*Note: In this AU, Konoha is the capital of the Land of Fire. It is a large, fictitious island/country that has no true indigenous population. The island was "discovered" by multiple seafaring people, resulting in a series of outposts and settlements near the coast that migrated inland over time. Eventually, the various regions and peoples united, forming The Land of Fire; a freestanding, politically neutral nation. During the World Wars, amnesty seekers from all sides immigrated to the Land of Fire, causing the population to boom. (See bottom for note on language)

Illusions
October 1963 - The Particulars

Sasuke met with Shino and Mr. Hyūga while Ebisu, Naruto, and Ms. Sato inspected a piece on the other side of town. When Naruto caught up with Sasuke later in the week, he seemed to think everything was in order and straight forward, but likely to ramp up in the during the reminder of the visitors' stay.

"Lots of people with lots of money are getting impatient," he warned as he ended his visit to the precinct. "You haven't seen anything yet."

Despite Sasuke's warning and Konohamaru's description of what was waiting at his Grandfather's house, Naruto was unprepared for the sheer amount of what those hopeful of currying favor with the Sarutobis (and therefore Shino) had brought by: wine, pies, cookies, casseroles, rare teas, cigars (which the Old Man had cleverly hidden from his wife) and anything one could imagine.

"Wow," Naruto surveyed it all, hands on hips. "When rich people want something, they really go for it."

"This is nothing," Konohamaru joined him. "This is only because Grandma made it very clear that the favors, tickets to games, concerts, shows, and flat out bribes would be rejected."

"Shame," Naruto smirked (and in that moment, Konohamaru was sure that he'd learned that expression from his previous partner). "The Old Man loves a good game."

"I do indeed," Hiruzen Sarutobi rounded the corner, with an amused smile, and eyes twinkling with mischief. "I might have agreed to go to the odd event with some old friends. Purely for keeping in contact, you understand."

"Of course," Konohamaru grinned.

"Make yourself a plate," he nodded to the dishes and forks set out with the desserts, "and then come join me in the garden – I am enjoying a lovely afternoon in the shade."

Konhamaru grabbed a plate and looked around.

"Grandma here?"

"She is not at home this evening," Hiruzen helped himself to another piece of pie and cookie. "She went to visit a friend for a few days."

"So that is cigar I smell?" he grinned at his grandfather.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," he sniffed. "Come along – there is lemonade."

Konohamaru loaded his plate and then took an entire pie. "Still growing," he winked, and followed after Hiruzen.

Naruto was more judicious in his choices, but he had always had a healthy appetite. His last-minute decision to not give in to the temptation to take a whole pie proved to be a wise one.

Konhamaru had no sooner set foot into the peace and shade of the garden when a giant dog sprang up, barking so loud that it made the other man jump.

"SHIT!" Konohamaru jumped back, and Naruto managed to catch his plate – but not the pie.

That was expertly caught and snatched away by a massive dog, who trotted back to his master, clearly proud of himself.

Konohamaru stood, hand on heart, hyperventilating, while Hiruzen watched unfazed.

"Gentlemen? I believe you have met Akamaru?"

Konohamaru shot a look of disbelief at him while Naruto swallowed a snicker.

"Yes," Kiba drawled, his fanged grin nearly a sneer. "We have met your officers before."

"Konohamaru is my grandson," Hiruzen said idly as Konohamaru straightened and tried to ignore the flush racing up his neck. "I've known Naruto most of his life – his father served on the force as well."

Kiba nodded to Naruto with something a little more vague than disinterest before looking off to the side and muttering something in clipped tones.

The only word that Naruto understood was "Hinata."

"I am sure she will be done shortly," Hiruzen said with a smile. "Since Akamarau has already had pie, why don't you help yourself to one of my cigars?"

"No," he grimaced, and then added, "Thank you. I do not like such heavy scents to be on me."

"Ah," Hiurzen nodded. "Understandable." He put the unlit cigar down and retrieved his long pipe and a canister. "Is this better?" Kiba opened the canister and sniffed at it delicately. With a nod, he handed it back. There was silence as he packed and lit his pipe – a silence no one dared (or could be bothered) to fill. A few puffs on his pipe, and Hiruzen offered, "Might as well sit down and eat, boys. Mr. Aburame is inspecting our collection with Ms. Satō, and I do not expect them for a little while, yet."

"Again?" Konohamaru eyed Akamaru warily. "Didn't he already do that?"

Hiruzen made some vague motion with his hand, scattering the light, thin smoke about him. "There was some question about one of the pieces, and Mr. Aburame wanted to be absolutely certain that the Hyūga collection was satisfied with his findings. Can't blame him," he said with a small shrug. "The collection is widespread and difficult to authenticate."

"Shouldn't be," Kiba grunted. "It was never meant to go so far."

"Some of the pieces have travelled the world several times over," Hiruzen agreed. "But you are correct: the Hyūga have largely kept the collection intact and carefully documented the pieces whose destinies took them elsewhere."

"Destinies?" Konohamaru snorted. "I don't know if those things have destinies."

"Those 'things,'" Kiba narrowed his eyes "are each unique and irreplaceable with documented history hundreds of years old. I wouldn't expect a fire-whelp to understand such things."

"True," Hiruzen spoke before Konohamaru could retaliate. "The Land of Fire is not a longstanding nation. We do not have that same sense of history that many cultures have. However, so many of her inhabitants are immigrants, or have ties to family abroad, there is a surprisingly global view among her people. I myself was born on a naval base on the other side of the world, and traveled for most of my life." He took a thoughtful pull on his pipe. "I was always amazed how many people I met who had ties to Konoha."

"I apologize, Ambassador Sarutobi," Kiba said, surprising Naruto and Konohamaru. "I forget myself."

"No need for apologies," the older man chuckled. "Had my wife been here, we would have been treated to a history lecture on those so-called 'things,'" he shot Konohamaru a dry look.

"Noted," he held up his hands and went to a shaded table to pour himself some lemonade.

A few moments later, Naruto did the same, surprised when Kiba called out something in Russian, and was answered with:

"That is a foolish thing to say. Why? That is because-"

The rest of the statement was lost on him, because he looked up to find Ms. Satō a few feet away, hurrying to hide a smile as she adjusted her glasses. There was something so genuine in her amusement that it gave him pause – especially since it was the first thing resembling an emotion he'd seen her express.

She happened to catch his eye, and quickly her features smoothed into something polite and passive.

And he wanted to see her laugh again.

"Lemonade?" he offered, holding up the pitcher.

"Yes," she said softly. "Thank you."

"Dōitashimashite."

She looked up at him, dark eyes widening behind her glasses in appreciative surprise.

"Don't look too impressed," he said, pouring her a glass. "That is probably half of what I remember of Japanese, and definitely the only one I know how to say correctly."

"Oh?"

"Yeah," he handed her the glass, careful not to let go until her small, pale fingers had it firmly in her grasp. "My best friend Sasuke – Officer Uchiha? - his family is Japanese. A bunch of them lived in the same neighborhood, and Japanese was the first language for all of the older ones. I'm pretty sure his great-aunt actually beat the pronunciation into me with a wooden spoon. Worth it to eat at her bakery, though."

Hinata gave a small laugh – something unobtrusive and polite, but definitely genuine – and his grin was quick to follow.

"You can imagine the rest of my vocabulary," he poured himself a glass. "So, I am grateful that your English is so good."

"Thank you," she traced a bead of condensation down her glass with her fingertip. "I appreciate the compliment."

"Do you speak Russian as well?"

"A little," she admitted, flicking a glance to Kiba. "Mostly what I've picked up."

"Sounds like being a curator for this collection would let you pick up quite a few languages," he offered. "My report said that you have had to go many places to authenticate pieces."

"The collection is large and far-flung," she allowed. "I have had the opportunity to travel quite often."

"Bet you have some good stories," he said, eyes dancing. "Nothing that big involving this many people is without drama."

"Isn't that right, Ms. Satō?"

Hinata blinked owlishly, before looking to Shino Aburame in confusion. "I am so sorry," she ducked her head. "I was not paying attention."

"My fault," Naruto interjected quickly. "I was asking her about all the places you've had to go – sounds like interesting stuff."

Shino's stoic expression softened minutely. "It has indeed. Ms. Satō has been invaluable in these proceedings."

"I'll bet," Naruto nodded to her, as she held her glass with both hands and ducked her head shyly, no doubt focusing on the rounded toe of her low-heeled shoes. She was much smaller than he was – even with her dark hair in a neat bun, she barely cleared his shoulder – but she had this strange ability to shrink into an even smaller space with just a shift of body language.

"Come, Ms. Satō," Hiruzen beckoned her. "Come sit and tell me more about what Mr. Aburame was just saying about the jade pins."

With a tiny nod to Naruto, she crossed the garden to sit with her host.

Shino Aburame was left sizing up Naruto, - or at least that is what Naruto assumed he was doing. Naruto couldn't see much more than his own warped reflection in his dark glasses.

"If this exhibition travels here," he said in a low voice, making Naruto instinctively lean closer, "then Ms. Satō will be in the care of your department. I will not entrust the collection or her well-being to Konoha if I have even a hint of doubt as to her safety."

Shino lifted his eyebrows at Naruto, who gave a single nod.

"Understood."

Shino gave a noncommittal hum of what might have been agreement, or might have been nothing, and took his leave.

Naruto stood in place, condensation from his glass sliding across his fingers as he watched Mr. Aburame join the old man and Ms. Satō in conversation.

With Kiba listening to the others with arms crossed, and Konohamaru sulking a bit farther away while poking at his plate, Naruto was free to observe her openly.

She would be easy to miss, in her plain suits and quiet manner, but she listened well, and when she spoke the men around her listened.

Naruto paused.

That was what had looked so odd the other day.

Although Hinata was clearly not the one in charge, when she did speak, Shino, Kiba, and that day even Mr. Hyūga took note of it.

The thought followed him home that night, as he poured himself a drink.

"Maybe they were just talking about the collection," he mused aloud, watching the gin swallow up the ice cubes. "That would make sense, right?" he asked the glass. "If she's an expert and as shy as she seems, they'd be sure to listen if bothered to speak up, right?"

Naruto took a healthy swig from his drink, letting the sting of the alcohol crease his eyes before decided that conclusion didn't "feel" right. There was more to it than that. No. There was more to her than that. Aburame was concerned about her safety. Was that a general concern or was there a specific kind of trouble he was expecting?

His thoughts were interrupted by the jangle of his phone on his kitchen wall, and he snatched it up with a familiar pressure in his chest and worry in his mouth.

"Uzumaki."

"Sorry to interrupt your nightcap," the familiar voice drawled, "but I wanted to update you."

"Captain," he sighed, letting his heartrate return to normal as he leaned back against the counter and reached for his glass. "What can I do for you?"

"I just got back from dinner with Ambassador Sarutobi and Shino Aburame. It sounds like Aburame is on the verge of allowing the collection to come to Konoha in the spring."

"Bet that will make some people happy," Naruto snorted into his glass.

"It will, depending on you."

"Me?" he frowned at the receiver. "What's this got to do with me?"

"Everything, actually," Kakashi said easily. "One of his primary conditions was that you would be assigned to Ms. Satō's personal safety detail."

Naruto swallowed the gin before answering. "He mentioned something like that today."

"And you don't object?

"Not sure what kind of trouble he thinks Ms. Satō's can get into, but nah, not really."

"Then it is settled! I hope you still have your dress blues and a tux, Uzumaki," he grinned. "Once Spring comes, you've got some parties to go to."

"Parties?" Naruto frowned. "What parties?"

"Thank you for your service, officer. See you in the morning!"

"Wait, what-?"

The line went dead.

"Jerk," Naruto grunted, hanging up the phone. He sighed before he took a little sip of his drink. A small smile tipped up his lips. He wasn't sure what kind of trouble shy, quiet, little Ms. Sato could be, but he was pretty sure he could handle it.

"And Sasuke is back," he reminded himself. Between the two of them, there wasn't a whole lot that they couldn't handle.

"Alright, Ms. Satō'," he toasted the air. "See you in the spring."

**The lingua franca for the Land of Fire is English for no other reason than that is the language in which I write. I maintain that 1.a multitude of languages are spoken in the LoF 2. most citizens are bi/multi lingal, 3 except for Naruto. I kinda can't see him speaking in more than one language well. I see him being able to speak a few phrases to everyone, and understanding more than he can speak, but not really being truly fluent. Except in curse words. I bet he has memorized how to order beer and how to swear in every language he's ever encountered. Because Naruto.