naruto's eyes, but it didn't reach the worried furrow on his comrade's brow. Nor did it soothe the lurking grief in his own heart. If anything, the brush with death had stoked it, a gleeful horror at his own survival. He was alive. But if he just stopped to think—

"Did you think a sword would do me in?" Naruto asked, more to himself than anyone else.

"You shouldn't—" The other frowned, a deep, troubled line. "Please, rest. We'll handle this."

"No." Naruto said, and then coughed. He was not fully healed — it would have taken a bit more than that, and they both knew it. "We can't afford to pause." He felt slightly dazed. "…Not now." Not ever.

His comrade hesitated, then nodded hesitantly.

" You worry too much." Naruto's words were a weak attempt to reassure. He felt tired enough to fall asleep here and then. "So, I should rest and let you guys save me again…?"

He forced a laugh, more to reassure his comrade than out of any real amusement. There was blood in between his teeth, and to him that laugh sounded more like a sob. If this was what it took to keep moving forward, however…

"...That's just loser talk!"

2 — SCATTERED RECOLLECTIONS

"YOU FELL ASLEEP."

Hyūga Hanabi's voice was cautious, a new sort of wariness there that hadn't been before. That's what Naruto thought.

It was no wonder. His grip on her wrist loosened. He hadn't meant to grab her so tightly.

Rousing a shinobi from sleep wasn't necessarily considered a risky move. From a young age, they cultivated a heightened awareness, which was essential for discerning between genuine threats and harmless disturbances. This vigilance protected those around them, and a shinobi's instincts were finely tuned to differentiate friend from foe, with the occasional exception of the less experienced trainees.

It likely didn't reflect too well on him that he lost control like that. Nor did the fact he had passed out in front of the two of them. Well, in one's presence, really, since Neji appeared to be asleep as well.

He eased his hold on Hanabi's wrist entirely. The absence of bruising was a clear indicator of her prowess as a skilled kunoichi — she had used chakra to reinforce her wrist.

Uzumaki Naruto blinked some of the fatigue away, but the weariness remained. "I apologize for that."

The snowy night unfurled a frigid blanket over the slumbering land, the sky a merciless slate with stars that shone dimmer than the shards of light underneath them.

Trees stood as silent sentinels, their branches encased in glassy frost, creaking under the weight of the biting cold.

The air outside required a sharp inhale:, each breath was a thorn in the lungs. The wind, that prowling beast, howled through the barren landscape with a sorrowful howl.

There was an eerie glow over the snow that stretched endlessly, a desert of cold, untouched and untamed by any warmth.

But the lights of the cabin flickered defiantly, as though warding off the oppressive darkness.

Smoke rose from one chimney, and within the cabin's walls, the hearth burned bright and alive, its warmth seeping into wooden bones with a golden glow.

Hyūga Neji was still sleeping. Uzumaki Naruto served three cups on the table with a practiced motion anyway.

Small talk was a delicate dance; it was the oil that greased the gears of daily life, and it nudged strangers past awkward silences with some sort of grace. Usually.

Tonight was particularly resistant to small talk, it seemed. A night for demons, not for the usual pleasantries.

Perhaps Naruto might have spun tales of the places he'd witnessed: the ethereal glow of Hikarimachi, the serene beauty of Kazehana or the silent majesty of Yukigakure. In turn, they could have shared their own travels, speaking of autumnal Kōyōgakure, the bustling streets of Tanzaku Gai, or the fiery splendor of Enkōtei, the Flame Palace City.

Or other places he had seen himself, likely. Before the Fall, Hyūga had been kept within safe reach of the Fire Empire. After that…

Perhaps Naruto might have considered coaxing a response from Hanabi, suspecting the fiery spirit that smoldered beneath her composed exterior. The temptation to provoke a spark from her was there, faint but flickering. Perhaps he could have casually mentioned his encounters with her kin. As he weighed his words, he knew that either idea might just prove to be terribly reckless — as was par for the course.

And so, they didn't speak of anything, and remained in a cautious silence. Neither of them mentioned the world's wonders, gone or still here. Any question seemed dangerous—

…Ah. Perhaps he had misread her.

Hanabi paused, her gaze drifting over the surprisingly sparse collection of scrolls that seemed almost neglected in the corner of the room. Her attention was drawn instead to a single item perched atop his shelf — of course she would. "What is this book up there?"

It was a well-worn leather journal, its edges frayed with use and time. Naruto followed her gaze, and his eyes momentarily darkened with a storm of emotions before he composed himself and faced her. "Something from home."

Hanabi waited for him to elaborate, but he remained silent.

"Fine." She said, folding her arms, a blend of respect for his privacy and frustration at the continued mystery. "I won't pry, then."

"Thank you." Naruto offered her a small, honest smile. He knew all too well that any half-decent Hyūga, let alone one like her, could see what was inside. But she didn't attempt to do so. "We will get to it, in any case."

Hanabi gave him a mirthless smile in answer. "I am starting to doubt that."

Naruto stopped drawing shapes and looked up. "Why is that?"

She motioned at nothing in particular. "It has been nearly two hours now."

"Oh, is that it?" Naruto relaxed slightly. "A tale takes time, you know…?"

Hanabi raised an eyebrow in an expression of perfect skepticism. "That part usually means the story itself." She spread her arms. "Unfortunately, there is no story at all—"

"How about this?" Naruto interrupted her, leaning forward. "The year that Kushina was born, the whole Land of Whirlpools was buzzing with energy, and their hidden village, while already steeped in secrecy, was not yet hidden from the prying eyes of the world.

"It was a time when the Uzumaki clan, and their… arcane sealing arts were spoken of in hushed tones. As guardians of secrets too profound to be understood by others. Or as madmen. I like to think the truth is somewhere in the middle.

"Kushina entered this mysterious world, and her birth was rumored to be marked by a storm that whirled with red leaves, or some other mystical sign. As though the very earth recognized the arrival of a spirit as fierce and untamed as the sea. Her vibrant red hair was like a flame—"

Hanabi interrupted with a raised hand. "Stop." She asserted, her frown deepening. "This isn't right."

Naruto paused, a hint of irritation crossing his face. "And why would you say that? Aren't you supposed to be taking notes?"

"Your sarcasm is not the only reason I interrupted you." Hanabi said. "I did it because what you're saying just isn't true."

"Oh?" Naruto asked. "Is your Byakugan telling you this, perhaps…?"

"For starters, Uzushiogakure had long been among the clouds by then." Hanabi said pointedly.

Naruto gave a prolonged, searching gaze. "And who's to say if your sources are ones twisted by lies? Or worse? There was enough talk about the Second Hokage's sanity. And as for the Third..." He simply shook his head. "Who's to say what was taught in Fire...? I am the one who grew up there." He pointed at the sky.

"That wouldn't make you any more likely to be correct." Hanabi narrowed her eyes, a slight edge creeping into her voice. "Misinformation is common, yes. But in this instance, your story simply doesn't align with reality."

After a moment of silence, Naruto's expression softened into an almost playful smile. "Fair point." He conceded with a nonchalant shrug. "I was just testing the waters, seeing who I'm dealing with here."

Hanabi's cheeks flushed a shade of irritated red. "Is this your usual approach? Because I must say—"

"Sorry." Naruto interjected, his tone more sincere. "That was out of line."

Hanabi was about to say something undoubtedly biting, before something else crept into her expression. Something softer. "Was she your mother?"

For an instant, Naruto seemed taken aback. Then the same casual indifference was back on his face. "Were you aware of this? Before?" His voice sounded tentative to him, cautious.

But Hanabi shook her head. "No." She said, and Naruto only offered a slow nod in answer. "It was just a guess. I inferred it from the way you talked about her."

"Are you calling me a mommy's boy?" He asked curiously. "What's your theory?"

Hanabi gave a low chuckle. "Oh, not so fast. Not so easily. Two people can play this cryptic game, you know?"

"That's fair." Naruto said, leaning back and sighing slightly. "Is it true of you, then?"

"Am I a mommy's girl, you mean?" She asked, and at his affirmative nod, shook her head. "I wouldn't say so."

"And what about your father—"

"I'd rather not discuss him." Hanabi cut him off, and there was steel in her voice. Seeing Naruto raise his hand in a gesture of peace, she softened slightly. "Perhaps another time."

There was something eerily familiar he could see in her eyes.

"Alright." Naruto nodded, and chose to stay on a safe topic. "Let's talk about Kushina, then." He suggested, his smile widening as he noticed Hanabi mirroring his expression. "She—"

Neji, who had been a silent observer — sleeping, really — until now, intervened. "Who exactly is this Kushina you're speaking of?"

Surprise flickered across Naruto's face, a mix of offense and disbelief. Hanabi turned to Neji. "You've never heard of her?"

"Perhaps you should lay a proper foundation first." Neji suggested to Naruto, crossing his arms. "Begin with a narrative built on solid ground."

As Naruto exhaled, he couldn't help but notice the smug look in Hanabi's eyes. He didn't argue the point. "Alright, let's start from the beginning, with the facts this time. More tea?"

It was well into the darkest hours of night, now, but the tense silence had finally begun to ease.

Naruto, with a practiced hand, served his guests tea and light refreshments, carefully putting away his drawing materials.

"Oh?" Hanabi queried, a playful edge of mockery in her tone. "Are we finally getting somewhere?"

Naruto ignored her sarcasm — it was more than fair of her, really. They had relaxed some, and a few sharp words were a small price to pay.

"Yes." Naruto simply said, and then noticed Neji's eyes. "Unless you two have preliminary questions."

Neji hesitated, his voice cautious, almost probing. "I thought you were dead. Or…" He said, trailing off, as though trying to see through a haze.

Not much of a question.

Naruto nodded solemnly. "I understand your confusion."

"And what happened, then…?" Neji pressed.

The question hung in the air. Naruto's smile held a touch of melancholy. "That's what we're here to discuss. But it's not the starting point."

Hanabi, sighing, reclined in her chair, her sharp gaze never leaving Naruto as she sipped her tea. "Were you two acquainted, then?"

Neji's eyes rested momentarily on Naruto, as though searching for something intangible. Naruto merely nodded to himself.

"In a way." He finally said, and Neji slowly confirmed with a silent nod. "And I suppose he heard of me, back in Konoha." He paused, smiling slightly. "...Perhaps our paths crossed, at some point."

Turning his attention to Hanabi, Naruto added. "And I believe our paths never crossed before this."

"I know of your reputation." She said, and as she squinted her eyes, she tried to remember a very elusive feeling. It was there, within reach, but it slipped away from her.

Naruto's expression darkened.

"Ah, but reputations are often far from the truth, aren't they?" He asked.

"They can be." She agreed neutrally. "Shall we begin, then?"

Naruto's lips curved into a small smile at her impatience. "Eager to dive in, I see."

"You've already squandered plenty of time — It's just that I already have many questions." Hanabi said, her tone starting sharp but softening as she sighed. "And I now know that you won't answer them in a straightforward manner."

Naruto laughed, in spite of himself, and thought that in this at least, she was very different from her sister. But when Hanabi smiled briefly, the familial resemblance was unmistakable once more.

"Perhaps I can address one question, as a sign of goodwill." Naruto said magnanimously.

"How generous of you." Hanabi raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Then tell me, why the sudden pallor? Are you ill?"

Naruto's smile was tinged with acknowledgment. "Ah. Perhaps another one?" He proposed. "It's part of a certain jutsu of mine. Unfortunately, this is yet another thing that—"

Hanabi released a slow breath, her impatience tempered by resignation. "That you will clarify tonight, then."

"Hopefully tonight."

Silence.

There was a slight, involuntary twitch on Naruto's lips, and Hanabi bit her own slightly in response, to suppress her annoyed smile.

Meanwhile, Neji seemed preoccupied again, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the area where his forehead protector once lay.

"Let's begin, then." Naruto said with a thoughtful nod. "So we might still find rest at a reasonable hour. A brief nap won't suffice next time, and an evening won't be long enough to cover everything. Let's aim for a few solid hours."

Hanabi drew a slender ink brush, her hand sweeping gracefully across the scroll to jot down a few notes. Her movements were precise, practiced. In spite of her claims to the contrary, it was clear that she had been trained in the art of shodō.

"You have wonderful handwriting." Naruto observed. "You would have made a great Sealweaver."

Hanabi nodded confidently. "I am Hyūga." She said, as though that explained anything.

Naruto barked a laugh, and he thought there was a hint of a smile upon her lips, though she didn't look up.

"Where do we begin?" She asked.

Naruto leaned forward, the fire casting a long shadow behind him. His eyes shimmered like captured embers. His voice, on the other hand, was nearly quiet.

"In a way, it all seemed to begin when I saw her in battle..."

His voice trailed off, his gaze distant as he recollected the memory. "Her fists were a whirlwind of motion, her movements a dance of war. She could mirror anyone, but her style, in truth, was her essence: fierce as a tempest, sharp as a hawk's dive, relentless as a raging fire."

He paused, his eyes glazing over as if watching it happen again, and his lips parted slightly, before he shook his head in dismissal.

"No, I'm sorry. That's not where it starts. It started with our journey to Konoha, a company of five, back when hope was a tangible thing we thought we could grasp."

Again, he halted, his brow furrowing. "…Or maybe it started on the islands in the sky, when I was just a boy, yearning to be more like my father. I wanted to live up to an impossible standard, and I wanted to make my mother smile."

He fell silent, contemplating. "No, maybe it started with the Second Uzukage's treaty with Konoha. Our isolation from the world, and the events that led up to it…"

Hanabi let out a soft laugh, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and impatience. "You're delving quite deep, aren't you? Are you sure you've told a tale before?"

"I have." Naruto smiled, as well — her grin was somewhat infectious. "It may seem scattered now, but it'll weave together as we proceed. Hopefully."

"I'll trust the journey then." She said lightly.

Naruto's smile broadened. "As you may know already, I'm Naruto of the Uzumaki clan. Perhaps you know this part, perhaps you don't — I am Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's son. Most of my good looks, I inherited from her."

Hanabi regarded him with an unreadable gaze, a very neutral look. Beside her, Neji's presence was distant, as if lost in thoughts far removed from the here and now. They offered no further reaction, their faces as inscrutable as a well-played hand, matching his own guardedness.

"She said she got the name from eating ramen, which plays no part at all in our story." A pause, a smile. "…I think. But I like to tell people anyway, because I find it kinda charming, and it says much about her. I've been called many things over the years, some you've likely heard."

Neji's gaze sharpened, fully engaged now. Both Hyūga's heads tilted into almost imperceptible nods, but their eyes betrayed a guardedness that Naruto had hoped to dissolve with his casual air.

"People from Wind used to call me the Binding Sage, although I personally think that's overdone." Naruto's voice carried a hint of amusement. "In Earth, I believe the Vanishing Blade is the one that stuck. I attribute it to a rather nifty trick, involving a sword that wasn't mine and someone else's gut. In Water, I can only imagine. There are many superstitious people there. Lightning called me many names, among which Red Death or That Bastard. Those, I enjoy. I have earned them.

"I'll skip the other names for now. We will get there soon enough. What I'm sure you don't know is that my first mentor dubbed me a loose cannon. There was no affection in that, and in hindsight, he wasn't wrong."

Naruto paused, his tone becoming introspective. When he spoke, he sounded like a man saying it for his own sake as well as theirs. "I've never been labeled with titles such as 'The Chosen One,' thankfully. That's a heavy mantle, something that belongs more with legends and prophecies than with men." He paused after saying the last word, as though freeing himself from some dark thought. "With people like Nagato, Morirama... Itachi.

"I have… had a pretty eventful life, I suppose. As you may already know, I was cast out of Konoha after barely brushing the ranks of the elite. I have done good things, I have done terrible things. I have freed a heiress, a princess and her kin, I have slain a Kage and mine. I have learned things I should not have, I never managed to learn some I should have. I have conversed with spirits and gods alike."

For a moment, his eyes were as dark as the two Hyūga had ever seen them. "…I alone know what truly happened, a few years ago."

He breathed out and the iron seemed to melt from his eyes. "Well, nearly alone. Although I hope to change both things soon."

Naruto locked eyes with Neji and then Hanabi. "Through all the titles and insults bestowed upon me, through all the lies and the hiding, the only name I truly embrace is Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto.

"In any case, it all started with a funeral, I suppose. As many stories begin — although rarely the pleasant ones."

AN: I promised myself not to write it right away...

Here we are, though. Now I'll be crawling through here to find spelling mistakes and the like.

Ah, it's probably worth telling that I tend to illustrate things, here and there...

Here's the link for this chapter's, if you care:
lensdump com i 3GUyf0

AO3 really has spoiled me.

Next chapter: The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Sealweaver