A/N: Re-written as of April 4th 2024

Sorry that this is later in the day then I have been posting chapters lately. I was traveling up to work today and slept in, so didn't have the time to post before I left. I won't be posting a chapter for this on Thursday this time. For those of you who follow ID, I'm sorry to say there will most likely not be a chapter there this Thursday either, since I am up at work. However, I will see what I can do with that one, and maybe will do a simultaneous release of an ID and an Ex chapter next Tuesday instead.

Hope you all enjoy~


Chapter VIII: Bizarre


This was just strange. Weird. Bizarre.

When he'd heard the door creaking he knew it couldn't be the main entrance to the room as that was a sliding door. So his eyes had immediately snapped towards the room across from the bed he'd woken up in. He thought perhaps he'd be face to face with some Anbu (from root, worst case scenario), or perhaps the Hokage?

But Uchiha?

Three of them. All teens, with a blue-green shuriken shape around their clan crest on their arms. Wasn't that the original symbol of the Konoha police force? He was fairly sure that it was, as the new police force has based their symbol off of it.

And why were they there? None of them said anything to him, even though all three looked him over with their onyx eyes upon entering. Then one went to stand by the window, one by the main door to the room, while the third stayed where he was. Their expressions all remained stern, two of the teenage boys crossing their arms, the third (by the window) shoving his hands into his pockets.

Were they here to make sure he and Makiko didn't escape or something? Or to protect them from getting snatched? Or for their own personal agenda?

Were there more of them in the adjoined room?

For a moment he debated the pro's and con's of trying to sense if there was anyone in the other room, but ultimately he decided against it. It wasn't worth the risk. There was too high of a chance the Uchiha would notice, as to sense it out so clearly, he'd have to mold chakra. Not to mention he was fairly certain the purpose of that room would be for discreet mission reports when a shinobi was hospitalized… which meant it would have a sound dampening seal, at least on the level of the Jōnin commanders office, if not on the level of the Hokage's office. So, even if he tried, he would likely learn nothing.

Instead he asked in a small voice "Who?" to see if they would respond.

They didn't.

The once man bit his lower lip, turning his eyes back to his sister. Masato found himself staring into void, grey-blue eyes, much like they had been in their mind-scape. "Makiko?" He called to her softly, but she made no reaction. Her blank eyes stared at nothing, her body still where it lay, the only sign of her being alive the slight rise and fall of her chest.

Seriously, what was wrong with her? It was almost like… like her body was alive, but she wasn't there anymore. But she had to be there somewhere. He refused to believe that Naruko had already been pushed out of this world.

This had something to do with her sudden breakdown. It had to. It was after she'd suddenly burst into tears that she had become unresponsive and then collapsed. Now she was… she was awake, but Makiko was nowhere to be found in those dull eyes. Maybe he would have better luck in their mind-scape this time? She was no longer ill, so something had changed. Hopefully the change was enough that he could reach her.

Casting his gaze back at the Uchiha, Masato debated. Would they somehow be able to tell if he was trying to enter his mind-scape?

Of course not.

After conversing with Kurama mid-fight so often in the past, he should know that.

He curled his body up closer to Makiko, as if he were afraid of the 'strangers' in the room, and then tried pulling himself inward again.

He blinked, and when his eyes opened he found himself surrounded by nearly black sky, and ink black waters. His breath hitched at the further lack of colour in the place. Why was colour draining away from their mind-scape mash up? Why did it feel so deathly cold?

Where was Makiko?

He cast his gaze about hastily to seek her out, sending ripples over the dark surface below him as he spun about. He'd nearly turned full circle when his eyes finally found something other than dark sky and water.

"Fuck."


Fuck.

That was the first thing Minato thought when he was finally allowed to leave the Hokage's office. He had wanted to stay and give the 'adults' a piece of his mind… be a part of the conversation that would determine the fate of his siblings, at least in the short term. He was not at all pleased to have been dismissed… but he knew he couldn't have done anything to improve their chances. That he'd done as much as he could, not yet being eleven, and being a genin still.

He was going to have to trust that Jiraiya-sensei would manage the rest.

He didn't like it at all.

Not that he didn't trust his Sensei. Minato just didn't like feeling useless. He never had. More so since his mother had abandoned him. It had almost gotten him denied from entering the academy… nearly had him in the same position Makiko and Masato were in now. Suspected of being a spy.

But there was a huge difference between that and this. Two in fact. Minato had been much older, and he'd received training from both of his parents when they'd been around. That made him far more likely to be a spy than the twins, even if he had been born and raised in the village, while they hadn't. The twins were under suspicion only because they were born to a defector after the event.

Which was apparently enough reason for the Hokage's advisers to demand an armed guard over the pair as if they were criminals. Danzo-sama had even gone so far as to insist on Anbu. Sandaime didn't agree with that at least…. but he had apparently already arranged for the police force to do the job before the topic had come up.

Minato clenched his fists at his side as he made his way down the steps from the tower. Most of the Uchiha he'd been acquainted with he neither liked or disliked… but the older members of the clan had a way of looking down on the rest of the village, and some of the younger members in the police force went a little too far in discipline from what he'd observed. Most of them had more sense than that to be sure, but that didn't get rid of their superiority complex.

It was like they thought the village owed them something simply because they were Uchiha, not because of anything each individual had done.

But it was better than anbu… and much better than the pair being hauled off somewhere and locked up.

Minato shoved his hands into his pockets, staring at the ground as he walked through Konoha back towards the Hospital. At least he was allowed to go back to their room. The Hokage had shot down his adviser's suggestion that Minato Namikaze was a potential flight risk for his siblings. He might not like how things were going at the moment, but he had to be grateful to the Sandaime for that.


I shouldn't even be here!

The words had rang out in her mind before everything around her had gone black. She had no sense of time… no sensation at all actually. It was just her and her thoughts. Thoughts about how she'd stolen the future of a little girl. How could she have? She should have thought of this before she agreed to come here! She hadn't wanted to squash any chance of a life that this little girl might have had.

But she didn't want the future of her kids… her grandchildren, and all their friends to be burnt out because she refused to do something that she was given the chance to do. So where did that leave her? There was no way to do the latter without doing the first, according to the Otsutsuki brothers.

Why had they chosen this girl as her vessel though? The younger sister of someone who would have otherwise been her father? (Oh she knew why, but as distraught as she was, she ignored that fact)

Would it have been okay if the vessel wasn't a Namikaze?

Her own voice. Sort of it. It was hers as she knew it now, which meant it was Makiko's. But Makiko was a toddler… she couldn't have spoken so clearly. Couldn't have known the word vessel… right?

Of course it wouldn't have been okay.

Again the tiny voice echoed without sound. It was right. If the vessel was some other little girl, this still wouldn't have felt right to her. She just shouldn't be here!

What if the vessel had no future?

What did that mean? No future? Everyone had a future, she denied vehemently. A chance at one. If not robbed of it by death or by their body being stolen!

What if she already died?

What?

No. No.

"NO!" her voice ripped out of her mouth, and with the single word sensation returned to her. Her pant legs felt soaked through, and around her was grey skies. Under her soaked knees was black water, and she got the impression of unfathomable depths. She stared at the glass-like surface below her, but it showed her no reflection.

No. Makiko Namikaze was not dead. The real one was alive.

What makes you so sure?

Because she had to be alive! Naruko had to believe that she could give the girl back her future!

And throw away the future of at least two other worlds?

Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She didn't want to condemn all those she loved… but surely Naruto could do it. Naruto would accomplish what they'd come here to do. He didn't need her help. Because unlike her… he had never needed dream encouragement from someone else…

So it's okay for him to rob a child of his future?

A strangled sob slipped past her lips. No… it wasn't okay but… but someone had to! Only one of them was better than both of them. The smallest sacrifice!

Neither had a future.

Ignore it, she told herself. She would release the girl. It was the right thing to do.

You're going back on your word.

But she had to! It was a word she shouldn't have given in the first place.

Don't abandon your Nindo.

No. It wasn't hers. It was Naruto's and she'd only copied it all this time. It was okay… she could be herself in these last moments. It was the right thing to do. She had to give up and let Makiko have her life back. Naru-nii would handle everything. He always found a way.

Yes.

The voice was gone now. She was right. She knew it.

A smile slid over her lips, as she felt sensation leaving her again. But this was a little different. She was floating. Away from the child she'd nearly taken everything from. This was the right thing to do, she knew it. She could see the girl's hair below her. Looking up she could see a familiar white light above her, calling to her.

There was no pain this time.

Yes, this was right.

"Naruko!"


Look down damn it! She had to look down!

Move, for fuck sake!

He commanded his body for the umpteenth time, but since he'd seen the light above her, Masa-Naruto had been unable to make himself move. A single curse had fallen past his lips and that was it.

But she absolutely had to look down!

He wasn't entirely sure what was going on right now, though he had his suspicion. Naruko must have felt guilty over something, and was giving in to the temptation to just let the world have its way and cast her out… but she didn't see what he did! She wasn't looking at the right thing. Below the unstable, nearly transparent form of Naruko, now barely connected to her by a thread of chakra, was the limp body of Makiko.

Sinking.

Lifeless.

Dying the black waters red.

"Naruko!" he screamed at last.

The slowly rising form of Naruko twisted in the air, seeking him out. When her eyes found him, she frowned, before smiling at him apologetically. Her ascent continued.

"Down!" he shouted at her desperately, again urging his body to move. He was able to take a shaky step as she shook her head at him slightly. "Look. Down." Masa-Naruto insisted, stumbling towards her.

Why?

The voice was the strangest mix of an adult Naruko, and the one he'd grown used to coming out of Makiko's mouth.

"Don't you dare give up!" He insisted fervently. "You can't… You need to come back, Naruko."

Why?

He was nearly below her now, and her eyes had been following him. With a leap he landed right next to the sinking body of Makiko, falling to his knees and shoving his hands in the black water to catch the girl's arm. "Why would you go back on your word?" He questioned her.

To give her the future she deserves.

Was she not seeing what he was?

"Makiko is dead, Naruko!" He screamed in frustration, pulling with all his might until the limp body was back on the surface, blood flowing endlessly from her mouth and stomach. "Look!"

Naruko screamed.


Heart pounding in his chest, dread building in his gut, Minato dashed down the hall despite a med-nin calling at him not to do so. How could he walk down the hall calmly after that.

An agonized, high pitched scream had just rang through the hospital. Unmistakably from the direction of the Namikaze occupied hospital room. It might not be from the room itself… Maybe the source of that scream was from one of the neighboring rooms, but he had to get there and make sure.

He definitely wasn't going to listen to a med-nin who happened to be dashing down the hall herself now.

His hand stretched out to the door as he neared it, and he slowed himself down just enough not to run into it but through it after he slid it open. His eyes moved to the first bed, finding the form of Makiko crumpled into a ball, her hands on her head as her shoulders shook with sobs.

Before he could go to her, a firm hand was on his shoulder, squeezing it painfully. Fuck, he'd forgotten about the Uchiha.

He wanted to fight the hold of the Uchiha off, but had the sense not to. Especially when he realized there were two other Uchiha standing in the room. One by the window, one by the door to the adjoined room. So he forced himself to stay put, and thankfully the hold on his shoulder loosened enough that it was no longer painful. Still it was clear that the Uchiha didn't want him to move. Damn it.

Minato tried to steady his breathing as he took in the rest of the room. The IV stand was on the floor, the tube torn from Makiko's arm. He tensed, and the hold of the Uchiha teen tightened again.

The Med-Nin was then in the room, rushing over to the bed to the sobbing girl. She was speaking too softly for Minato to hear what she was saying over the rush of blood in his ears, but the woman was gently rubbing the girl's back with one hand, and had her other placed on the child's forehead, surrounded by green healing chakra.

Makiko's trembling slowly came to a stop, her sobs becoming soft sniffling. The Med-nin urged the girl to lie back down, before she turned her attention to the child's arm where the IV had been ripped out from the girl's sudden panic. The small wound there was quickly healed, though Makiko continued to sniff slightly even following this. "Makiko-chan," the woman was saying softly to the child. "Your Nii-san is here."

And then the hold on his shoulder was gone.

Makiko's eyes moved from the Med-nin about the room, seeking out her 'nii-san'. He quickly moved to the bed, her eyes finding him before he reached it. She reached her other hand out towards him, so Minato made for the other side of the bed.

And there was Masato on the floor. He was rubbing his arm which looked to already be bruising, and there were tears in the corner of his eyes, but he had made no sound until now. The older Namikaze quickly put together why the boy was likely on the floor. He'd been up on the bed with Makiko, likely having been concerned for her and wanting to reassure himself she was okay, when Makiko had woken up and panicked. Was it because she didn't recognize where she was, and the people around her?

"Nii-san," Makiko's voice came out shakily, and his eyes snapped back to her. Minato put on his best reassuring smile. Before he bent down and scooped up the boy. Then he sat on the bed next to Makiko, One hand supporting Masato's back so the boy didn't fall from his lap, and the other one taking Makiko's small hand in his.

He heard the door slide shut, and realized that the Med-nin had left, taking the IV and its stand with her. So Makiko didn't need it now? Well, she didn't look like she had a fever anymore, and she had woken up. Although… her recovery was almost too sudden wasn't it?

Then again, both twins had recovered from their earlier fevers in short order as well. And this time Makiko had been ill for around a full day, rather than a matter of hours.

He almost wished she'd stayed ill longer though… Maybe that would ease suspicion.

"Minato-nii-san?" the little girl was staring at him with wide, questioning eyes, which flicked about to the Uchiha by the sliding door before coming back to him.

Masato was shifting about on his lap, and before he could stop the boy he'd crawled onto the bed and next to his sister. So Minato leaned towards the girl, placing his now free hand atop her head comfortingly (he hoped it was at least.) "You're safe now, Makiko," he told her softly.

It wasn't a lie in this moment, at least.


Hiruzen resisted the urge to sigh heavily. "They aren't even two years old," he spoke firmly to those present. "I will not consent to having their minds forcefully probed. It could cripple their mental development." Honestly, the trio ought to know that. They didn't use the Yamanaka's mind infiltration jutsu on children so young, even should they be suspected as spies. Unless they were confirmed enemy nin… but that was more because once you had your headband, Konoha legally viewed you as an adult. The Hokage had his hands tied on that one… but this? No. He would not condone it.

"How do you propose we ensure the pair are not spies then, Hiruzen?" Danzo asked in drawl. "Torture would be just as damaging to their development."

Yes it would. Or more so. And Hiruzen wasn't considering it as an option in the slightest. Which Danzo would have known before mentioning it. The Hokage did not appreciate the thinly veiled challenge to his authority. But he kept his face neutral, lacing his fingers together as he rested his elbows on his desk. "There is no need to go to such extremes," he spoke calmly, his focus mainly on Danzo now, as Koharu looked thoughtful, and Homura was nodding agreement. Likely because he had a small child of his own and could not help but think of how it would damage his son if these things were done to him. Koharu's child was already in her final year at the academy, so the woman would likely have an easier time 'forgetting' how immoral it would be to practice torture on toddlers.

Danzo only fathered a son to solidify his position as head of the Shimura clan, and had even enrolled the boy into the academy this year, at the young age of four. There was very little love there, if any.

"You have a point Hiruzen," Koharu spoke up now. "They are young and malleable now. Even if they were being raised to be spies, at this age we can groom them to our advantage."

The Hokage held back another sigh. That was not what he'd decided upon for the pair… but on the other hand it would make the trio more accepting of his chosen methods to 'vet' the twins. "The only family they know is a Shinobi of the leaf. Fostering that bond will make them loyal to Konoha."

"They have a father somewhere," Danzo deadpanned. "Who could be looking for them. You said the woman was being pursued, did you not, Jiraiya?"

The jōnin crossed his arms and leaned against the wall he'd been standing by since he'd given his portion of the report. Jiraiya had wisely skipped over some of what he'd told him in the morning, and Minato had thankfully followed his Sensei's lead. If his advisers had heard everything the white haired Jōnin had to say about the twins, this would be a different conversation altogether, he was sure.

"The chances are good she was being pursued, however the woman had a bounty. It could have been monetarily driven." His student looked bored as he said this, giving a slight shrug for effect. It was a rather convincing act.

"Her bounty was conditional on her being brought in alive," The black haired elder responded.

"True," Hiruzen cut in quickly, "Yet everyone here is well aware she wouldn't have allowed herself to be captured without a fight."

"Probably she was spotted by some bounty hunters who thought to take the opportunity, and underestimated her," Jiraiya added with a shrug. He clearly wanted those assembled to believe her pursuers hadn't been after her specifically, just what they thought would be a quick pay off.

"That may be so, but we have to be sure these two are not a threat to the village," Danzo stated, eyes narrowing. "We are on the verge of war."

"We aren't that close to war, Danzo," Hiruzen replied, this time allowing the sigh to escape him. "Though it is becoming clear a conflict will be unavoidable in the next few years." It was true. War wouldn't happen next month, and likely not six months from now either. Unless something big happened anyway. After that however? At the rate tensions were building, it would take a great sacrifice on their part to avoid a war… and Hiruzen was not willing to make the sort of sacrifices the other villages would find acceptable to stop a war.

It was bad enough that he had been forced not to retaliate against the coalition of Villages who had destroyed Uzushio. They were not prepared for war at the time, and jumping into it after the surprise fall of their ally would have been foolish.

But war would come. The other villages were too greedy.

They would demand something like handing over prized Kekkei Genkais, or if not that, exiling the clans. Things that would greatly reduce Konoha's military power. Which would save them from war for a time, but would only invite the other villages to attack Konoha for its resources in the future. Weakening themselves to prevent a war was not an option.

"Give the pair to Inokai and Shikatsu," Homura announced suddenly, drawing Hiruzen out of his slight introspection. "They should be able to evaluate their psyche and risk factor without causing undue trauma."

The third Hokage had to keep himself from grinning now. This was exactly what he had decided upon, and here one of them was suggesting it for him. "An excellent suggestion, Homura." He agreed with a brief nod. "Are you in agreement, Koharu, Danzo?"

Koharu nodded immediately. "That is acceptable."

Danzo was silent for a moment, not bothering to keep himself from frowning. "I agree.. provided Inokai will be given leave to use his clan's techniques if the evaluation gives reason for concern."

Reason for concern. Danzo could find such reasons where Hiruzen saw none. He'd done it frequently. He was going to have to have a chat with the Yamanaka and Nara clan heads to make sure they didn't include something in their evaluations that would give Danzo that chance… unless they really saw the pair as a risk.

"Agreed."


Jiraiya held back his sigh of relief until he was clear of the Hokage tower and could no longer feel eyes on him. That had gone better than he could have hoped for. The twins were naturally still suspicious to the trio of advisers, but they weren't going to be tossed in a cell, or tortured to evaluate the risk factor, and the man had no doubt Hiruzen had gotten things mostly the way he'd wanted them with that meeting.

He wasn't so pleased that the advisers had then proceeded to demand the evaluation be done for Masato immediately, and Makiko as soon as she woke. Hiruzen had summoned the two clan heads before dismissing him to go collect Masato. It would have been better to allow the twins more rest… but at the same time this meant getting Uchiha eyes off of them sooner.

Although he preferred the Uchiha to Anbu selected by Danzo. The clan was a bit distant with other citizens of the village, but they were fair in their enforcement. And most importantly, not one of them would be caught dead in Shimura Danzo's pocket.

The Jōnin moved at a brisk walk through the streets to the hospital, mind focused on what would come next. If the pair had a favourable evaluation, the discussion would turn to what to do with them in the future. And how they would be cared for.

If the sly Sarutobi had decided the twins would not be put immediately into some sort of strict training, Jiraiya had no doubt the man would get his way on that. At least until they were four, as through the village's history there had been less than a handful of shinobi who'd entered the academy at the age of three. Four was usually only reserved for prodigal clan kids, and five for prodigies outside of the major clans.

At least, when they were in peacetime.

Jiraiya had a feeling the pair would be forced into the Shinobi career. By the time they were five they would be in the academy if not sooner. Or they would be in a less friendly training program.

The jōnin sighed again as he entered the main doors of the hospital. He didn't bother checking in with the nurse at the front desk, and she didn't call him back as he made his way quickly towards the stairs. She knew where he was going.

He made his way up to the third floor, and down the hallway towards the room the twins had been left in.

"-i-san," he heard a small female voice. "where?"

Makiko was awake? Well now, that was surprising.

"We're in Konoha," he heard Minato's voice reply as he reached the door. "This is a Hospital. Sick people and people with boo-boos get better here."

Jiraiya almost snickered. Instead he knocked lightly on the door, before sliding it open. The first thing he noticed once the door was open was that there were three Uchiha present. All young to be sure… but three?

Was that the clan heir by the door?

"Jiraiya-san," the Uchiha nodded his head to him, and by the jolt Minato gave it seemed the Uchiha had all been silent until now, and the boy must have forgotten they were even there. He needed more training.

"Fugaku-kun," he replied to the teen, and allowed himself a chuckle when the Uchiha's lips twitched with the want to frown. The chuckle caused the teen to glower at him; Leaving the jōnin feeling quite satisfied that he'd managed to tease the Uchiha heir. "Sandaime-sama would like the twins brought to his office, seeing as both of them are awake."

"San… Di…Sandia-me?"This question came from Makiko, who's face until now had been half buried into Minato's side since Fugaku had spoken up.

Minato soothingly stroked her back with one hand, "That's the leader of the village," he explained to her softly. "Sandaime Hokage-sama. It means he's the third leader we've had, Makiko-chan."

"Le-lea-der?" This was Masato, who was still holding one of Makiko's hands in his.

"Someone you have to listen to and who protects everyone," Jiraiya cut in, as Minato seemed unsure how to explain that one in a way they would understand.

"And someone we shouldn't keep waiting," cut in Fugaku curtly. "But what those two are wearing is far from acceptable."

The Uchiha had a point. The two were dressed in hospital issued pajamas, and their clothes had been taken and burned as soon as they'd been stripped of them. But he didn't fancy taking the pair into a store right now. Especially with how timid Makiko was being. The number of people about might be too overwhelming for her. He was about to say as much, when his eyes were drawn to the chair next to Makiko's bed. A set of girl's clothing was laid out neatly on the chair, and looking at the chair set by the bed in the middle of the room, he saw it had something for Masato to wear.

A nurse probably had brought the clothing in.

"Alright, c'mere Masato," he spoke authoritatively, walking to the bed to pick up the child. Masato reluctantly let go of Maki's hand, before he reached out towards Jiraiya and he scooped him up under the arms.

Jiraiya had honestly never thought he'd have to dress a child.


Minato was having a hard time not laughing at Jiraiya as he tried to convince Masato to put his foot into the right pant leg instead of the left one. Makiko on the other hand was holding her arms up over her head expectantly, waiting for him to slip the dress over her head. The clothing they'd been given was clearly second or maybe even third hand, judging by the few patches here and there. But it was clean, and the patches were well sewn on.

Maki had on a long sleeved shirt in a cream colour, and a pair of black leggings, and now the brown, sleeveless dress he'd pulled over her head. Masato was still attempting to get Jiraiya to put a black pair of pants on him backwards.

"Sit tight for a minute, Maki-chan," He said softly to her, patting her hair down, before he turned to his sensei. "Masato, that's the wrong foot," he said matter of factly, even though Jiraiya had said so multiple times already.

"Really?"

Until now the boy had stubbornly responded with "is not!" (Fugaku's lips were twitching with amusement at the Jōnin's plight)

"Yes, really," he replied with a decisive nod. Masato seemed to be pouting, but he finally allowed Jiraiya to help him into the pants the right way round. Then went on a dark brown long sleeve top, followed by a plain white t-shirt.

Jiraiya sighed in relief, before he lifted the boy up. "Lets get them to Hiruzen then," he half muttered under his breath.

Why did the Hokage want to see them now though, Minato found himself wondering. Jiraiya-sensei didn't seem upset over it… but the man could easily be hiding it. He hoped it was nothing bad.

Returning to the bed that Makiko was sitting patiently on, Minato lifted her up when she held her arms out to him.

"We'll escort you to the Hokage tower," Fugaku announced simply, before he opened the sliding door and proceeded them out of the room. Minato waited for Jiraiya to leave before he followed, though he'd rather trail behind the other two Uchiha.

Was it really such a good idea for them to walk through Konoha with the twins, escorted by three of the Konoha police force? Minato didn't think so, but since his teacher said nothing, he kept his mouth tightly shut.


Hiruzen let out a soft sigh, allowing the tension to leave his shoulders when his office door had closed behind Danzo. It was a bit of a surprise that none of the advisor's had insisted on staying for the arrival of the twins after the two clan heads had arrived and been briefed on what was expected of them.

"Sandaime-sama," the gruff voice of Shikatsu spoke up, the man leaning against the wall where Jiraiya had been before he dismissed him. His scarred face was pulled into a thoughtful frown. "You don't think a pair of toddlers could actually be a threat to Konoha do you?"

"If they weren't already capable of using chakra, I wouldn't be concerned," was his deadpan response.

Shikatsu's thoughtful expression darkened, and the one eared Inokai pinched the bridge of his nose at the words. "How well?"

"Well enough to climb up the stone figure of Madara at the valley of the end," The Hokage let out another sigh as he said this, which was mirrored by Shikatsu moments later.

"I take it you'd rather not let Danzo hear of that," the astute man stated. Absently he stroked his goatee, fingers catching on the hairless patch from the scar that ran up his chin to the corner of his lip on the right side. "Unless it turns out they are a threat." He nodded at the words, and the Nara regarded him for a moment, before his eyes flickered over to his fellow Clan-head. The Yamanaka nodded to whatever unspoken message the look had carried.

"We'll have the evaluations ready this time tomorrow," Inokai stated with a smile.

Plural. Even though it was expected they'd only be starting with Masato today. As in there would be an evaluation for each that was meant only for his eyes.

Hiruzen smiled.


Masato couldn't stop looking up at the Hokage Monument as they moved. It was just so… odd. Only three heads were carved in the rock, rather than the seven there had been in his time. Or the four during his original childhood. All his life there had never just been three. It just looked wrong to him.

Jiraiya chuckled when he noticed the boy's interest in the stone faces. "Those are the Hokages," he told the boy, and Masato simply nodded, eyes still fixed on the cliff. "The first one was our Shodaime, and the one in the middle was his younger brother, and the Nidaime." The jōnin kept speaking, clearly thinking Masato was enthralled with the information. "That means the first, and second Hokage."

"So… That one is the Sa- San-dai-me?" He pointed towards the rock face of the man he'd once referred to as jiji.

"That's right!" The toad sage confirmed enthusiastically. "He was my teacher when I was smaller than your big brother."

"He must be really old then," came the soft voice of Makiko. "A grampa."

Jiraiya just about snorted. Masato didn't bother stopping himself from laughing. "Jiji!"

"Well… actually he's just a tou-san," Jiraiya came to his teacher's defense, although he was quite amused by the impression the two had. "Although his oldest son is older than Minato, he's also got a little girl just around your age, and a newborn son."

A newborn son? Wasn't the old man Asuma's father? And He was sure Asuma hadn't been that old when he died. He was around the same age as Kakashi sensei, wasn't he?

They were older than Asuma! Holy crap!

Had Kakashi even been born yet? Or… Kurenai, or Gai? Iruka was younger than all of them wasn't he? What about Ibiki, or Shizune or… like, all the shinobi who were adults when he was a kid! How many of them was he going to be older than now?

How many of them might not be born if they changed something this early on?

This was just bizarre.


Word Count: 6030


To the Reviewers:

EclipseNightClub: Thanks for taking the time to review! I really appreciate it~
Don't worry, there will be cute bonding moments ahead~

Oblivion168: Konoha can never have to many blondes with the potential to level mountains ;)
Glad you're enjoying the fic~

Ale.18: Thank you for the praise~ Glad you enjoy my writing

Animecutylover: It's a bit of both for Naruko, and then just being 'affected' by her toddler body.
Kushina glared because Naruto couldn't say anything and she found it annoying that he was staring without a word.
Yes, that was a bit of a close call for them ;P"Uzu would be interesting… maybe an idea to use for a story in the future.

Thanks for the reviews~