Chapter Forty-One

Sai awoke to the buzz of his wristwatch. As sleep receded, he tapped the button to end the alarm – 0600. Beside him was the most artful, nude body he'd ever had the pleasured to hold. He lay on his side, staring at Ino's beauty on the lazy Sunday morning. The corner of his mouth slowly crawled upward into a smile – a smile unforced. Baby, you have no idea how much you changed my life. Everyday, I find new ways I'm lucky to have you.

As he still laid in bed his hand snuck onto her bare rump, massaging gently. Part of him wanted to blow off the meeting he had with Naruto this morning and just stay here with her. However, his friend was getting married in only two days, and Naruto had tasked him with a mission vital to the success of the wedding. He removed his hand from her butt and gradually extracted himself from the covers, hoping not to disturb his sexy girlfriend. "Baby, don't go!" she groaned, still half-asleep.

"Sorry, pretty woman," he walked over to his dresser to find clothes, "I have something special this morning."

"More special than me?" she mock whined as she rolled over to face him, covers slipping off to reveal her ample chest.

"Nothing is more special than you," he promised, "however, Naruto called in a solid favor, and he needs this today."

"If you two grab breakfast," she eyed him, "don't eat anything too heavy." Her lips tightened into a smile that would bend any straight man to her will. "We can have a proper breakfast together when you get back!" She winked, "Don't keep me waiting too long!"

If her being naked on his bed hadn't already made him hard, her playful words would have done the trick. You lucky bastard! He finished getting dressed, gave her a slight kiss, and made his way to Ichiraku Ramen. As expected, Naruto was waiting in a booth, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. While Naruto indulged in ramen, Sai just ordered hot tea. "So," Naruto spoke up, "please tell me you have it."

Sai extracted from his pocket a brown sachet as well as a series of papers, "Can't tell you what a pain it was to get this. I had to go all the way to Nisho, had to pay a rather hefty import fee, and had to find a dealer of known reputation in the Land of Rivers." He untied the sachet, revealing the green fine powder within.

"It's the real deal?"

"Pure product, no filler."

"How much?"

"Twenty- thousand," Sai balked a bit at the price he had paid for the product.

Naruto slapped down two ten-thousand notes on the table, "Deal!"

Even Sai was shocked how easily Naruto parted with twenty-thousand yen for a bag of matcha tea. "Naruto, I never took you for a fan of matcha. Why the insistence on such an exotic blend?"

"My father-in-law is a connoisseur," Naruto explained as he tucked the sachet into his black jacket. "And tomorrow, this is my bribe for him in the door game."

"I see," Sai had heard of such traditions, "then it is important to have good relations with your lover's parents when getting married?"

Naruto straightened up, "Everything is relative, Sai. Neji did not have the blessing of Tenten's parents when he married her." He eyed Sai thoughtfully, "That said, it's always better to be on good terms if you can. This is about Ino, isn't it?"

"Yes," Sai gave a slight nod. "Lord Yamanaka has been most reluctant to approve of me."

"Sai," Naruto shook his head, "he doesn't disapprove of you."

"He certainly doesn't seem comfortable with me," Sai added.

"Is Ino?"

"Yes, perhaps more so than anyone I know."

"And you want to marry her, right?" Naruto got to the point.

"Yes!" Sai spoke, surprised by his own exasperated voice. He stood in awe, as if saying the words had made the situation real, "Yes, I do want to ask her to marry me." Saying the words was like breaking a seal. Prior to saying them, they had simply been a thought. Now, the words had become a statement of fact; he wouldn't be satisfied in life until he'd fulfilled the declaration. "Is… is this what it was like for you?"

Naruto turned pink and shifted his weight slightly at the questions. Clearly, Hinata granted him some incredible sexual favor upon their engagement. "I mean, we might be a bit different; she and I were sweethearts back when we were genin on the same team, and close friends long before that." Naruto rubbed his chin.

"How did you know it was the right time?" Sai asked.

"I mean, you know when you know… I think for me, it was the realization how empty my life would be if I didn't ask and something happened. I asked her the night after the three weddings, just after Pain's assault."

"I remember feeling the same when we got back from the moon. The night where… we became official!" Sai barely caught himself from saying it was the night he and Ino became lovers.

"Have you talked with her about it?" Naruto asked.

"I mean, she's dropped hints, talked about what it would be like to get married. She's also been a bit anxious lately about having children now that her two teammates are expecting."

"Are you ready for that?" Naruto asked.

"I have no memory of my father or mother, Naruto," Sai sulked. "I never knew them."

"Sai, in another life that almost happened, that was my story, too. Apparently, I ended up with Hinata then, as well."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, by no means put things off, but talk with her. Let her know how you feel. She might even have some insight into how to make her father more agreeable." Naruto's watch beeped. "Ah dammit," he looked down at his ramen and hailed their server, "Can I get this to go? Check is mine!" He turned back to Sai, apologetic, "Sorry, man, I'm due at the Hokage's office!"

Naruto paid the bill and left with his ramen. Sai finished his tea and thought about what questions he'd ask Ino. At the very least, about getting married, but also about having children. Strangely, it didn't seem as insurmountable an obstacle after talking with Naruto.


"You look great, love!" Shizune said as the tailor made her final adjustments to Kakashi's coat, the coat of the Sixth Hokage.

"I have to agree," Lord Kushina added, watching Sakumo, Yoshiko, and Akane playing with their toys with one eye as she eyed him with the other. "It looks good on you!"

"I'm sure that's because you finally get to take the jacket off in two days," he shook his head. He'd known the moment was coming for years, but now it was less than forty-eight hours away. Naruto and Hinata would be married as Kushina's last official act as Fifth Hokage, and he'd be inaugurated not long after.

"I can't lie," Kushina sat back in the Hokage's chair, "I won't miss it." She eyed the children playing without a care, "Minato missed most of Naruto's childhood because of this office. I missed Naruto becoming a man because of this office."

"You do realize, he'll have the same to say when he's in this office," Kakashi added.

"Hopefully, not for many, many years," Kushina replied.

Naruto appeared in a flash, carrying a carryout container of ramen. Typical of your student and nephew. "Sorry, I'm late!"

"At least you showed," Kakashi greeted.

"Looking sharp, Uncle Kakashi!" Naruto grinned. "Your wife is going to have to beat the ladies off with a stick!"

"Trust me, I have a solid oak switch for such an occasion," Shizune smirk.

Naruto turned and bowed to his mom, "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, son," Kushina sat forward, tenting her hands on the desk. "I have a very special request to make."

"Shoot," he replied without skipping a beat.

"Rehearsal is still tonight?" she asked

"Of course," Naruto nodded.

"And they're making you play the door game tonight, right?"

"Yup!"

"Then tomorrow night, I want you to have dinner and spend the night in the family home one last time."

"I mean, okay… is everything all right?"

"Yes, Kushina," Kakashi cocked up an eyebrow, "Is everything all right?"

"We haven't had a proper family dinner since your birthday before the moon crisis," she replied. After tomorrow, I get the feeling it might be a little rarer for you guys to come over to us versus us visiting you."

Naruto nodded an understanding. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Was there anything else?"

"Please tell me you're still on to umpire the Chunin Exams this July," Kushina pleaded. An eye-watering number of Jonin had or would be retiring prior to the final part of the exam – mostly Kakashi's generation. Between retirements, wartime casualties, and the slow qualification process, the corps of Jonin was stretch almost to the breaking point. Not a comforting thought if we face another crisis.

"Yes, Mom," he bowed his head, "I wouldn't miss it! It will be my first time acting as an umpire!"

"Have you given any thought to picking a team, Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

"Some, but I've been so damn busy jumping crisis to crisis, and now, I'm doing a lot of administrative work for the office of Hokage," Naruto paused, eying the kids playing off to the side, "How about them?"

"They're not going to be ready for some time, Naruto," Kakahsi shook his head. "All the same, I'd be honored if you were my children's sensei when that time comes."

"It's a deal!"

"And to get ready for it," Kushina spoke up, "you should review the upcoming graduating class."

"All right, you both win," Naruto shook his head with a laugh. After the wedding, I promise, I'll start putting a team together."

"Sensational," Kakashi clapped his hands.

"Lord Hatake," the old tailor lady spoke up, "It's time to see if the headdress fits." The small woman handed him the pointed hat, and Kakashi placed it on his head. "How do I look?"

"Like a man who is ready, Lord Sixth," Kushina replied.

"Looking sharp, Uncle Kakashi… I mean, Lord Sixth!" Naruto shot a thumbs up.

"It's not official for two more days," he protested.

"It's official enough for us," Shizune said, picking up their daughter and taking their son by the hand to let them see him up close, "You're parents would be so proud of you, my love!"

The mention of parents left Kakashi with mixed feelings. Both of his parents had died young and while he was only a child. However, he knew all his father had accomplished, and Kakashi would have to agree – wife, family, Jonin, and now Hokage – Father would be impressed by what Kakashi had achieved by the same age. "Well, I guess I'll have to do my best, as a shinobi should always do." He smiled at his wife and children.

"Believe it!" Naruto and Kushina both beamed.


Hiashi whisked fine granules of matcha tea through the screen into the teapot he and his son-in-law would drink from. Tradition dictated long ago that Hiashi learn this, and it was one of few traditions he had positive memories of from childhood.

The foam of green sifted through to the kettle below, staying warm next to coals on a traditional hearth. "Lord Hiashi," Naruto's voice called as the sliding door opened with a knock.

"Ah, Naruto," Hiashi gestured to a kneeling pad beside him, "Please, join me." Traditional also dictated they perform this dance, at least giving the appearance of Naruto having to earn his way into the family he'd been part of so long. Naruto knelt as invited. "Care for some tea?"

"I'd be delighted, please!" Naruto nodded.

"It seems tradition dictates we play the dance of son-in-law and father-in-law despite the fact that you and Hinata have been legal for over a year."

"Tradition is important," Naruto replied.

"Some," he poured Naruto a cup of matcha tea, "others, I'm not so hot on continuing."

"I'm assuming you are referring to the Hyūga Clan?"

"Indeed," he said, "this will be the first time a female clan leader marries an outsider."

"It's the first time you've had a female clan leader," Naruto added.

"True," Hiashi nodded, taking a sip of the semi-bitter tea, "Have you and Hinata discussed naming conventions?"

"We figured the best compromise was Hyūga-Uzumaki, hyphenated." Naruto sipped his tea.

"Why not the other way around?" Hiashi's curiosity piqued.

"Presumably, they will grow up in this house," Naruto gestured to the room around them. "I'd like them to ideally recognize both families as just that, family."

"A far cry from my father's era," Hiashi shook his head, staring into his tea. "If he were alive today, I'd have to tape his mouth shut to keep him from objecting during the ceremony." Hiashi chuckled.

"He was never too fond of me, even as a kid hanging out with Hinata," Naruto laughed.

"Nope," Hiashi shook his head, remember numerous occasions where the old man would chase Naruto and Hinata about the compound like the grumpy old man he was. "Speaking of children…"

"Yes, sir?"

"You and Hinata have made plans, right?" Hiashi pointed his last words.

"Her injection wears off in a few months," Naruto nodded, "After that, we intend to try."

Hiashi closed his eyes, willing the image of a young, cute girl that had her mother's good looks and her father's implacable optimism. Soon, very soon, you'll get to meet her again!

"Sir?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, son?" Hiashi opened his eyes.

"There is the little matter of the door game," Naruto reminded him.

"Ah, how quickly I forget!"

"Tradition dictates that I bride you in exchange for access to the bride," Naruto laughed, pulling a small sachet from his pocket.

"You've had access to the bride, and her bed, since you both were sixteen." Hiashi shrugged, "I hardly think I'd be wise to object now."

"All the same," Naruto handed the sachet out, "It's the thought that counts, ya know!"

Hiashi accepted the small parcel, undoing the strings of the pouch, "Na-Naruto!" Hiashi did a double take. Vibrant green, light floral scent, my god, he got this from Naisho!

"I hope you like it, father," Naruto said.

"N-Naruto! This couldn't have been cheap!"

"It was worth every ryo," Naruto nodded with a smile, "If it buys your blessing."

"You had my blessing all along, ya know," Hiashi mimicked Naruto and Kushina's verbal tic. "Had I had my way all along, you and Hinata would have been married on her sixteenth birthday."

"All the same, I hope you like it."

"I love it," he resealed the pouch. "We'll share a cup of it when the grandkids are born!"

"I look forward to it!" Naruto smiled ear to ear, "Is Au—I mean, Lady Akemi around?"

"In her garden, waiting for you!" Hiashi raised his cup in toast, "Have fun!"


The late March might seem an odd time to garden for most people. For Akemi, it was a critical time to maximize the harvest of her kitchen garden and to ensure the health of her flower garden. Mulch needed to be pulled off raised beds, at least temporarily, compost needed to be laid on the beds, and certain plants tolerant to cold needed to be planted now if they were to be ready for late spring and early summer.

As she cleared mulch from one of her several garden beds, a slight shadow crossed her field of vision, "Hello, Lady Akemi," Naruto spoke warm as always.

"Hello son," she greeted.

"You need a hand?" he asked.

"It's not every day I have a handsome young man offer to help me move mulch and compost," she gestured to a large sack and a rake.

Naruto retrieved both without complaint, helped her rake away the mulch, and began helping her add compost to the surface. They didn't talk for several minutes of clearing garden beds. Akemi chose to speak first, "I hope you are planning on cleaning up before the wedding."

"I thought I might come as is," he jested. "I promise I will clean up thoroughly after we're done."

"Good, smelling like compost might be a turn on for some people, but I doubt my daughter is one of them!" she laughed.

"Is…is Hinata ready?" Naruto asked with wide eyes.

Akemi laughed under her lip, "Oh, yes!" She stared at her handsome son-in-law. "She's been waiting since before you two were born. Your mom and I always hoped you two would take a shine to one another." Akemi smiled, seeing her and Kushina both heavily pregnant, enjoying tea. "I have no doubt you'll make my daughter a happy woman."

"I certainly hope that I do," Naruto's voice strained slightly.

"Are you all right, son?"

"M- Akemi…"

"Mom, how about you call me Mom for a change?"

"Mom," the words came out, if somewhat awkward, "I could be dragging her into a dangerous life."

"Son," Akemi held her hands in front of her, "if the future hinted by your daughter is any clue, then Hinata being in harm's way is beyond any of our control." She stared long and hard, "Son, if you could send her away somewhere safe, at the cost of never seeing her again, would you?"

"She'd never be happy…"

"And neither would you," Akemi completed for him. "I could have chosen a safe life," she walked up to Naruto and placed a hand on his cheek, "and accepted that my beloved's father would never accept me. I could have been spared plenty of heartache and pain… but I wouldn't have my baby girls. Hell, I might not have ever met you!"

"I see…" Naruto stared in contemplation.

"So, if you're worried about putting her in danger, or not being good enough, or not being strong enough; don't!" she commanded. "You are the only one I know who would ever make my baby girl smile! Don't you forget it!"

"Jeez," he laughed, "aren't I supposed to be bribing you?!"

Akemi stared, stunned. Then she broke down into hysterical laughter, along with her son-in-law. She pulled him in for a hug. "I always told Kushina I wanted a handsome son; I'm so glad it's you!"

"Thanks, Mom," he said it a bit more naturally. He pulled back, "By the way, there is this." He produced a small pouch.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Sunan Poppy seeds, the variety you were looking for."

"Naruto, only the Kazekage…"

"Gaara considered it a gift worthy of the woman that help him and his wife conceive and deliver their first child; he merely asked me to deliver it today."

Akemi accepted the seeds, "This will have a special place in my garden…" Akemi smirked, "Son…"

"Yes, Mom?" Naruto gave a nervous smile.

"You two do know the garden is not the place to go for privacy if you two are looking for hanky-panky, right?"

Naruto turned pink, "Of course not!"

"Good! Just so we are clear," she tried to hide her own nerves. She and Hiashi still had romantic engagements in the garden at strange hours of the night; the last thing she wanted was her daughter and son-in-law walking in on them while looking for their own romance in the night.

"Er… Mom…" Naruto fidgeted, tapping his index fingers the way Hinata sometimes did.

"Yes?"

"Is the rumor about the stone bench in the garden true?"

"What… rumor…" Akemi could feel color drain from her face.

"That it stands where the original compound's cornerstone was."

"Oh, that!" she laughed, "Yes, indeed, it is. You might say that spot has a special connection to our family!" You made Hinata there! "Anyhow, you should probably run along to Hanabi, she's in the shrine! Thank you again for the seeds!"

"You're welcome, Mom," he winked and took off in the direction of the shrine.

Akemi turned to the stone bench and breathed a sigh of relief. She saw her younger self, sitting on the bench, kissing her then secret boyfriend. "Oh girl, if you only knew…" she laughed and shook her head at the wild memories.


Hanabi decided not to waste time waiting for Naruto. A major pathology exam was hanging over her head, and she needed a solid grade to advance. Microcytic anemia – meaning anemia with small red blood cells – is a common disease process frequently associated with iron deficiency. Primary causes include dietary insufficiency, malabsorption, blood loss, or other hemolytic pathology. Macrocytic anemia, conversely, is an anemia in which red blood cells are much larger than normal but carry much less hemoglobin as to render them ineffective. The most common causes are dietary deficiency or malabsorption of folic acid or cyanocobalamin. Also referred to as pernicious anemia for its tendency to take years to manifest with symptoms. This type of anemia can be especially pertinent to those with strict vegetarian or similar dietary restrictions because the human body cannot produce cyanocobalamin – the most common source is meat. Otherwise, supplementation is necessary to maintain the health of strict vegetarians. Important to note: high folic acid intake can mask deficiency of cyanocobalamin and vice versa.

"I never pegged you for a bookworm," a boyish laugh distracted Hanabi from her studies. No way I was studying that long!

"Naruto?!" she cocked up an eyebrow and checked her watch, he'd maybe been a half hour since the game had started, "Did you cheat?"

"Would I do that?" he laughed.

Yes. "Naruto, you realize how important this is to my family…"

"Yes, your mom and dad told me all about it as I bribed them both," he winked.

She turned her head to the side, not taking her eyes off him. She certainly could see why big sister and most of the young women in the village found him attractive. Had she been a few years older, Hanabi could imagine her competing with Hinata for his affection. "How did you…"

"I knew my target," he continued to broadcast the smile that made her sister gush, "and I had a lot of help.

"I see," she turned to face him head on, determined to make this a challenge, "and what do you intend to do to bribe me into surrendering Hinata's final location?"

"For one, I know she's in the archives," he activated his unusual Byakugan and deactivated it just as fast, "for two, it isn't a bribe for me so much as a bribe from your little boyfriend."

Something about hearing Konohamaru being referred to as boyfriend set off a range of emotions in Hanabi. The two of them had been affectionate, but lately his ANBU/KIB training and her medical-nin training had left little time to explore things further. "He's technically not yet my boyfriend." Play hard to get!

"Oh, really?" Naruto extracted a perfume bottle of Sakura Spring, "I guess I'll have to tell him your gift was declined."

"No, wait!" she raised a hand to stop him from retreating. Damn, he's thought of everything! "Did he really tell you to get that for me?"

"He told me he wanted you to wear it for him," Naruto winked, holding out the bottle, "on a date!"

"All right, fine, I give!" she squealed. "But I really did mean it when I said we weren't official!"

"And your sister and I aren't officially married until tomorrow, but clearly that hasn't stopped us!" he reminded.

"Naruto… big brother… do you think he and I really have a chance?" she asked, turning sullen.

"Of course, why?" Naruto blinked in surprise.

"I don't know… we've barely seen each other in months…"

"Do you still enjoy the time you spend with him?"

"Yes," she answered, still feeling unsure.

"Are you both making an effort to stay in each other's lives?

"Yes," it was true, Konohamaru and she at least tried to see each other, even in passing once a week.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. It's when you can't say yes to either question that you know you're in real trouble, ya know!" He held up the crystal bottle of perfume, "So, what do you say, good bribe or bad bribe?"

Hanabi stared at the bottle and accepted it. She uncapped the bottle and smelled the soft, faint scent of cherry blossoms. She closed her eyes, carried away in a flood of memories. She was on a secret date to the movies almost two years ago. At some point, Konohamaru had walked her home, holding her hand the whole time. They arrived, careful to part ways just far enough from the front gate that the guard couldn't see them. Before separating, they stood close together, and she lost herself in his warm lips. Hanabi opened her eyes, hoping she wasn't turning too red, and recapped the bottle. "Good bribe, very good bribe," she couldn't resist the grin spreading on her lips.

"So, do I pass the test?" he laughed.

"Yes, silly!" Hanabi laughed, "Go get her!"


Sitting in the Hyūga Clan archives, Hinata scanned over an ancient, musty scroll that predated the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village by almost four-hundred years, predated most recorded history that she knew of. Imagine how much has been lost to countless wars, natural disasters, and societal upheavals since this was written. As she handled the delicate scroll with cotton gloves, Hinata could have mistaken the yellowed contents for any fairytale Aunt Kushina had read to her as a child. The only problem was, the manuscript was an exact copy of the Moon Princess Warrior, and it was written almost five-hundred years before the first versions of the story showed up in literature.

As she read the familiar tale, a soft, pleasant pressure of fur rubbed against her legs. "Merow," the black cat, Luna, rubbed her head and body across Hinata's legs. So, a fairy tale that was rooted firmly in reality. How the hell does that help us now?

There was a tapping at the door, and the door slid open. "Hey, purple eyes!" Naruto smirked as he closed the door behind him.

"Naruto?" she stood, looking at her watch, "that… was fast!"

He folded his arms in front of himself, "I had a lot of help. Plus, I had some good bribes."

Hinata eyed her handsome husband head to toe, "I bet you did! Of course, you have one last person to bribe…" Hinata let her words hang with the mischief of more.

"Oh?" Naruto displayed genuine surprise. "Who is that?"

"Me, silly," she winked, "After all, the bride to be needs a reason not to get cold feet," Hinata purred as she removed the white cotton gloves.

"Ah," Naruto approached, "So I need to convince you; yet, I have no gift," he smirked, taking her hands in his, "except maybe everything you see here."

He closed with her and kissed her, deep, teasing what else he'd like to do here in the archives. Hinata leaned back into the bookshelf. As they broke for air, she pulled his ear to her mouth, "You forgot to include everything I can't see," she giggled, "Well, at least not without using my Byakugan."

"That reminds me," he began suckling her ear in return, "When was the first time you used your Byakugan to do naughty things?"

"I'm not telling," she teased, "A wife needs at least one secret!" Naruto more aggressively sucked her ear and then her neck. Her body was heating up, small drops of sweat running down her flanks. Strong but delicate fingers snuck under the material of her shirt, slowly migrating up her stomach, and forcing the material upward.

"Merow!" a loud screech pierced the moment followed by the pressure of something thumbing into Naruto, "Owww!" There the scrambling of paws as Luna climbed up Naruto's back, off his shoulder, and onto the bookshelf.

Before either could protest, something sounding heavy fell from the bookshelf, there was a THUNK, and an "OUCH!" from Naruto.

"Luna!" Hinata turned and scolded the cat, but turned her attention to Naruto, "Honey are you hurt?"

"I don't think so," he rubbed where the hefty book had made contact.

"Let me see," she pushed back his mane of spikes, seeing thankfully there was no sign of injury.

"Merow," Luna began rubbing against her leg.

"Luna, flattery won't get you out of trouble…" Hinata cut off her words as she stared down to scold the cat. The heavy, ancient book lay sprawled out on the floor, and something was protruding from within. "What's this?"

She and Naruto knelt beside the book. Hinata delicately redonned her gloves to avoid damaging the ancient print. As she lifted the book from the floor, an object fell out of a book hollow created by the last pages of book. "Hello," Naruto picked up what looked like a pink toy wand with a golden crescent moon at the top. "A child's toy?" Naruto cocked up and eyebrow as he offered the strange item to Hinata.

"I don't think so," Hinata eyed it as she carefully closed the book. "Who would go this far to hide a child's toy in something like this?"

Naruto handled the wand, "It's so light, like plastic, but…" he tapped it firmly with his fingers. "It feels like solid metal."

"There is no metal lighter than plastic," Hinata said.

Naruto stared transfixed at the wand, his blue eyes dilating as he stared at the wand. "Where have I seen this before?" he asked, his voice seemingly disconnected from his body.

"Naruto?!" Hinata took his hand, and he seemed to snap out whatever trance he'd fallen under. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he shook his head, "weird… how long was I spaced out?"

"Just a few seconds," she eyed him, his eyes having returned to normal. "You asked where you'd seen this before."

Naruto's eyes focused on the wand, "It looks like Queen Serenity's wand!" he snapped his fingers.

My god, I must be blind! Hinata had read The Moon Princess Warrior hundreds of times as a child. The fact that Queen Serenity's wand was here now was too big of a coincidence. "Naruto, what does it mean?" she spoke in disbelief.

"I don't know," he didn't take his eyes off the wand, "but I think we should keep this quiet for the moment."

"Why?" Hinata asked.

"The Ōtsutsuki clearly know time has been altered, but I don't think they know how," Naruto explained. "They're grasping blindly, only knowing their future has been changed."

"How do you know?"

"How did they not know we'd be at the nightclub? How did they miss us destroying their little illegal scientific ninja tool operation? They're just as blind as we are to what the future holds"

Naruto's words rang true, filling her with both relief and greater uncertainty. Baby girl, did you come back and save the future or doom it to a worse fate?! "Wh-what does that mean?!"

He took her hand, his soft but strong grip anchored her back in the here and now, "It means our future isn't yet written." He stared with his beautiful blue sapphires, "That means it's up to us to make it a good one!" Hinata didn't want for him to react; she pulled him in for kiss – warm, soothing after the stress of wedding preparations and scouring the archives.

"Ahem," Hanabi's voice broke the moment, "I think you two should be planning on that tomorrow night!"

Hinata noticed a flashing light on the wand with a minor beeping tone. Naruto must have noticed it, too. "Hey, what's that?" Hanabi asked.

"One of Akane's toys," Hinata lied, "She lost it when Lord Fifth was here last week. We seem to have found it."

"I see," Hanabi shook her head, "When you two are done playing with your toy, be sure to clean up. Dinner is soon!" Hanabi turned and left. As she did so, the flashing light and beeping stopped.

"All right, I'm starting to get a little freaked by this," Naruto again looked down at the wand with his jaw hanging. "And why did it react to Hanabi?"

Hinata dragged the heavy book the wand had been hidden in to her. Flipping open the cover, at least half of the book was text and real pages. "I get the feeling the answers we seek are in this book," she looked up at the shelves where Luna had just jumped down from. Luna rubbed the side of her face along the book, marking her territory. "If not, certainly in here, somewhere. Naruto, I think you should hold onto the wand for now. Don't let it out of your sight."

"Why not leave it here?"

"You're a descendant of Queen Serenity and you hold some essence of her daughter – the Moon Princess Warrior… I don't know… the Ōtsutsuki were defeated by the Moon Kingdom before, supposedly."

Naruto nodded an understanding. He carefully placed the wand into the shoulder pack he'd used to carry the various gifts for his in-laws. "When do we tell Mom or Kakashi?"

"When we know more," she nodded. "After we get married, I suggest we spend some intense study sessions in here."

"After our honeymoon, right?"

"Yes, after that, horndog!" she finally giggled again.


Dinner with Mom, Dad, and Akane held a flavor Naruto had missed for some time. Mom had ordered Ichiraku's for carryout, and the four of them sat at the dinner table in a way that hadn't happened ever. Naruto had left for three years to Mount Myoboku when a teen. When he got back, he got involved with the KIB and was gone more often than not, and then the war happened. While he had dinner with his family for events like his birthday, it never had been just him, his parents, and his baby sister.

"Son, you okay?" Dad asked from his ramen.

"Just deep in thought," Naruto shrugged, "Where is Konohamaru?"

"With his parents," Kushina explained, "His outfit needed serious alterations, and he'd forgotten to take care of them before training for the competition."

"Heh," Naruto shook his head, "he'd have come in his underwear, he's so hellbent on winning this July!"

"He has a real chance, too!" Dad added.

"YEAH!" Akane clapped as only a hyper two-year old could. She'll be three just before the competition.

"Naruto, is everything all right?" Mom asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"You've barely touched your ramen," she observed. "Normally you finish before me."

"Sorry," he slurped a noodle, "I got a lot on my mind."

"Wedding jitters?" Dad asked.

"Among other things," he shrugged, feeling bad for withholding about finding Queen Serenity's wand, or something that looked incredibly like it. On the eve of his wedding, it was just another thing that couldn't be acted on, no matter how much he wanted to dig deeper right now. He again returned to his noodles. "Just a lot about to happen, I guess."

"Been there," Dad added. "It never gets easier."

Mom, on the other hand, was demure, something Naruto normally did not equate to his mom. It can't be about the handover tomorrow. She's been looking forward to passing the torch since the day she became Hokage. As they finished dinner, he and Dad washed dishes while Mom took Akane upstairs to get ready for bed. As Mom took Akane away, the little one protested, "No sleepie!" Naruto chuckled.

"Keep laughing, that will be you sooner than you think!" Dad winked.

The comment left Naruto with mixed feelings. Hinata's last injection had been a little over a week ago. When it wore off, things potentially would get real, quickly. "I still wonder how I'll be as a father."

"If it is any consolation, I wonder to this day how I am doing as a father."

"Dad, what do you mean? You were a great Dad, are a great Dad to Akane!"

"Was I all that great?" Dad looked down into the sink. "I think of all the things we missed together, the number of events that had to be rescheduled or cancelled, all the things I never got to teach you growing up!"

"Dad, you taught me what it was to be a ninja!" Naruto protested, "You taught me how to shave! You taught me how to respect women. You taught me forgiveness towards my friends at a time when I was perfectly prepared to be bitter with them for the rest of my life!"

"I'm just glad you learned," Minato nodded, staring at him, "It will serve you well when it comes time to put on the jacket."

"If I get a chance" Naruto finished with his side of the sink, "Kakashi is not old, Dad. He easily could last a good twenty years. By then, who knows? Maybe someone stronger than me will come along."

"That doesn't sound like the kid who wanted to be Hokage."

"Don't get me wrong, I'd like to have a chance. It's just, after watching all you and Mom had to go through, if I was nothing more than a good ninja, I'd be satisfied, even if I didn't get a shot at being Hokage."

"Gods," Dad shook his head, "how did you grow up so damn fast! It was only yesterday I was getting you ready for your first mission, I swear!"

"Ha, it snuck up on me, too, Dad. I never thought I'd make it here," Naruto spread his arms about, "about to get married, having a talk with you as one man to another."

"I miss the days of you being a kid, but I'll admit, you're good company as a grown up," Minato drained the sink. "You'd better get going to bed, son, we have a long day tomorrow."

"That we do," Naruto retreated up the stairs to his old room. While it was now more frequently Konohamaru's room, Mom had kept up his shadow board with all his medals and awards, plus some choice newspaper clippings. He stared at the board, seeing the headmaster's medal from the Academy. Naruto walked to the closet, curious. He opened the door and saw his original orange jacket hanging, having been thoroughly repaired over the years.

"I couldn't part with it, not after all you'd been through in it," Mom's voice caused him a slight startle.

"Mom, is everything all right?" Naruto closed the closet.

"Son, sit with me for a minute," she took the desk chair, and he sat on the corner of the bed. Mom stared, quiet, for several seconds. "I can't believe the big day is tomorrow!"

"You're telling me, Mom," Naruto shook his head. Tomorrow he was officially marrying the girl of his dreams. Mom began crying a steady trickle of tears. "Mom, what's wrong?!"

"This is… my last night having you as my son…" she cleared away tears, "Tomorrow, you officially become Hinata's responsibility."

"Mom, it's not like you won't see me with regular frequency."

"I know," she whimpered, "but you're my baby son, my first child, and it feels like it all happened so fast!"

"It has, hasn't it," Naruto stood putting his hands on his mom's shoulders.

"There was so much I wanted to do with you that I never got to…"

"Mom, just because you didn't get the chance doesn't mean you won't get the chance. Akane will be getting ready to start preschool, in a few years, the Academy. Hell, not too long, I may be asking you to help look after my children." Naruto closed his eyes, seeing the blonde boy and the dark-haired girl with whiskers from the photograph Himawari left behind.

"I can't wait to meet them," Mom stood and hugged him, "to thank them again!"

"Thank them?"

"I'm here because of them," she reminded him. "Your father is here because of them." She pulled back and stared with her violet eyes, her cheeks red as cherries. "I know you'll be a wonderful father in the future to raise a child willing to go to such lengths to make your life better, to give us the chance to be a family!"

Naruto bear hugged Kushina, "I love you, mom!"

"I love you, too, son!" They held each other and cried as mother and child, one last time.


Author's notes: Hi everyone, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed. Apologies for this taking so long to get out. I was hoping to have this ready last weekend; however, I had a series of major complications pop up a the end of last week. Next chapter will be the wedding. I only hope to do the event justice. After that, there will be a curious few events around the Iron Shinobi Competition and the Chunin Exams. Without spoiling too much, the future is about to make a hard turn onto a road not travelled.

In case you are wondering, the reference to the future not being written yet is a reference to Back To the Future III. Special thanks to AO3 writer BatouWrites for inspiring its inclusion.

On that note, I hope you're safe wherever you are in the world. Make the future a good one. Stay health, stay classy, and I'll see you next chapter.

-Adam