Upload Date: 03/27/2024

Disclaimer: Obligatory statement that these characters are not and will not be mine. Long author's note at the very end.

Chapter 12 – Significant Thought

Naruto poured himself another drink, eyes unfocused as he stared into the glass, swishing it around, before finally drinking it.

It no longer burned on the way down. Good. He did not want to have to think tonight.

The other patrons of the tavern were rowdy as pretty women flirted with them and sat on their laps. One of these women came over and winked at Naruto, opening her mouth to speak before a deep voice interrupted them.

"Leave us be."

Both Naruto and the woman turned to see a very familiar man with dark hair and even darker eyes behind them, before he sat down right in front of Naruto. He offered a single gold coin to the woman who tucked it into her corset, casting a longing glance at Naruto before disappearing.

"Want one?" Naruto asked, serving himself another drink.

"It depends." Sasuke answered, raising his eyebrow as Naruto drank his glass, his whiskered face flushed. Clearly, he had been drinking much too readily.

"You haven't seen me in months and this is how you greet me?"

"I'd greet you better if you weren't drunk."

"I am not drunk, simply enjoying myself. You should try it sometimes." Naruto countered.

Sasuke was silent as he took the glass from Naruto and drank it himself, the burn warm and familiar in his throat.

"It's good to see you, Naruto."

For some reason, the barely kind words of his former teammate made Naruto's anger dissipate and he looked up at his friend who wore a scowl, but whose eyes looked warm.

"Good to see you too, Sasuke." He replied, his voice barely above a whisper, causing Sasuke to stiffen in his seat, immediately alarmed and uncomfortable.

This was wrong. His loud teammate should never be quieter than he.

"Care to tell me what's wrong?"

Naruto gazed at the bottle that was resting on his table before sighing. What wasn't wrong truly?

On top of the normal issues of hiding his identity from his land and trying to ensure he was not caught and hanged there were lots of things, always in the back of his mind.

Lady Fifth's news had been like bile that he was forced to swallow amongst the other usual problems he had to deal with.

"Granny wanted to let me know that I'm Lord Fourth's bastard son."

The ease with the way those words slipped from his lips was not lost on either of them and Naruto wore a bitter smile as he looked upon his teammate.

Sasuke Uchiha was a man of few words, but he was never at a loss for words. This however, was something unexpected that left him frozen as his idiotic teammate nonchalantly poured himself another drink, humming to himself as he finally looked up.

"Impressive right?"

"Are you," Sasuke paused, struggling to find the words. "Are you certain?"

Naruto laughed loudly, causing Sasuke to scowl in response. It made sense after all. The Fourth was a legend. To someone like Sasuke who had never seen a colored portrait of the former Hokage, it was reasonable to cast some doubt.

"I questioned the same, but she insisted that I was."

Sasuke was silent for a very long time before pouring himself another drink, the alcohol burning less down his throat.

"What are your plans then?"

"Nothing changes. I am still alone, with no family at my side, burdened with guilt over my master. Being the son of a Kage does nothing but make me angry at those who kept that secret from me."

Sasuke shook his head. "I think you have had enough to drink for tonight." Naruto's eyes were glassy and his voice got louder with each word that crossed his mouth. If he kept this up, the other patrons would notice and would cause a commotion.

Now was not the time for a scandal.

In between seeking to calm down his rambunctious teammate, Sasuke's head was spinning as he realized the implications of such a secret. Dangerous implications that involved a lot of people and research. Implications that involved significant thought to work through.

Implications that would be currently lost on his drunk idiotic friend.

"Really?" Naruto pondered, staring at the empty bottle and grinned, the wide smile not reaching his eyes.

"Yes. Now come on." Sasuke begrudgingly lifted Naruto to his feet as Naruto kept grinning, face flushed.

He led him outside only to find Naruto's subordinates patiently waiting, a mixture of vague confusion the only emotion present on either of their apathetic faces.

Sasuke paused. "Your men?"

Naruto squinted as he realized his men were looking at him expectantly. "Oh. I guess I did tell them to wait."

How long have they been waiting? Sasuke thought to himself, his eye twitching.

Both Jugo and Sai raised their eyebrows. Seeing their captain drink was not a new development. Seeing their captain drunk enough to be carried was a cause for concern.

Sasuke sighed in defeat. "You and your men are going to stay at my estate. I will not have you causing a commotion around town, you understand?"

Naruto nodded cheekily, still smiling while Jugo and Sai warily glanced at each other while they followed Sasuke and their captain towards the Uchiha estate.

The evening was barely settling in, the darkness softening the atmosphere around her as guards nodded as they let Sakura walk by.

She knocked on the door to the Yamanaka family estate and was let in by Ino's handmaiden who quickly ushered her into Lady Ino's private chambers.

"Oh, you have finally arrived! Good to see you Forehead."

Sakura paused for a long moment, before clenching her fists and glowering at Ino. "I received a message that you were feeling ill, but you look well! Did you delight in making me worry?"

"Of course not. I simply wanted to talk a bit. You wear yourself so ragged at the hospital I figured I would update you on the happenings in my life."

Sakura turned around. "I have better things to do with my time, you know."

Ino grabbed her hand and pouted. "Please Sakura. I have missed you plenty even though you are here in the village now. You have been working yourself to the bone since you have been home. Have you stopped for a moment to consider that that is not particularly healthy either?"

Sakura sighed, irritation brimming to the surface. "Just what was so important that you needed to bother me at this late hour?"

Ino huffed. "I'll have you know that I had a suitor meeting this evening."

"Ha! You did not get engaged, Ino."

"I did not, but the confidence in your statement is worrying." Ino quipped.

Sakura rolled her eyes, laying on Ino's bed, for a minute delighting in the soft blankets. "I know you. You are not the marrying type."

"Perhaps not. I prefer to enjoy the company of men while not being tied down to one."

Sakura threw a pillow at her while Ino laughed. "That is not a laughing matter. Your father will kill you if he discovers you doing such things."

"Relax. He knows nothing." Ino assured, delicately placing the pillow back onto her bed. "He's probably finding me more suitors as we speak."

"You say that as if that is terrible. You may meet a like-minded spirit, who likes to entertain and travel."

"I could also have to marry a much older man who enjoys slapping me around and never lets me leave."

Sakura winced. "I suppose that could be true as well."

"Never mind my suitor troubles. I wanted to tell you about a very unfortunate altercation I had with a foreigner this afternoon."

"A foreigner?"

"Yes, actually two of them. I could not place one of their accents, but they were quite the individuals."

Sakura's pursed her lips, a sudden thought occurring to her. "What did they look like?"

Ino rolled her eyes. "Handsome enough I suppose."

Sakura could not help the loud snort that escaped her mouth as her previous irritation waned away at Ino's antics. Try as she might, the blonde was just the perfect counter to her more composed nature.

"Perhaps a bit more detail, Ino." Sakura suggested, grabbing Ino's comfortable bed pillows.

Ino smirked and winked at Sakura. "Well, if you must know, one was tall, muscular, with bright orange hair and eyes that glinted like fiery berries. Not quite my type, but certainly much more polite than his companion."

Sakura turned to face Ino, the description of the man incredibly familiar, as she was acutely aware of one man who fit that description to the letter. But if that was true…then…

Sakura sat up; keen eyes interested in her companion's words. "And the other?"

"The other one was shorter, slender, with dark eyes. He was much more brash and he was incredibly rude."

And Sakura's eyes gleamed in the glow of candlelight, realization setting in.

That settled it. The Fox was here in Konoha.

The alcohol had worn off his body sometime during the night and he was left wide awake, staring at the high ceilings of his best friend's guest room. The liquor had warmed his throat and it had gone away leaving him cold and empty.

It was just before dawn when he decided he had had enough of Sasuke's hospitality and walked outside, Sai and Jugo awakening only to be instructed to rest for a couple more hours.

He would not need any bodyguards where he was headed.

The view was nice and it settled the growing heaviness in the pit of his stomach. The wind was blowing cool air against his face, the breeze comforting as the familiar smells from the shops began to reach his nose.

His land.

His home.

His favorite spot in the village, overlooking it in its entirety from the top of the Fourth…his father's stone face, edged upon the mountain.

A knot was irritating his throat as he blinked rapidly, the resentment festering in his thoughts overshadowing the easy comfort of the present. Every memory tinged with disgust as he realized how many people in the village certainly knew.

He almost missed the new presence behind him, a kunai barely ready in his hand as his teacher's eyes widened, softening instantly as they saw the grief-ridden expression in his student.

Naruto pulled back the kunai and tucked it into his pouch at his trousers. "How did you find me?"

"Kakashi mentioned you were back in the village. I took a gamble that you would end up here sooner or later."

Despite himself Naruto's mouth turned up slightly at that. Of course. The spot that he had terrorized as a youngster from which Iruka himself would scold and order him to clean up on an almost daily basis was evident to him. Try as he might, Iruka Sensei would always know him better than he sometimes knew himself.

Which made it sadder that he had been one of the ones who had kept the secret from him.

"Iruka Sensei, did you know…about my father?"

Iruka heaved a long sigh as he stared straight ahead. The crisp sunrise beginning to appear over the horizon and a lump swelled in his throat. "I had a suspicion," he finally replied. "But with your last name not being the Fourth's, I was never too sure. I was very young when he passed."

Iruka turned to look at the child that had grown up before his very eyes and his fists clenched as he struggled to blink away sudden tears at seeing Naruto's face.

"And you never thought to consider bringing those suspicions up to me?"

"I was not going to haunt you with mere suspicions and someone as unimportant as I would have never received confirmation if that was the truth or not. The elders who remembered what the Fourth looked like in life knew who you were." Iruka started, his voice heavy.

"What I did know, was about the beast, but you already know about that…" he continued, resting his palms against the stone carving, leaning his head back slightly.

"Part of me," Naruto began, his voice hoarse, "Part of me feels resentment to those who knew. I grew up hated, Sensei. Maybe no one would have hated me out loud if they knew I was the Hokage's son. I would not have had to scrounge for food and steal. Tell me Sensei, would you forgive them if you were in my place?"

Iruka sighed once more and turned to face his former student, eyes clouded over. "I am not sure Naruto, but I know that keeping anger and resentment festering like that does no one any good. You must also realize that both your status as the Hokage's son and that the beast chakra was sealed inside you were heavy, dangerous secrets."

"Kakashi was my father's student-"

"Indeed, and almost a man when Lord Fourth died, but he was not in any position to raise a child or give you a home. Lady Tsunade did not know you existed until she returned. If you want to blame someone, blame the decree and the elders for upholding it, even Lord Third if you wish, but even that blame will end up hurting you."

The words rang in his ears and Naruto's shoulders dropped in defeat.

Lord Third had ordered them to keep silent, he remembered, the wind rustling at his whiskered cheeks.

Not all the blame was accounted for by the living.

"Jiraiya ended up taking care of you, guiding you, vowing to keep you safe and make you strong. Perhaps he wanted to do that as a favor for his former student."

"What do I do now, Sensei? I cannot stay-"

"You do not have to stay if you do not want to. That is always your choice, but as I have said, anger and resentment will not be a wise companion."

Naruto simply shook his head, the busy noises from the town below becoming louder, fully awakening the fog in in his head.

"Listen, I know you want to leave soon, but I wanted to have the chance to treat you to a meal before you went.

"A meal?"

"Your favorite, remember?"

And instantly Naruto remembered the warm restaurant that greeted him whenever he was hungry. A source of comfort.

A lump formed in his chest and his chest began to tighten as he helplessly began to grip his shirt, as he stared into the older man's eyes.

"That would be great."

The meal at Ichiraku's was wonderful, the warmth hitting his empty stomach with more fervor. The kindness of Old Man Teuchi and Ayame still ever present.

It was a struggle to remain angry while savoring his food. He had never been the sort of man to hold grudges. Even if he wanted to hold anger against those who had kept the secret from him, deep down his nature clashed with those feelings.

Instead, he found himself telling old stories of his travels with Jiraiya, making the three of them laugh at the tales of the elder man's rambunctious doings and mishaps.

It was healing, he supposed, being able to have a meal with Iruka Sensei, and being able to talk with Teuchi and Ayame like old times. It simmered down the unrest he was in slightly.

He finished only six bowls and bid farewell to them both while permitting himself to have a short walk with Iruka Sensei, ignoring the bustle of the town as he focused his thoughts.

"When are you leaving?"

"Today if possible. I would rather not stay here."

Iruka hummed with heavy disappointment. "I'm sure Kakashi and Lady Fifth would love to have you around for longer."

"I could not bear to look at them. I-I just need time, Sensei." Naruto spoke, struggling to form the words that he felt. The conversation with Iruka earlier had made sense after all. Perhaps it was something he needed to come to terms with on his own.

It had been unsettling and uncomfortable to know this truth and it suffocated him, being in the town where all the lies had started.

Iruka nodded, accepting this response, though his distraught expression was hard to ignore.

"Farewell Sensei." Naruto spoke, bowing lightly at Iruka who ignored the sign of respect and gave the younger man a strong embrace, patting him hard on the back twice before letting him go.

He rubbed his eyes, looking downward for a moment before raising his glance to look to him once more. "Be safe, Naruto."

Naruto nodded.

Sasuke sighed, adjusting his vest collar in frustration as he glared at his friend. "Perhaps you need to remain in Konoha a bit longer."

"Perhaps not." Naruto responded, glowering at his friend as he straightened his jacket.

"There are many things to think about now that you have discovered this. Lots of information to confirm, paperwork to arrange-"

"I do not care about the fucking paperwork, Sasuke. Nothing has changed."

"That is what you think? Your ignorance is showing."

Naruto slammed the trunk shut and scowled at Sasuke, nostrils flaring. "According to you, what could be so important for me to understand now?"

"Inheritance for one."

Naruto blinked. "Inheritance?"

"Surely Lord Fourth had money at his disposal during his tenure. Money that undoubtedly now belongs to you as heir. Not to mention there's always the potential for titleship, depending on the family status of your mother-"

"I am not staying behind for money, Sasuke. Not now anyway. I need to get back to my men and my business."

"More money never hurts. And speaking of your business, I heard from the Hound."

Despite his current feelings towards Kakashi Sensei, Naruto was not going to let any news he had be ignored.

"What does he have to say?"

"The Fox is officially a mark of Konoha."

Naruto straightened then, a scowl crossing over his face as he glanced up to the Hokage tower, the monument visible in the background.

"Very well. Thank the Hound for their information."

"Will do." Sasuke spoke, looking as Jugo and Sai finished loading the carriage as Naruto confirmed his things were loaded.

"Naruto?"

They turned, aggressively startled, to look at the newcomer who had approached them without so much as a sound.

Naruto frowned in surprise. "Neji?"

Neji leaned against his cane with a small smile on his face. "I almost did not recognize you. I was not aware you were visiting."

"It was an unexpected visit." Naruto clarified; his voice still stiff. "I am happy to see you doing well though. It is a great relief to see you walking again."

"I am as well." Neji agreed, nodding at Sasuke. "A pleasure to run into you Sasuke."

"Likewise, Neji." Sasuke responded, nodding curtly.

"It is a pity I cannot stay with you both, but I am on my way out of the country Neji. Best of luck on your recovery." Naruto spoke, glancing behind him at the carriage where Jugo and Sai waited for him.

"I do not mean to take much of your time. In fact, I am glad I was able to run into both of you. I can invite you both at once."

"Invite us to what?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My engagement announcement." Neji stated, unable to keep a small smile from spreading.

Naruto blinked. "You're getting married?" He had been away for some time and the comings and goings of the Konoha town folk were not the top priority in any of the communication with Sasuke, Sakura, or his Sensei. In fact, it was probably the last thing he cared about.

So, this was certainly a surprise that left him slightly befuddled.

"To Miss Tenten I presume?" Sasuke asked, glowering at his friend's lack of tact.

"Yes, that is correct. Our engagement announcement is in a couple of days on the eighth. The wedding, which both of you are invited to, I may add, will be held on the twenty-third."

Despite his sour mood Naruto could not help but smile and placed his hand on Neji's shoulder. "That is wonderful. I am happy for you both."

"A bit of a short engagement period." Sasuke remarked bluntly, raising an eyebrow.

Neji nodded. "After my events at sea, we were not comfortable with the standard waiting period."

Sasuke hummed in acknowledgement, seemingly accepting Neji's explanation.

"I am happy for you, but I unfortunately will be unable to attend, Neji. My business-" Naruto began.

"I know it is imprudent of me to ask, but you were one of the reasons I was able to return alive Naruto. You gave Lady Hinata the strength to look after me and cared for her while I was in the hospital in Kiri. It would mean a great deal for you to be there." Neji elaborated, resting on his cane a little heavily as he leaned forward.

Naruto sighed, his mind screaming at him to leave before he became entrapped in more mundane affairs, but a quick glance at Neji's face quickly banished any thought of leaving that day. He truly admired Neji's will, and had it not been for the unfortunate news he had received the day before he would have more than likely stayed without this much fuss.

He supposed he could kill two birds with one stone and investigate just what Lord Fourth had left behind besides newborn with a beast. It was truly just a couple of days. Less than a week even, he rationalized.

"Very well. I will be there."

"It is much appreciated, Naruto. Truly." Neji spoke, bowing slightly to Naruto as his face warmed slightly. He hated the formality of being bowed to.

"And your family, Sasuke?"

"We shall attend of course. My family holds you and the future Lady Tenten in high regard."

Now it was Neji's turn to be bashful, the first time hearing his future lady's title catching him off-guard and he gripped his cane tighter. "My family appreciates that. Please expect a formal invitation later this evening. Naruto, where should I send yours?"

Naruto jerked his face towards Sasuke. "I am staying with him for the time being. Anything should be sent to his home until I leave."

Neji nodded. "Very well then. A pleasure to run into you gentlemen. Good day." He bid his farewell to both men and took his leave.

Naruto sighed and glanced curiously at Sasuke, the timeline just now clicking into his head. "Do you believe his explanation?"

"Well," Sasuke began, "Being that he's from a noble family who recently went through an unpleasant plight, the town folk will likely believe his family's explanation."

Naruto raised his eyebrows. "So you do not?"

"Not at all."

Naruto smirked, for the first time that day forgetting his worries. "Uptight Sir Neji has a rebellious side I see."

Author's Note: As always, many thanks who have reviewed, faved, and followed. Your contributions give me lots of energy 😊 Especially big thank you to those who have been reviewing each chapter (Kakau and Crinightnight) you are both amazing! And it's so good to hear that folks want a festive ball 😊 (we shall see it in a few chapters).

Future updates will be sporadic from now on. Since the last update there have been a ton of mental health issues with my family that have made the previously weekly schedule too rigorous and impossible. I am only now getting to a place in which updating is possible. I appreciate everyone's patience with this. I do want folks to know that this story will not go unfinished! Just that many breaks will be needed as I carefully go through all the events that I have in mind for this.

Big thanks again for the faves, follows, and reviews. Next chapter is in the works.