Chapter Thirty-Seven

The Hokage's chair was still too large as far as Kakashi was concerned. Earlier this week, Kushina insisted he be fitted for his own regalia, and she had to drag him along like a petulant child. Even Akane was better behaved through the process despite being bored as hell. Get over it. The change off happens this March whether you like it or not. If you truly didn't want the job you should have spent the last few years getting someone else ready. By now, it wasn't the issue of feeling unready. Kakashi dreaded the responsibility of giving orders that could end in disaster. The ghosts of Rin and Obito stood over his shoulder as he thought about what Lord Third had done to Father, over the thought of needing to do the same to Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, or one of their friends.

"Lord Kakashi," the secretary buzzed through the intercom, "the Sarutobis are here."

"Send them in," he said as he pushed the reply button. As he shifted in the chair, Kakashi caught the faintest glimmer of a smirk from Kushina as she sat beside him. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," she giggled, "Lord Hokage!"

"You're enjoying this way too much," he shook his head.

"Kakashi, every mother wants to see her son succeed; you've been like a son to me since you started training with my husband. My only regret is that I didn't do for you what I've done for Konohamaru."

At the mention of the boy, his parents came through the door. "Lord Kushina, Lord Kakashi," Reo and Sara both bowed in respect.

Kushina and Kakashi both rose and returned the bow. "Reo, Sara, to what do we owe the pleasure," Kakashi asked as he gestured for the two to have a seat.

"We have come to tender our resignation as ANBU operatives," Sara said.

"I see," Kakashi nodded, "I cannot say that I blame you. Both of you have served diligently for close to thirty years – a long time for ANBU." It was an understatement; there were no old ANBU. Every year, operatives had to pass the same rigorous physical fitness test they had to pass as recruits or face mandatory retirement. Now on the cusp of middle age, the two had outlasted all of their class and several classes that had come since. End of an era.

"It will be… and adjustment," Reo added. Despite only being a few years older than Asuma, Reo wore a mask of worry lines that would have easily matched Lord Third in his final days. Reo's short cropped brown hair was also salted with streaks of grey and silver where he had once been dark brown.

"I am hoping the two of you might take some time to try bonding with him now that he's again actively training for the Iron Shinobi competition," Kushina added.

"If he'll let us," Sara shook her head. Even going onto a year later, Konohamaru hadn't fully reconciled with his parents.

"You should consider joining him and Minato at Mount Myoboku," Kakashi suggested. "I'm sure he and Minato would appreciate having two former ANBU operatives assisting in preparations for the big tournament."

"Yes," Kushina tented her hands the way Minato did, "What a splendid idea!" She grinned her mischievous fox-grin, "I'll let them both know after I finish with my meeting we have. Unless," she paused, "you aren't up for an extended vacation?"

"I haven't been on a vacation in years," Reo shook his head.

"Dear, maybe it's time we do so, before we get too old to do anything with our son?"

"Indeed," Reo nodded, "By the way, is it true he's planning on moving into Naruto's old apartment?"

"That's still up in the air, but I think he'd like to," Kushina answered. "From what I gather, he's getting at the age where he's trying to find out what it is to be a man."

"Consider next year, he will be a man," Sara reminded the group. She shook her head, "I miss my little boy so much."

"Well," Kakashi clasped his hands together, "perhaps this summer and fall will give you the chance to make up for lost time."

"Lord Kushina, Lord Kakashi," the intercom buzzed, "Your next appointment is here."

"Give us just a minute," Kushina pressed the button in reply. "I wish I had time to go with you all, " she turned back to the Sarutobis, "but sadly, we have other business."

"Of course," Reo and Sara bowed and left.

Naruto and Hinata entered the room, wearing their usual mission gear. Kakashi noticed the wrinkled appearance of both outfits, suggesting the couple had disrobed only to rerobe quickly. "How was the dress fitting?" Kakashi asked.

"Perfect," Hinata held out her phone with a photo of her in the dress.

"Oh my," Kushina blushed, "I see my little boy is about to be a very lucky man!"

"Mom!" Naruto protested.

"Oh come on Naruto," Kakashi laid in thick, "you wouldn't deny your mom a last few months of embarrassing you before she officially hands you off to Hinata!"

"Whose side are you on?!" Naruto whined.

"The same side you are, my own side!" Kakashi laughed as only an uncle and mentor could. "Now then, if you two could take a seat, we'll get started."

The two took a seat. "So, Lord Fifth, Lord Sixth," Hinata spoke, "to what do we owe the honor."

"Hinata, that title is still not official," Kakashi reminded

"Sensei, very soon, it will be," she raised a hand and an index finger, much like Kushina would. "Isn't it time to be ready for it?"

"Perhaps," Kakashi said, "we should attend to business first." He handed them both folders marked: "Unrestricted Level Only."

"This has to do with the Ōtsutsuki, doesn't it?" Naruto's face pursed like he'd bitten into a lemon.

"Yes and no," Kushina answered, "Your friend Shikamaru and his wife have been undercover since shortly after we got back from the Land of the Whirlpools."

"I was wondering what was so damn important that he couldn't even call," Naruto opened the folder, as did Hinata."

"So, this is where those suicide vest things came from," Hinata said.

Kakashi nodded, "It seems Kara Corps has been illegally manufacturing scientific ninja tools since the treaty banning them went into place. While they maintain a legal front, they manufacture and sell this shit to the highest bidder."

"It gets worse," Kushina added, "They are doing genetic research of some type. Shikamaru is of the impression that this man," she handed them a photo of Dr. Amando Sanzu, "has been using the remains recovered from the Land of Whirlpools to try and fill in genetic gaps in a strange hybrid of clones and cyborgs."

"Clones?" Naruto asked.

"Not like shadow clones," Kakashi explained. "He's trying to create a carbon copy of his deceased daughter."

"That's crazy!" Hinata exclaimed, "even a perfect genetic match would never be identical to the original."

"He's potentially crazy, if Shikamaru is right," Kushina added. "He's been trying to circumvent that issue with the use of cybernetics. And…"

"And what?" Hinata asked.

"And the cyborgs are potentially infected with a familial prion disease," Kakashi explained

"A what?!" Naruto cocked up an eyebrow.

"It's a condition similar to Mad Cow Disease," Hinata spoke low and concerned, "but it is in humans, and it is passed along genetically. The victim suffers rapid onset mental and neurologic decline and usually dies within a year of first symptoms." Hinata exchanged troubled looks with everyone, "Even if he somehow could transfer his daughter's memories, her mind would not be the same; at best she'd be a mannequin that could walk and talk, assuming she doesn't die of the same disease."

"In any case," Kushina spoke up, "he's playing god with something that could potentially have world-ending consequences. We think the Otsutsuki are trying to get him to unlock the Omnipotence ability from that bone they recovered in the Land of Whirlpools.

"And you sent Shikamaru to investigate."

A shocked look came over Hinata. "Oh my god," Hinata interrupted, "I remember now!"

"Remember?" Kakashi tilted his head, "What, Hinata?"

"There was someone else in the old Akatsuki hideout where Orochimaru did his experiments, we never knew who he was," she tapped the photo, "That is why I thought I recognized him! He was the other man in the hideout, stealing something left in Orochimaru's research labs!"

"So," Kakashi snapped his fingers, "they have been playing this game for some time."

"Kaguya's minions played Madara, Obito, and the Akatsuki for fools for some time," Kushina rubbed her chin. "It makes sense they'd play others."

"That may be our advantage," Naruto brightened as he sat up.

"How?" Hinata asked.

"Hinata, if they need human minions to do their dirty work; they aren't all-powerful, right?"

"It makes sense," Hinata answered.

"And if they're still using human minions," Kakashi added, "They don't feel confident enough to attack us outright." Kakashi stared at Naruto and then Kushina, "We may have an advantage we didn't have in the timeline where Himawari came from."

Kushina stared at Hinata, "You do realize that would make you a prime target."

"I'm no more ready to be a princess in a tall tower than you were, Mom," Hinata answered.

"Good, then meet up with Shikamaru and Temari, and do whatever it takes," Kushina replied.

"Mom, Kakashi," Naruto spoke up, "I want Sasuke and Sakura with us on this one."

"You're already taking Sai and Ino," Kakashi eyed Naruto, considering his thought process, "Are you sure you want them to go? They're only a little over a month out from the miscarriage."

"They've been cleared to resume missions," Naruto said.

"But do you think they're ready for something at this danger level?" Kushina asked.

"Yes," Naruto nodded, then turned to Hinata, "What do you think?"

"Ino and I will be in the thick of it; it would be nice to have a medic that could hang back just in case," she nodded. "As for Sasuke, he's the hardest hitter I could think of that isn't in this room. Especially if we think this Jigen charact plans on making an appearance, we should have him with us."

"As long as you both think it's a good idea," Kakashi said. "Hinata…"

"Yes, Sensei?"

"Temari said to bring Amythest and Jade with; does that mean anything to you?"

Hinata flushed bright pink, choking on her words as she spoke, "Y-yes! It's a private code!"

"Private code?"

"One we don't talk about, in case one of us is captured!" she explained.

Kakashi sensed some level of deception, but he wasn't about to call her out on it. "All right, you kids know what to do then."


The walk to Hikone pressed in on Sakura with awkward silence. Naruto and Sai walked at the head of the group, followed by Hinata and Ino, and finally her walking next to Sasuke. Naruto had come to her a few days ago, asking the two of them to come on this mission, and they accepted, hoping some distraction would do them both some good. Sakura now couldn't help but wonder if this was all too soon.

She didn't know how to make sense of what she was feeling. She loved Sasuke, but the miscarriage and subsequent decision not to get married as planned had formed a gulf between them – a gulf they had yet to bridge in a month's time. They had stopped sleeping together, hadn't really been on a date since getting back, and both had gone separately to therapy. Despite the shitty situation, Sakura was grateful for the bright spot that had been Tsunade. While she hadn't lost a baby, Tsunade had lost a younger brother and a lover to the horrors of war. "Some level of separation and distance is natural, Sakura. Hell, I had almost thirty years before Jiraiya and I spoke again after the war! Take your time, heal yourself, first. The fact that what she was experiencing was natural to the situation didn't make it hurt any less.

"All right, this is probably a good spot to make camp for the night," Naruto called out.

"Why don't we just force the march, Naruto," Sasuke spoke, "we could be there in another three or four hours."

"We'd be arriving in the middle of the night," Naruto replied.

"Plus, we want to have the appearance of being a trope of traveling entertainers and their entourage," Ino added, "Waltzing in at midnight might raise suspicions." She shrugged, "Besides, the inn we'd be using won't be ready until early tomorrow afternoon."

"I'll start getting the campfire set up," Hinata set down her pack. Sakura knew the plan, and could only imaging how much Hinata and Ino hated it. Sakura set up her tent in silence. Naruto set up a slightly larger tent, meant for him and Hinata. The green of Sakura's eyes flashed momentarily, followed by recrimination. They're married, you're not. You made that choice! Live with it!

Dinner was almost painfully silent, aside from the sound of eating field rations prepared by the campfire. As the sun dipped, everyone eyed their tents greedily for sleep. "I'll take first watch," Sakura spoke before anyone else could.

"Second," Sasuke raised his hand.

"Third," Sai said.

"Fourth," came from Ino.

"Fifth," Naruto said as he unzipped the tent door, "and Hinata you'll wake everyone when the last watch is up." She nodded in affirmation, and everyone retreated to their tents.

Sakura found herself an old log to sit on as a makeshift chair and watched the flames dance in the campfire. Truth be known, there wasn't a need for a night watch – they technically were in friendly territory. Nor was there need to keep the campfire going on this warm summer night. Sakura thought back to her first mission, the first night the team had encountered Obito stalking them. The chill reminded her that she'd actually pissed herself slightly that night she'd been so scared. That was then, this is now. There is no monster out in the woods, Sakura, just like how there is no such thing as ghosts.

The lie about ghosts did little to sooth her racing heart and constricting bladder. The fire was beginning to wane, and it needed more fuel. She gingerly stepped outside camp perimeter, took a quick gander around, and relieved herself behind a tree. Having satisfied the call of nature, the next call was to keep the fire going. She scoured the local trees, snapping off low, dead branches as she went along. It probably was no longer than ten minutes, but it felt an eternity as her stack of branches grew under her arm.

She was ready to return to camp when she heard a branch snap right behind her. Sakura wheeled around to see a black figure cloaked in shadow. She opened her mouth to scream to feel a hand capture her shriek. "You'll wake the whole camp," Sasuke spoke in a hushed whisper.

"Sasuke, what the hell are you doing!" she pulled back his hand and hissed, "You scared me half to death!"

"I couldn't sleep; I figured you could use help tending to the fire." While his words were not suggestive, his words took Sakura back in time – back to the first night they'd had sex. Jeez, now is not a time to pop a boner!

"Sasuke," she spoke exasperated, "you promise not to scare the shit out of me again?!"

"Promise," he spoke detached. He helped her collect more wood, and they retreated to camp to feed their hungry campfire.

Sakura again took her spot on the log, "So…"

"So?" he sat on the ground beside her.

"What should we talk about?" she asked.

Sasuke stared expressionless but there was an intensity in his black eyes. "Sakura, you don't want to start this conversation."

I knew it, this is about the miscarriage. "Sasuke, I know the miscarriage hurt…"

"When did you fall out of love with me?" he cut her off.

Sakura's jaw fell open in shock. Admittedly, their relationship had taken a hard knock, but she hadn't considered quitting just yet. "S…Sasuke?"

"When?" he shook his head once side to side. "When did I stop being the man that you loved?" His dead expression did not hide the tears gathering at his eyelids. "When?"

"Sasuke, I never…" her words caught in her throat and tears blurred her own vision, "I never stopped loving you!"

"Then why do you keep pushing me away?" his tone remained mostly even, but a slight tremor developed in his voice.

"Sasuke… I …" iron weights landed on Sakura's shoulders. Don't break down crying! Don't break down crying! She broke down crying, "I… I've failed you!" she fell forward from her seat on the log, both knees grinding in the dirt.

"Sakura," she felt his arms around her shoulders as she buried his face in his shoulder.

"I spent all that time…" she sobbed, "… trying to put you back together after the war!" She tightened her grip, "And all I've managed to do is rip you apart again!"

"Like I haven't torn you apart?!" Sasuke refused to loosen his grip. "If I'd just kept it in my pants and used protection once in a while, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

There may have been an element of truth to his words, but Sakura knew the answer was much more nuanced than being impatient with sex. Cervical incompetence is not predictable until you've already had it. Imagine if we hadn't been on the run and we had gotten married only to find out later on. Think of facing his parents and family then! "Sasuke…" words failed, and she held him close, "… hold me, please!"


"Look, Typhoon, I get it," the club manager yapped through his lips, "I get it, they bring all the boys to the yard, but I'm not a strip joint!"

Ino bit her lip as she let Temari negotiate. Ino and Hinata both wore dark overcoats covering their bodies. Hinata wore an elaborate, deep lavender mask that covered the top half of her face and blue contact lenses to conceal her identity. Ino, meanwhile, wore a brilliant jade and emerald colored mask.

"Look, man, you are about to have all the big money here tomorrow night and you want to catch as much of it as you can!" Temari shot back. "I had to pull huge favors to get these ladies. If you book them, they will come! And not just in their pants! Their wallets will be bleeding money before the first dance set is over!"

The crude comment earned a snicker from Ino. Hinata remained impassive. She's not used to showing her body off to anyone but Naruto. Ino banished the thought. They had done this once before, and she had performed beyond all expectation. "And how do you plan to accomplish that?" the sleaze of a man asked, "And what's with the stupid masks?"

"Good sir, when your assets look like this," Ino opened her dark coat, revealing her body –topless and wearing a skimpy thong that hid less than her blonde hair, "you don't want clients at the end of the night to recognize what you look like from the neck up!"

The man's jaw dropped, "I see," he answered as Ino closed her long overcoat. "And what about your friend here?"

"Lady Amethyst only shows to a paying crowd," Hinata spoke smoky, serious, but with a smirk. "I don't give away for free what men happily will give money to see. And let me assure you, I'll bring all you can see," she leaned forward, giving the slightest slip of her ample cleavage through the top of the jacket, "and everything you can't see!" Damn girl, do you talk dirty like that to Naruto?

The man eyed Hinata, undressing her with his eyes. While the long overcoat hid most of her features, certain proportions could be guessed. "All right," he nodded, rubbing his chin as he did. Ino didn't need to be a telepath to sense the man was seeing enormous piles of money as well as their tits in his head. Men are so easy to ensnare, it's almost not fair! "You ladies have a deal!"

"Excellent," Ino answered. "We'll leave Typhoon to sign off the deal while we go and," she gave a slight chuckle, "freshen up!" Hinata and she giggled as they strode along out of the club's back door. They waited until well clear of anyone who might have been watching. Ino made the hand seal for transformation, as did Hinata. Hinata turned into a carbon copy of Emi Warui, complete with pale blonde hair and blue eyes. Her disguise included a simple waitress outfit the woman wore at her day job. "You remember what to do?"

"Ino, we've been over this. I'll sign Kayo out, posing as her mother, and meet you at the rendezvous." Hinata nodded. "You, meanwhile, go get Emi, pretending to be from the girl's school." Hinata eyed Ino with a twinkle in her eyes, "Are you sure your appearance will fool the husband?"

"What's wrong with it?" she asked. Ino's transformation included light brunette hair, a white button-down blouse, a black thigh-length skirt, and knee-high boots."

"It just… doesn't speak school teacher to me," Hinata shook her head.

"Miss Warui, you need to go get your daughter from school," Ino made her voice bubbly.

"Yes, Ma'am!" Hinata giggled as she turned to walk away. "How about we grab a drink when this mess is sorted?"

"You're enjoying yourself, aren't you!" Ino laughed.

"After playing doctor and princess for so long, a little cloak and dagger is actually quite fun!" Hinata said as she walked away.

Ino, too, walked out of the alleyway through the town until she reached a decent sized single-family house. She adjusted herself, walked up to the front steps, noting the house was semi-run down compared to its neighbors, and she rang the doorbell. The man who answered the door was large, brutish as Temari had described him. The man wore his dark black hair long in the middle and close cropped on the sides. His sideburns flared outward, as did his black goatee. The shitty little moustache on his lips; however, betrayed how little attention the man paid to grooming. "Ello, legs," the man looked her up and down, "What can I do for you."

"You are Kayo Warui's father?" Ino asked, feigning ignorance.

"That's right, who are you?" The man was holding a glass with dark red liquid, garnished with a stalk of celery. Bloody Mary this early in the day, Temari and Shikamaru weren't kidding about him being a raging alcoholic.

"Ms. Tsukino," she nodded, "I'm a teacher at your daughter's school." Ino shifted slightly, truly nervous, "I'm going to need a parent to come to the school."

"Emi!" the man shouted. In a few moments, the battered blonde woman appeared. Even with a decent layer of concealer, Ino could tell the woman had a black eye.

"Y-yes, dear?"

"This…" he stumbled as he looked for his words, "… lady says she needs you at our daughter's school! Take care of it, now!" he barked.

"Y-yes, dear!" the woman squeaked like a mouse, leaving the house in a well-worn, green housedress.

Ino walked with Emi in the direction of the school until they were well out of sight of the man. While he didn't seem sharp, they couldn't afford to be sloppy tonight. "You're a teacher at my daughter's school?" Emi asked.

"I am," Ino answered with a slight smile.

"You… paint houses, right?" the woman gave the correct code phrase.

"Yes, and we do our own carpentry as well," Ino gave the counter-sign. "Trust me, he won't recognize the place when we finish redecorating."

The woman nodded, understanding the implications of what was about to happen. They walked quietly until they reached the outskirts of town, crossing into a wooded section of road. "Mommy!" a little girl with dirty blonde hair ran to Emi.

"Baby!" she hugged her little girl. "Please tell me you brought Snuffy!"

The girl took off her school back and unzipped a small pouch, revealing a little white bunny, "Right here!"

"How precious!" Hinata smiled, stepping out from behind a tree. She was no longer disguised at Emi.

"Is everything ready?" Ino asked.

"Fair ladies, your chariot awaits," Sai spoke as he appeared from behind a tree. He gave a smile, not entirely forced. He's getting better at being expressive.

"I guess this is it?" Emi turned back to Ino.

"Yes, life begins anew for you today." Ino nodded, "Remember, you are completely cut off from this place. Make no effort to return, and contact no one from your previous life."

"I never had a chance to tell your friend, 'thank you.'"

"You'll never have to," Hinata said. "Live a good life!"

Emi took her daughter with her and followed Sai. After a few minutes, a large white bird flew away through the sky. "Don't you just love a happy ending?" Hinata chuckled.

"Do you think it will be happy?" Ino asked.

"She found the courage to walk away," Hinata replied, "You and I know how hard it is for some people to leave abusive situations."

"All too well," Ino shook her head, remembering the Fatal Lust Crisis. "Let's just hope we make the most of the change were about to make tonight."


Author's notes: Hi everyone, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed. The chapter is considerably shorter than I would have liked. However, I ran out of time, and this seemed to be the best spot to make a chapter break. Next chapter will conclude most of the Kara arc, and there will be some pretty significant violence in the chapter. Hopefully, I can get it up and out on time.

Otherwise, thank you again for reading. Stay healthy, stay safe, and I'll see you next chapter.