*!*

Illusions
November 1963 - The Gift

On November 2nd, 1963 the headline of every Sunday paper declared that the Hyūga Collection would officially be coming to the Land of Fire. For the next two weeks, pieces ran in all of the papers, magazines, tabloids, and news stations, each with their own hot take on the upcoming exhibit, as well as re-visiting the tragic events that led to the cancellation of the first attempt at a tour. The Land of Fire was abuzz with the news.

"Although we have not yet been told which of the local pieces are to be included," the announcer cautioned, "we have been informed that Mr. Aburame had enough convincing evidence to urge the Hyūga Board to approve Konoha to be included in the collection's travels. He is presenting the findings of his team to the Hyūga board, and they will, in turn, officially grant certificates of authenticity to those few, deserving pieces. It is expected that he will return after the new year to award said certificates in a closed ceremony. Any pieces authenticated and deemed worthy of being included in the exhibition will be put under contract, and not photographed or moved until the exhibit. Also-"

Naruto switched off the radio with a sigh.

Now he knew why Sasuke warned him about the parties. He'd met some of the people who had offered up their pieces for authentication. They were smiles and honey over barbed wire and snark. If they didn't get their way…

"Might have to protect Ms. Sato after all," he raked a hand down his face. He glanced at the newspapers on his desk, shuffling through them idly. One had a large interview with so-called Hanabi Hyūga, where she gushed from a resort in Australia about how excited she was, and how she would definitely travel to Konoha for the event. Konohamaru had immediately latched on to the news, but to Naruto, it was just one more detail.

"Here you go, boss," Naruto looked up as Konohamaru put something on his desk. "Thought you might want something not-atomic to get you through the afternoon."

Naruto eyed the paper cup distrustfully.

"What's in there?"

"Coffee."

"Can it burn through the desk if I spill it?"

"Uh… no?"

"Not strong enough," he shrugged, and went back to his report.

"Oh, come on – just try it. It's from a new place, and it's really good."

"Fine," Naruto sighed, tossing his pen down. "But only because you haven't shut up about it."

Naruto took a careful sip of the coffee, and was pleasantly surprised.

"See," Konohamaru sat down. "Doesn't taste like motor oil, and still has a good kick."

"Not bad," he allowed. "What is this new place?"

"Hidden Leaf," he motioned to the symbol on the cup. "It's a small chain. They get their own beans, roast, grind – all of that."

"Not sure how something like that stays in business."

"By putting itself between a police station and a hospital in the busiest district of Konoha," Konohamaru grinned. "Bet the rent is outrageous."

"Hope they can make it," Naruto took another sip before putting his coffee down. "Wouldn't mind having them around."

"Yeah," Konohamaru said in a casual way that made Naruto think that it wasn't such a casual interest, but couldn't figure out how coffee could be anything other than incidental.

Deciding he didn't have the will or interest to spend thinking about it, he went back to going through the papers. Konohamaru settled in to work, looking more studious than usual. Naruto glanced up at him before returning to his reading, not really seeing what was on the page. He and Konohamaru were a good team, but it wasn't like it was with him and Sasuke. Having Sasuke back in even a minor capacity was a great comfort - and having him and Sakura back in town was excellent - but they were still newlyweds with lives. Sakura was back to working at the hospital, and Sasuke had his new job, therapy, a home, a wife – things were better but not the same.

Naruto still checked in with Sasuke and Sakura regularly, ate ramen, trained, and drank more than he should. Ino and Sakura sometimes went to shop or try some new exercise joint while he and Sasuke watched a game or talked over a beer (never liquor when he was around Sasuke.)

It was a new version of "normal."

The media attention surrounding around the Hyūga collection and the sudden uptick in work kept life interesting. Naruto hadn't thought the actual work would start until the collection came to Konoha, but he was sorely mistaken.

Ebisu had taken to meeting with him and Konohamaru weekly, and also meeting with Sasuke when he could. Naruto found he remembered more Japanese than he thought, but he still didn't feel comfortable speaking it.

"It's just in case Ms. Hyūga needs the help now and then," Ebisu waved off his concerns. "Her English is excellent. I am more concerned you understand how to handle the upcoming interactions."

It turned out that Ebisu was also training them on what they could and couldn't say, and teaching them about how some seemingly innocent topics could lead to sticky conversations. Sasuke confided in him that there was a concern that "persons of interest" might use the excuse of the Hyūga collection being in Konoha to visit the Land of Fire. Whether their being in Konoha would pan out to involve the collection remained to be seen, but precautions were being taken.

"You're telling me the KGB wants to send someone to Konoha? And the CIA?"

"There are people on lists," Sasuke allowed. "But that isn't our department. I hear the KIA is going to be busy."

"Did Itachi say hi?"

"Shut up, Naruto."

Naruto was chuckling about that conversation when Captain Kakashi called him and Konohamaru into a meeting. The latest communication from Shino had arrived, and in it was a packet assembled by Hinata.

"This includes schematics of the Museum, and a proposed lay out of the exhibit, including the rotation schedule for known pieces. You'll notice the schematics use numbers rather than names of pieces; this is to allow you plausible deniability when asked if you know what will be included in the displays."

"Works for me," Konohamaru muttered. "There are a bunch of people I don't want to have to say 'no' to."

"Organized, isn't she?" Naruto flipped through the pages.

"Very," Kakashi agreed. "She is in charge of the upkeep and inventory of all of the pieces, so it is not surprising she is so thorough. Notice," he pointed to a page in their packets, "that she has already plotted out when we will need extra security and where. Some of the pieces are too delicate to be on display for the duration of the exhibit, and she has planned accordingly. It will be good to know what resources will be needed this early."

"Did you translate this, Ebisu?"

"No," he shook his head. "She sent me another copy of the documents in Japanese, but when I compared the two I saw no corrections needed. Unsurprising, really; Ms. Sato is fluent in English, and Mr. Aburame has several excellent translators on staff. That reminds me," he reached into a box on the chair beside him. "She sent small thank you gifts to each of you. Good luck charms, if you will, each modeled after a piece in the Hyūga collection."

"Oh, yeah?" Konohamaru leaned forward. Like what?"

"Open them on your own time," Kakashi tapped his pencil on the desk. "I want to finish this meeting and get home at a decent hour."

That night, Naruto waited until he'd finished his ramen to fish the box and the letter out from his briefcase.

Inside was small, but intricately detailed figure of metal and enamel. The printed card attached read: "Gamabunta, the Guardian Toad."

Curious, Naruto opened the letter. He smiled to himself; the letter was typed, but he thought it probably sounded like Hinata.

Officer Uzumaki,

In the early Edo period (we think around 1620), a Hyūga craftsman created figurines for his children based on characters from local folklore. His descendant mastered her own technique and re-created the characters in the late 1800's, during the 'Golden Age' of Japanese enamels. This is a miniature of 'Gamabunta' – one of the pieces coming to Konoha. It is said that Gamabunta is loyal and wise, and protective of those under his care. May he bring you good luck on our joint efforts.

Regards,

H. Sato.

The postscript was in a careful hand: "I look forward to working together."

Naruto read the letter several times, a smile curving his lips.

"I think I am going to like you, Miss Sato," he said aloud. That night he was so amused by the gift and the letter, he forgot to pour his night cap, and went to bed with a lighter heart.