Chapter Six
Sakura had mixed feelings about being back at the Konoha Investigation Bureau. During the height of its operations, she'd run the group's private clinic for agents investigating the Fatal Lust Crisis. She'd spent late nights patching up the teams and desperately waiting to hear word on Sasuke for a year. With the end of the crisis and the Fourth Shinobi War, she'd been a medical consultant for the Bureau on and off.
Sai, Ino, Sasuke, Itachi, Hinata, and Konohamaru sat at the conference table in a half-circle. "Okay," Naruto stood in front of a white board in the conference room the disparate group shared. "Let's start with the cold case of Ichika Hyūga. Who wants to go first?"
Sasuke raised a hand, "Father at least verbally agrees that it was not a natural death, and he did suspect Hattori Hyūga of murdering his wife."
"And he suspected him in Yukio's death," Itachi added. "However, he had no insight into the three dead maids."
"In both cases, the motive seems to be preventing a scandal of some type," Sakura spoke up.
"We clearly have means and opportunity with Yukio," Naruto scribbled on the board, "what about with Ichika?"
"That is where we hit a dead end, I'm afraid," Sasuke spoke up.
"So," Naruto made a triangle to connect the different legs of the investigation, "we can provide reason for suspicion, but we lack anything to prove murder."
"What about murder weapon?" Hinata asked in a soft voice.
"What about it?" Naruto asked.
"In both cases, poison, right?" she asked.
"Sakura, fair assessment?" Naruto asked.
"If the wasp sting was intentional, yes, it would be considered poisoning." Sakura answered. "What about it?"
"Grandfather liked to have his cake and eat it, too," she said, leaning back in her chair. "He didn't like getting his own hands dirty, and he savored taking revenge without the possibility of facing repercussions." There is a happy bit of information. How the hell was he ever related to you, Hinata?
"I could understand digitalis poisoning," Sakura added, "highly effective and easy to brush off as an accident. But…"
"But what?" Naruto asked.
"What about the wasp with Ichika?" she shrugged, "Her medical record shows no history of known allergies." She shrugged, "She had no prior attacks of anaphalaxis. It would make a strange, possibly unreliable murder weapon."
"Is it possible one was murdered and the other was truly an accident?" Konohamaru asked.
"Possible, but still suspicious," Sai added.
"Sai, Ino, did the search of records show anything?" Sakura asked.
"We found no record of any abortions we could link to illegitimate children fathered by Hattori," Ino answered.
"It doesn't matter," Hinata shook her head, "he would have used someone unofficial."
"Sakura, I don't suppose we have any way of digging up doctors with discipline for unsanctioned procedures?"
"I'll see what I can find, but if he were smart, he wouldn't have used someone in Konoha."
Naruto nodded then turned to Sai and Ino, "What about illegitimate born children?" Naruto asked.
"Same problem," Sai answered, "no living illegitimate children we could link that closely with the Hyūga Clan or members of its domestic staff. We checked all prominent clans, then narrowed in the five-year period either side of the murders."
"And then we checked the rest of the list just to be sure," Ino shook her head. "If there was some connection, it's well-buried."
"Why kill the maids?" Sakura asked, and the room fell silent. "Assuming they were murdered to look like suicide, why kill the maids? They were each penniless and had no family or connections that made them dangerous if a scandal erupted. For that matter, why the deception, why not make it look like a robbery gone bad?"
Naruto stared first at Sakura and then to Hinata, "Hinata, you knew him better than any of us, any insight?"
Hinata sighed, chewing her thumb for a moment, "I didn't know Grandpa all that well, but he was extremely protective of our family's abilities. The Byakugan is a strange thing, like Sharringan, it falls into an odd place between being a dominant or recessive trait, and it doesn't always manifest at birth."
"So, he kills them to keep it from falling outside of the family," Konohamaru spoke up. "Why not just force them to have an abortion or give the baby up?"
"It gets complicated, Konohamaru," Sakura explained. "Some women can be protective of the unborn." She shrugged, "Plus, it's possible they were trying to blackmail him or something else."
"Maybe that was what got Ichika killed," Ino added. "Imagine the scandal of not only having conceived an illegitimate child, but also having murdered the mother carrying that child."
"Hinata," Naruto turned to his fiancé, "assuming your grandmother had proof of some kind, what would a scandal like that do to the clan leadership?"
Hinata considered, "I mean, something as big as three murders, assuming there was a credible witness or some forensic evidence, the clan elders would vote to expel the clan leader and pass succession to the next heir – my father." Hinata traced her lip with a considering finger. "There is also the chance a cadet branch could rally the elders to disinherit the main branch from succession."
"Wait a…" Naruto's face warped in horrid realization, "… that would explain why she didn't go to the police."
"Why?" Sakura asked.
"Her murder happened sometime in the timeframe of a clan meeting, right?"
Sasuke and Itachi exchanged a look, "That is what Father's report said," Itachi spoke.
"She threatened him, maybe she demands he steps down or announces her intention to report him to the police, or maybe she threatens to expose the secret before the clan elders," Naruto said.
"But that would risk Hiashi and Hizashi being disinherited," Sakura said.
"Maybe her plan was to die," Naruto rubbed his chin. "The morning she died, she gave Hiashi her engagement ring, told him she had no use for it."
"With her dead, there would be no evidence to prosecute the murdered maids, assuming she had evidence," Sai added.
"But her murder," Sakura nodded, "her murder might leave enough evidence."
"And the clan would likely be more sympathetic to my father and uncle in that situation," Hinata spoke in realization.
"There is only one problem…" Naruto shook his head in frustration, "… I can't damn well prove it!"
"The evidence is there," Sasuke spoke, "and I'm sure it's here somewhere," he gestured to the casefile on the table. "Perhaps, we should change gears and attack our next issue."
Naruto turned the whiteboard around and wrote Hinata's name in the center. "All right, let's pool what we know. Hinata, when did the stalker first start sending letters?"
"First letter came in August, most recent was only a few days ago."
"Whomever it was made a pass at her at Ichiraku Ramen three days ago," Sakura continued.
"Why didn't he take her then?" Konohamaru asked. "You said it happened after Naruto left, and he was able to suppress your chakra such that you couldn't teleport via Flying Thunder God Technique. Even I would have had a fair chance at taking her down in that situation."
"Perhaps," Sasuke spoke, "our quarry is only so formidable. He may have a unique weakness to Gentle Fist or some other ability Hinata possesses."
"He also waited until I was gone. Maybe he's not much stronger than a plain-Jane shinobi," Naruto crossed his arms, not sounding convinced.
"He also didn't make a second pass while we all were there," Sai added. "Perhaps he would be evenly matched by us otherwise."
"Something doesn't sound right about that," Ino's voice came haunted. "Time-space jutsu, are considerably difficult to learn. If he could master it, then he'd stand to be a lot more powerful than some creep looking in a window."
"But then…" Hinata seemed to deflate in on herself, "… why the ruse? Why not just take me from my bed in the middle of the night? Especially now – he put everyone on guard."
A troubling ache crawled up Sakura's back, "Stalkers tend to create their own fantasy world," she spoke with a dead voice. She stared at Hinata, feeling the stone sinking within her stomach as she resumed, "This person isn't thinking logically, at least not a hundred percent. Stalkers with romantic or sexual fixations tend to want the victim to want them and cannot accept any situation to the contrary." She stared coldly at her friend, "Hinata, he wants you to come to him willingly. He wants you to give yourself to him."
"That's absurd!" Naruto exclaimed.
"To us, yes," Sakura stared at Naruto wide-eyed and nodded. "To him, he's supremely confident that Hinata wants to be with him in spite of all the protection around her. He already owns her."
"But… how?" Hinata strained, "… I'd never give myself to anyone else!"
"Yeah, big sis wouldn't be with anyone but Naruto!" Konohamaru added.
Sakura sat back in her chair, "Ino," she turned to the telepathic girl.
Ino closed her eyes in contemplation, "It comes down to one of three things. One, he imagines he has some kind of leverage over Hinata which he doesn't have and can't get." She raised her thumb, "Two, he intends to force some kind of leverage on Hinata – some kind of threat to something or someone she cares about, including herself." Ino ticked out another finger, "Three, he already has some leverage that we are unaware of, and he's setting things up to spring it." Ino raised another finger.
The room fell silent. All three scenarios carried the potential for danger, but the possibility that they were walking into some elaborate trap already in motion scared Sakura to her core. Orochimaru had sat back and waited patiently for months, letting this group deal with the brunt of the threat Kaguya and Ten-Tails had posed. When the threat was gone, he sprang his trap, and Naruto and Sasuke both nearly died as a result.
"Boss," Konohamaru's optimistic voice was alien to the otherwise dour mood hanging in the air, "we need to get this guy, and fast!"
"Agreed," Naruto nodded, "but how?"
"You're not going to like this," the boy tented his hands, "but we need to draw his eye, and get him to make a mistake."
"How do you propose we do that?" Sakura asked, annoyed. Konohamaru tended to speak without considering what he was going to say.
The boy swallowed, staring at Hinata and then Naruto, "Boss, we make him think he's following Hinata, but instead it's another member of our group – like Hanabi disguised in a transformation justu."
Sakura was mildly impressed. Crazy as it sounds, it is not a horrible idea. "Absolutely not," Naruto spoke up, shaking his head.
"Boss, why not?" Konohamaru balked. "I can imitate you perfectly, and she can easily imitate Hinata!"
"Konohamaru," Naruto spoke deep with authority, "that is incredibly dangerous!"
"And guarding Mom isn't!" Konohamaru vented.
"Boys!" Sakura interrupted. "I agree," she spoke in a measured tone, "it may have its flaws, but Konohamaru's plans are not necessarily bad in concept."
"I'm not putting someone else in danger to protect myself!" Hinata replied, indignant.
"Hinata," Ino spoke, "using a decoy might be the only way to draw him off and take the pressure off you."
"It is a viable solution," Sai nodded.
"It is a ludicrous one," Sasuke spoke in protest. "Neither Konohamaru nor Hanabi has the experience we have…"
"And how the hell am I supposed to get any experience!" the boy shouted, "Dammit, you're not the only shinobi in this village! Let someone else have a turn! I've been to war for this village, not against it!"
"KONOHAMARU!" Naruto, Hinata, and Sakura shouted in unison. Sakura's hand clenched into a fist, but she resisted the urge to charge across the table and punch the boy square in the mouth.
"It's all right…" Sasuke replied with a ruffled tone, raising a hand. "He does have a point."
"I… I… I meant nothing by it!" Konohamaru protested.
"Perhaps," Itachi interrupted, "we should reconvene another day. Tensions seem to be running a bit high." A chorus of affirmations came up.
Konohamaru knew he was in trouble before he got in the door. Lord Minato was sitting on the couch, with his hands tented once he got inside. Great, here is where I'm grounded to the next year! In the few times his adoptive parents had to discipline him, Konohamaru had rarely needed anything but a stern talking to followed by a "Yes, sir!," to get out of it. "Konohamaru, may we talk for a bit?" Minato patted the couch next to him.
No getting out of it, take it like a man! "Yes, sir," he said as he sat beside Minato, crossing his arms defensive.
"So, how did the meeting go?" Minato asked.
"Just come out and say it, I screwed up, big time!" Konohamaru found himself in no mood to beat around the bushes.
"I'll admit, you could have handled it better," Minato shrugged, "but that's not what I want to talk about."
"It isn't?" Konohamaru swallowed. While he could admit he was insensitive, incredibly insensitive to Sasuke, the thought of being in trouble for something else chilled him to his toes. Crap, did he see me take Mom's Kunoichi's Secret catalog?!
"Konohamaru, tell me about Hanabi," Dad spoke, almost sounding amused.
"What… about… her…" Konohamaru spoke reluctant to give away evidence of something he was yet to be accused of.
"You two have been hanging out, a lot lately," Minato sat back on the couch, "It doesn't take a genius to see things going on."
"What… sort of things…"
Minato dropped the act and crossed his arms, "Akemi called. Apparently, she walked in on you and Hanabi making out in the clan leader's dojo."
"Dad, Naruto and Hinata were younger than either of us when they first had kissy time!" Konohamaru protested.
"True enough," Minato admitted, but Konohamaru didn't exactly feel like he was off the hook. "Son, you are fourteen, just on the cusp of being a man."
"But?" he knew there was a complication.
"But nothing," Minato shrugged, "the final steps of becoming a man from being a boy can be fraught with challenges and confusion." He stared with his sapphires, "I'm guessing that is where some of the argument you and your brother had came from tonight?"
"Dad, I've been his friend since he was a student! We've been brothers for almost three years! He doesn't trust me! Is he ever going to?!" Konohamaru vented his frustrations. Is he ever going to see me as something other than a tagalong little kid!
"It ain't about trust!" Minato said firmly, "Trust me, it's not that, or you wouldn't have been on Mom's bodyguard detail – a position you've served diligently at."
"Then what?"
"It's called risk management," Dad raised his index finger, "something you'll learn all about when you get to be my age!" he chuckled.
"I'm serious, Dad!" Konohamaru crossed his arms in a pout.
"So am I," he stilled his laughter, "Konohamaru, had it been my decision, you, Hanabi, and your Mom would have spent the war at Mount Myoboku."
"What?!" Konohamaru balked. "What the hell?"
"As the Hokage, I would have deemed you too high-risk targets to have near the front, especially with me out in front." He sat back into the couch, "Of course, fate had other things in store for all of us."
"Dad… why?!" Konohamaru's voice shook between confusion and indignance.
"Because son, I had just sent one son into mortal peril," he shook his head, "a couple times. At least a few times with near disastrous results." Minato stared with tears forming in his eyes, "I let Naruto in on the action during the Konoha Crush despite knowing he was sick. I let him go to Blood Prison and nearly watched him die in front of me!"
Konohamaru froze in horror as the man he admired like a father, Minato Namikaze, Fourth Hokage, and the Yellow Flash of the Hidden Leaf broke down and sobbed like a child with a torn stuffed animal. "D-Dad, come on, don't do this!" he put his arms around the former Hokage.
"I nearly got my son killed, Konohamaru!" he wept. "Just like what I did to Obito!"
"You did what you had to!" Konohamaru protested, "You prevented a greater tragedy from unfolding that could have killed millions." Konohamaru found it difficult to speak about the man who had killed millions, including Konohamaru's grandmother, "As for Obito, he died in that cavern and let himself turn into that twisted mess he became! IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT!"
"I left Rin unprotected because I thought she and Kakashi could protect themselves!" Minato's tears spilled heavy, unabated.
"They were shinobi! You had a mission given to you by your Hokage, my grandfather! Your village needed you and her death was deeper than a simple kidnapping gone wrong!"
"And you're that same age now!" Minato cleared his tears. "What they became happened at this same phase in their lives! That is why we're so scared of letting you go on such dangerous assignments now."
"I'm not Obito, Dad!" he protested. "I've trained with Mom since I was an academy student! It won't happen!"
"I sincerely hope not," Dad composed himself. "That's why it's so important that we talk now. I never got to have this talk with Obito, and he had no one to give it to him."
Konhamaru sank back in the couch, feeling like a superficial jerk for having been upset earlier. "You're not talking about the talk are you?" his cheeks burned at the thought of discussing it with anyone.
"Konohamaru, your mom kept you at her side in the field because that was where she felt it was safest. We agreed to let you shadow Naruto for this assignment because it was a learning opportunity for you. You're growing faster than Naruto did in some ways!"
Minato paused, staring with the weight of being Hokage and a father, "Son, when boys become a certain age, they do things seeking to prove they are men, that they will be great ninja. Please, I know you'll be a great ninja! Just, don't ask us to put you in danger unnecessarily." He paused again, "And don't ask Naruto to put you in that position."
"Dad, come on."
"Son, lie to me, and tell me you aren't thinking of impressing Hanabi," Dad commanded.
"I…" Shit! "All right fine! I was hoping she'd take greater notice of me! Big deal!"
"Yes, big deal," Minato regained some of his amusement, "and she is taking greater notice of you if what Akemi walked in on was anything to judge."
"Oh, come on! It was just some kissing!"
"You're also turning fifteen at the end of the year," Minato reminded, "a year after that, you will be a man according to our customs and our laws." He shook his head, "This isn't my first time being down this road, ya know!" Dad winked as he imitated Mom's verbal tic.
"All right, so hit me with it," Konohamaru sighed.
"Well, judging by you're rather extensive collection, I'm sure you know what goes where by now!" Minato chuckled.
"YOU FOUND THAT!" All color drained from Konohamaru.
"It wasn't hard to find, and I understand most guys retain such materials, but that is beside the point. You do know what you were taught in school, right?"
"Yes, Dad," Konohamaru sighed, "I remember well."
"Good, then we can skip that part and talk about something they didn't make clear – staying respectable."
"Respectable?"
"Konohamaru, like I said, young men of a certain age can be tempted to do things to prove their manhood – sometimes questionable things." Minato stared with his blue eyes, "Just remember, until the day you turn sixteen, you're underage, and until Hanabi turns sixteen, she is still underage."
"I get that part," he replied.
"And when that time comes," Minato cleared his throat, "there are a few other rules." He smirked with ghoulish delight.
"Like?' Konohamaru cocked up an eyebrow.
"For one, if she says, 'Stop, I don't want to, or Don't touch me there, asshole,'" Minato smirked for full effect, "It means game over, player one."
"The fact that you're quoting someone disturbs me," Konohamaru squirmed in his seat.
"Jiraiya's encounters with women didn't always end well," Minato quipped. "The point is, if she's not on board, don't force the issue."
"I got it, can we have dinner now," Konohamaru grumbled.
"Oh, we're just getting started," Minato bared his pearly whites, "For two, they did teach you about protection at the Academy, right?"
"DAD!" Konohamaru yelped.
"Dude, you've changed Akane a few times," Minato poked him with his elbow, "Imagine nothing but that for several years!"
"I may consider a vow of celibacy!" Konohamaru said mortified as flash memories of changing soiled diapers overcame him.
"A one-night stand may last until morning, but syphilis will last a lifetime," Minato winked, "You know who told me that?" he giggled.
"Let me guess, Jiraiya?"
"Your grandfather," Minato winked again.
Something about Grandfather being mentioned froze Konohamaru in his seat. Almost six years had passed, and he still didn't know how to feel about the man. On one hand, he was the greatest ninja of his time, a mentor to several generations, and was more of a father at times than Konohamaru's real father had been. On the other, grandpa had kept many secrets. He'd let Orochimaru slip away, possibly dooming the village to the events of the Konoha Crush and some of the events of the Fourth Shinobi War. He'd also kept his cancer from everyone, as well as his plan to die trying to take out Orochimaru.
"Son, are you okay?" Minato asked.
"Yeah," he shook his head, "just thinking about Grandpa."
"I lost my Dad at the same age you lost him," Minato shook his head, "I know the feeling."
"Does it ever get easier?" Konohamaru sighed, embarrassed at feeling so emotional so many years later.
"Easier, no," Minato shook his head, "you learn after a while to make peace with the person you lost – the good, and the bad."
"The good and the bad," Konohamaru sighed. Man, who knew growing up would be so complicated!
Temari bounced a young Mito Sarutobi in her arms as Lee and Guy pulled the rickshaw with inhuman speed. Hidden Leaf shinobi were all trained with some semblance of domestic arts – including basic childcare. Missions for Konoha genin could include babysitting or providing protective details for children of VIPs. The military focus of the Hidden Sands program meant that Temari had no such training.
"You're a natural, trust me," Tsunade chuckled as they rode along.
"You think so?"
"Think, you're doing better than I was," she smirked as she bounced young Hiruzen, "I had not knack for pediatrics, and after losing Dan and Kawaki, I had no desire to have children of my own."
"A happy little accident?" Temari asked. While nowhere near as close to Tsunade as some of the other Kunoichi, Temari knew her by reputation and respected the Legendary Sannin.
"I can't say that I was happy when I found out," she eyed her children, "but I am happy to have them." She rubbed her stomach, "and their future siblings."
"Siblings?!" Temari exclaimed, "You're pregnant again?!"
"Apparently being a Senju makes me exceedingly fertile," she explained, "Between that and incredibly long lifespan, I could easily bear children for another twenty years."
And you couldn't even handle one. Temari tried to hide the sour thought, but Tsunade read her plain as day. "I assuming children is part of the reason you wanted to come back to Konoha?"
"Maternal mortality is a common theme in my family, Tsuande," Temari said without affect, "Both of my grandmothers died in childbirth, my mother died in childbirth…"
"And you're worried you might die in childbirth as well," Tsunade completed the thought.
"Part of it," she stared at Tsunade, "I'd ask if you've ever lost something precious, but I know the answer all too well."
"What's the other part of it?" Tsunade's coppery eyes probed as she continued to bounce her son.
"Aside from the fact that maternal care is significantly better developed in Konoha, there is also the White Kitsune." She left more unsaid, and Tsunade nodded for her to continue. "Then there was the security risk."
"Security risk?" Tsunade leaned her head to the side.
"Tsunade," she paused bouncing Mito, "I didn't tell Shikamaru, but his life was in danger."
"Go on," concern chiseled into Tsunade's face.
"Tsunade, I had several suitors, members of very powerful clans, before Shikamaru and I got married…" Temari's throat tightened, choking the words
"Yes, dear," Tsunade placed a hand on her shoulder, "let it out."
"Several of those clans made efforts to eliminate Shikamaru," she sighed in embarrassment. "There was a reason we stayed at the Oasis so much versus the Hidden Sands Village."
"Why would they do that?" Tsunade massaged Temari's shoulder.
"If he were to die, custom in Suna dictates that I would remarry," Temari's shoulders sagged, "While Gaara probably wouldn't make an issue of it, I didn't think it was safe for Shikamaru… that and I…"
"Yes?"
"I wanted to come back to Konoha," she again sighed. "Lady Nara is the closest thing I've ever had to a mom since my mom died. I… I feel safe here," she looked down at Tsunade's daughter, wondering how things would have gone over had she had a baby in Suna.
"There is no shame in going to your safe place, Temari," Tsunade reassured her.
"I'm a warrior," she exclaimed, "I hate running away."
"I was a warrior once, too, I ran away for many of the same reasons. Do you think less of me?" Tsunade smirked.
"Lady Tsunade, you're one of the Legendary Sannin…"
"And you're one of the legends of your generation," Tsunade cut her off, "hell, men would kill for the chance to wed and bed you!"
"That's not a good thing per se," Temari replied with wry pursing of her lips.
"And despite being legends, we both have our damage," Tsunade continued. "Do you know why I left the village for so long?"
"Your lover, the man before Jiraiya died in your arms," Temari said with carefully measured words.
"No, that wasn't why," she shrugged, "at least, not all of it."
Temari shifted with Mito, the toddler blissfully unaware of what was being discussed. "Then what was it?"
"Temari, I was a warrior, much as you still are. I got sick of killing, sick of being saddled with the chance of having to cut someone's throat… sick of everything I did contributing to death."
"You were a great medic," Temari protested, "your research into poison antidotes…"
"Was used to fuel chemical weapons research," Tsunade raised an index finger to stop Temari. "Thousands, maybe millions died because of that research, Temari, and I helped create it!"
"Tsunade, that research was done to save lives; I know that part of history. You weren't involved in weaponizing it!"
"Obito Uchiha didn't kill most of the people during the war, the Zetsu did. Does that absolve him of guilt?"
"I fed intelligence on the Hidden Leaf for months before the Konoha crush, before Shikamaru turned me," Temari hadn't considered the implication until now, "I could still have the blood of many on my hands, too. Does that make me a monster!"
"No," Tsunade's tone softened, "that is my point." She adjusted Hiruzen in her arms, the boy having fallen asleep. "And running away from it regardless doesn't make you a coward."
"I'm running from home…"
"To a different home," Tsunade corrected. "It was the same when I decided to stay after Minato called me back. I was where I was needed, where I belonged."
The gate came into view, "So, you're saying this is where I belong?"
"From what I understand, your best work was while you were here," Tsunade reminded.
Temari remembered coming back to Konoha after her friend Aiko was killed by Fatal Lust traffickers. The whirlwind year, she'd shared a bed with Shikamaru, had multiple near-death experiences between them, had busted the Venom Scorpions, and had gotten married. When she'd left last time, she was only transitioning from a wheelchair to a walker, and she couldn't raise her arm over her shoulder. As the rickshaw pulled up to the gate, she finally allowed herself to smile, "Welcome home."
Kushina rubbed her eyes as she began closing the office down for the night. She stared out the window, looking to the sprawling village beyond. When she'd first come to Konoha, the village was not even half the size it was now. She looked out beyond, to Hokage Rock. There her face stood beside the faces of her four predecessors. "Quite a sight, even after seeing it for years, eh?" Kakashi said as he, too admired the monument.
"Oh, yes," Kushina bit her lip. While certainly a memorable place, Kushina still vividly remembered the stone monument for a less than sterling reason: it had been the first place she'd made love to Minato. On the anniversary of Minato becoming Hokage, they'd made love atop each of the stone renderings in the late hours of night. On their most recent anniversary, they had finally done it atop her own stone rendering. It might be a bit much when Kakashi is finally up there! She felt sore after remembering what it had been like with only five renderings.
"Lord Hokage, your son and Lady Hinata are here with your daughter," the intercom buzzed.
She pressed the reply button, "Send them in." Naruto and Hinata entered, Hinata holding little Akane. "Hi baby!" Kushina ran to her daughter and kissed her on the cheek.
"Mommy!" Akane cheered as Hinata transferred her to Kushina's waiting arms.
"And how is my other baby?" she wrapped her free arm around Naruto and kissed him on his whiskered cheek.
"Mom, I'm not a baby!" he whined.
"You're still my baby boy!" she laughed then turned to Hinata, "And you'll aways be like a daughter to me, Hinata!" they exchanged embraces.
"Thanks Lord Fifth," Hinata smiled as they let go.
"Kushina, Hinata, ya know!" she bounced Akane. "So, how did the meeting go?"
"We're currently in a rock and a hard place all around – pretty much a dead end for now." Naruto sighed. "Plus, Konohamaru suggested we let him and Hanabi sub in for us to throw off the stalker."
"I'm sure you'll put two and two together; I did have your father talk to Konohamaru, by the way."
"It isn't the most tactically unsound idea the boy has had," Kakashi said.
"If it comes to it," Kushina turned to her future successor, "then we'll consider it. For now, I agree with Naruto that it's too dangerous." She turned back to Naruto, "Thanks for taking Akane to let your dad give Konohamaru the talk, by the way."
"Mom, there is a slight update on that," Naruto said with stain audible in his voice.
"Oh, is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, nothing," Hinata answered. "Kushina, being that the nursery at the Hyūga Compound is not currently in use, I thought Naruto and I should look after her there for now – especially with my recent security concerns."
"Not at your apartment, Naruto?" Kushina baited, "I mean, I don't want to impose, Hinata."
"Mom," Naruto scratched the back of his head, "The apartment may not be mine much longer…"
"Oh?"
"I named Naruto my advisor and part of my security detail for the foreseeable future," Hinata added. "He'll be staying at the Hyūga Compound more often than not."
Translation, "I'm playing house with Naruto until we actually get married, and we're asking your blessing." Kushina truly didn't mind. The fact the two were taking this step suggested they were setting a date soon. "Ah, I see," Kushina rubbed her chin and smirked. "I suppose the nursery is better than that tiny apartment."
An unwelcome interruption changed the mood. "Lady Hokage, sorry to bother you," the intercom buzzed, "Lord Jiraiya and several others are here. The say it is urgent."
Shit, if Jiraiya says it's urgent, the world is usually coming to an end! She walked back to the desk and again hit the reply button, "Send them in," she said grimly.
The doors opened and Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shikamaru, Temari, and the twins all entered. "Hey!" Naruto charged first at Jiraiya and Tsunade, wrapping both in a wide embrace. He then greeted Shikamaru and Temari the same, "I thought I'd never see you two again!"
"Hey," Kushina exchanged pleasantries with Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the babies, "looking good, both of you!"
"You're the one, looking good, cousin," Tsunade said.
"So, I hate to ask, what brings you here so urgently?" Kushina asked.
"He does," Jiraiya pointed a thumb to Shikamaru.
"Buddy, what's up?" Naruto asked. Kushina noted the dour look on Shikamaru's face.
"There is… no easy way of saying this," he hesitated, "something is causing the moon to fall out of orbit."
The statement was so unbelievable that Kushina almost laughed. "Oh, that's a good one, pal!" Naruto slapped his friend on the shoulder. Shikamaru's deadpan response chilled Kushina. "Umm… that was a joke, right?" Naruto asked with growing apprehension filling his voice.
"I wish," Shikamaru said, "the orbit has been decaying since August."
"August?" Hinata gasped.
"By my calculations, the moon is well below is perigee, which wasn't supposed to happen until early December. If the rate of decay continues, it will impact the earth sometime around then, instead."
"Shikamaru," Kushina asked, "just how sure are you about this?" She clung Akane closer to her, feeling the weight of a recent intelligence briefing on her shoulder as she exchanged a quick glance at Kakashi.
"Pretty sure, but I need two independent observatories to verify my data," he replied. "There is the one here at the Academy, and I was going to go to the observatory on Anami Island to the other…"
"Cancel your plans," she said with all seriousness returning to her voice.
"Mom, what's going on?" Naruto asked deep with concern.
"I'll call the observatory on Anami Island to verify your concerns; how much data do you need?"
"Two, three nights of observation should work," Shikamaru shrugged.
"You have free reign of the Academy Observatory, and I'll have you coordinate with Anami Observatory. If you're right, time is critical!"
"Mom?" Naruto asked a bit more insistent.
"Naruto, this may have something to do with what is happening with Hinata, and…"
"And?" Hinata asked.
"An intelligence expedition to the Land of Sound recently uncovered what we think was the Akatsuki's base from before the war. Madara Uchiha may have been there, and Orochimaru certain was."
"You're thinking something like the Zetsu or Kaguya's people?" Tsunade asked.
"Do we know of anything else that could move the moon?" Kushina asked.
"When do we leave?" Naruto asked.
"I'll need to discretely contact the Shinobi Union on this," Kushina replied as she gently rocked her daughter on her arm. "That area is politically sensitive for teams to enter."
"Kushina," Kakashi spoke, "given the unusual series of situations, would it not be wise to consider halting the transition in power?" He shook his head, "While I'll support any decision you make, an emergency of this scale seems a bad time to change Hokages."
Kushina stared at Kakashi, then to Naruto and Hinata, and finally to her daughter, "How about, one thing at a time," she said. "Let's first assess the problem before we make that decision."
Author's notes: Hi everyone, apologies for being late posting this. I was sick since last week and am only now getting over it. Sadly, being was not conducive to writing, and the chapter changed significantly as a result. Fear not, anything meant for the story will be here. I thank you all for your patience; I know this story is not moving as fast as the last two.
That said, I do need your help, and this is your chance to influence future events. I posted a poll to my profile regarding the eventually transition in power between Kushina to Kakashi. I greatly appreciate the feedback. Again, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed. I'll see next chapter. Until then, stay healthy and stay safe!