Chapter 10: 50-50 Chance

"Life is just a game of chance, a dance with fate if you let it be so. Or you could choose to play by your rules to win."

― Steven Redhead, The Solution

Hinata, Boruto, & Himawari-Konoha Hospital, Med/Surg Unit

A cottony static swishes through her ears.

Hinata licks her lips slowly, tastes dried blood and vomit in return and grimaces. Trying to sit up or even just move slightly makes the world spin, head pulsing. She opens her eyes faintly to see white walls, IV drip connected to both her arms.

'Where am I?' Hinata considers.

And then it clicks.

The Chunin Exams, using lightning to knock herself and Neji out.

"Is it okay to be in here...Mom…wake up?" A familiar voice asks from her right.

A second voice follows, softer than the first one.

"Papa said we have to wait…let's just trust the doctors…before Grandpa comes back in."

'Boruto? Himawari?'

Opalescent opens fully, Boruto and Himawari hovering above her.

Boruto quickly clasps at her hand. "Ah, don't sit up too fast Mom err Hinata! You still need to be assessed by the hospitalist and cardiologist!"

Hinata laughs gently, slowly moves herself up against her pillows. With her other hand she grabs for Himawari, squeezes both of them close. The pair squirm for a moment to not get tangled in her IV lines and blankets, Hinata hugging them through the spike of pain to her back and legs.

Bruises she hadn't noticed get pressed up against.

'Ouch, I really am moving faster than my body wants me to.' Hinata leans back, pushes on a smile.

"Ahh, I don't want my future children fretting over me when it should be the opposite! How long have you two been here?"

Boruto adjusts at her pillows. "Maybe an hour now in and out of the room. We ran into Papa in the waiting area...or Naruto. When did you guys figure it out?"

Hinata giggles. "What, that we're your parents in the future? You two weren't doing a very good of job keeping it a secret sorry to say! But even then, there's just little things...the way you two look and behave. I know it's meant to be a secret, so until you get back to your proper time, please just call me Hinata or whatever nickname you feel is fitting."

'After all that stress and lying, Mama and Papa were immediately suspicious of Hima and I from the get go!' Boruto sighs.

Still, at least this means no more pretending.

"You can be Big Sis Hinata and Papa Big Bro Naruto!" Himawari declares with a clap of her hands.

'Oh, like how I greet Konohamaru-sensei or even Auntie Hanabi sometimes.' Boruto realizes, grins in return.

Hinata smiles, pauses feeling chest seize, bites her lip before a coughing fit can erupt by sitting back.

The taste of copper hits the back of her tongue, breathing slowly in and out.

Himawari jolts back to her side, halfway crawls into the bed.

"Mama, what's wrong?! Do you need water?"

Boruto attempts to pull Himawari back only making her cling to the sheets, truly looks Hinata over from head to toe.

Bruises mar her arms various shades of blue to violet, though her skin and lips aren't as completely ashen as he thought they might be.

"Sorry, you're still really tired, right? From fighting Neji?" He questions softly.

Hinata nods, rubs at Himawari's cheek when she sees her eyes turn watery.

"I-I'm alright, just need to rest more."

Boruto nods, feels his own tongue become too dry to ask if she needs anything else.

"This is why I wanted you two to wait in the lobby." A voice instructs behind them.

Hiashi.

And not just him, a doctor pokes his head in behind him.

Hazel eyes regard them warmly to colder pearl, pair reluctantly stepping out of the way.

"Miss Hinata, I'm Dr. Fukube; a cardiologist. My team and I ordered an EKG, labs, and echocardiogram just to make sure everything checks out okay heart-wise for you. One of my technicians will be in shortly to wheel you down to imaging. Is that okay with you?"

Hinata nods, flashes one last smile to Boruto and Himawari before Hiashi leads them out.

"You two's stubbornness and penchant for not following rules I know for sure now must come from your Father's side of the family." Hiashi scolds as they move back into the hallway.

The waiting area is thankfully quieter now with less people mingling about, plopping into a row of empty seats by the window.

Boruto crosses his arms. "We just wanted to see for ourselves that she's okay y'know!"

Hiashi frowns. "Didn't you learn she was fine from Naruto visiting her? Honestly, I've been having to keep an eye on her room and Neji's on top of making sure you two don't cause any trouble for the nurses and physicians here."

Himawari wrinkles, bows. "...We're sorry Grandpa."

Boruto sighs, bows as well. "We'll wait here; we promise."

'Stubborn, but polite when it calls for it.' Hiashi feels a smile edge up his lips.

He shakes his head, gestures for them to stand back up.

"We're heading back to the manor now that I've checked in on Neji and Hinata. There's nothing more we can do for them right now and visiting hours are over."

Himawari lets out a squeak of a whine before clamping her mouth shut, nodding.

Boruto pushes his hands into his pockets, brows furrowing.

"So, what about the Chunin Exams? Which one of them is going on to the Finals?"

Hiashi looks at him oddly, chuckles.

"Neither. It's considered a double knockout. The Finals will happen one month from now unless something changes."

'Something changes.' Boruto repeats to himself, studies the setting sun, orange-yellow hues falling along the pavement and grass.

This isn't how Mama and Neji's fight happened from what he recalls of stories about their childhood. Uncle Neji would've gone on to the Finals and fought Dad, then lost.

His stomach knots, that changed, so what does that mean for the Invasion?

Hiruzen & Jiraiya-Hokage Tower

"Did my message reach Suna's top officials?" Hiruzen studies his notes of the final participants for this year's Chunin Exams.

Gaara is included in said finalists.

His sister too.

'Of course it would be hard to knock out all three of those siblings knowing their prowess. Especially if one of them is the resident jinchuriki of Suna.' He sighs.

"Yes, a search team has been sent out to the deserts in the southeast to find the Fourth Kazekage's body and his advisors sir." Aoyama reports.

Hiruzen grabs for his pipe, draws in two puffs.

"...And?"

Nozawa clears his throat beside him.

"They're awaiting DNA analysis to confirm its him, but it's clear they've scaled back their best shinobi from coming in with visitor passes to Konoha as news of the Fourth Kazekage's goes through their village and back to here."

Hiruzen nods, finally peers up to the duo.

"Good. That's it for now, you two are excused."

The pair bow and take their leave just as Jiraiya slinks in, shuts and seals the door behind him.

"Oi sensei, aren't you forgetting one big hiccup to whatever this plan of yours is?"

Hiruzen sits back in his seat, half-smiles.

"I know you would never let me forget that Orochimaru is still moving around Jiraiya. I'm certain though that he and anyone working with him aren't aware of the full extent of knowledge that we have of his plans."

Jiraiya waves that away. "Not that. I mean, can you do it this time? Can you kill Orochimaru? Because if not, we can tag-team him-"

Hiruzen raises a hand. "Orochimaru is my problem alone to deal with Jiraiya; we've been over this."

Jiraiya scoffs, prattles on.

"-What about those supposed elite guards of his trapping you in? Or dealing with Kabuto-"

"Kakashi and Gai have been made aware of his underlings and most trusted subordinate, all the jonin have really. We may only have physical descriptions, though that's enough to keep them at bay from setting up a barrier. We must prevent them most importantly from interacting with Sasuke Uchiha."

'Orochimaru is an opportunist. Even if we stop his plans now, I'm sure he has backup ones.' Hiruzen knows.

And eventually, they'll lead back to trying to get the sharingan, Sasuke's body for immortality...

Jiraiya clicks his tongue, obsidian dark and fogged in a way he's not used to seeing out of his silliest student.

He leans forward then. "What else did Boruto and Himawari tell you?"

Jiraiya responds by moving for his liquor cabinet, pulls out his fanciest Junmai Daiginjo rice wine he received as a gift for his 65th birthday a few years back.

'I wonder if I'll live to see my 70th to receive another premium brand.' He morosely considers as Jiraiya pours them two glasses.

He watches as he downs his shot in a single gulp.

"Careful, you'll give Tsunade a run for her money drinking like that." Hiruzen jests.

Jiraiya finally cracks a grin. "Now there's a name I haven't heard in awhile! Only if I don't change my appearance first! Who knows how high her gambling debts have gotten by now."

Hiruzen swishes at his glass, liquor and tobacco do little to calm the prick of nerves across his arms.

For Jiraiya to be this nervous about something beyond the Invasion...

"Look, I'll just be blunt with you. I asked the Kid when I'll die."

Hiruzen stiffens, fear morphing to rage.

"Why on Earth would you put such pressure on a child to tell you that-"

Jiraiya clasps his hands, tumbles out more over his voice.

"I only have, unless things drastically change, maybe 3 or 4 years left. After this situation is dealt with, we must focus on tracking down the Akatsuki."

Hiruzen rubs at his head. "What did you learn?"

"Boruto said they're a group that goes after Tailed Beasts. His knowledge is minimal on the subject though Himawari joined in when I dropped him off that 'Papa and Suna's Tailed Beasts are her friends!' They sell as toys in the future it seems."

Hiruzen takes a sip from his own glass.

"As in plush toys? You're certain she wasn't half-asleep or just telling you a story?"

Jiraiya chuckles. "No, she was quite adamant that each Tailed Beast has a name and that she's interacted with those two at least once. The Nine Tails name is Kurama and the One Tail's name is Shukaku just to give two examples. I don't know exactly what she means or if she was dreaming, but I'll find the time to try and get her to better explain herself."

Hiruzen rubs at his chin.

They haven't even dealt with the Invasion yet and already a new incident has popped up.

"We must put out one fire at a time. Protecting the village from Suna and Oto should they go through with the Invasion takes priority right now. I will find a way to lure Orochimaru into a trap that will kill and seal him."

Jiraiya says nothing, but his skepticism shines through in his flat look.

"...I'll kill Orochimaru for you sensei. You're older now, even if you don't always act it! And hey, I can even let you have a sneak peek at the next installment in my Make-Out series if you let me do this!"

Hiruzen scoffs, coughs to hide his rising blush.

"A tempting offer, but no."

Jiraiya sighs, slouches back in his seat and he feels like he's scolding him for a childish prank or act all over again.

"I say this not as Hokage, but as your sensei Jiraiya that Orochimaru's my responsibility for letting him go once. Besides, I don't want you to have to kill your former friend and teammate."

Jiraiya smiles thinly, raises his glass to the air.

"Wouldn't be the first time I've had to put down a comrade who's betrayed me!"

He pushes out of his seat, turns away.

"What happens if you can't kill him as you currently are? That you reach a stalemate?"

Hiruzen hums. "Then we'll die together, I'll find a way to protect the village from as much harm as possible."

Jiraiya looks at him over his shoulder, expression now indiscernible to him.

"Oh? So there's a chance then the history books won't change much at all then."

It's only when he no longer hears the clack of his sandals does he look back down to his stack of files, curses under his breath.

Orochimaru dabbles in the forbidden, neither of them fully know what techniques he has in his arsenal.

However, as Hokage, he must take him on and minimize as much deaths as he can.

He flips through his files to Baki's photo, nods to a set of ANBU that have walked in.

"We're ready Lord Third, just give the word." Yugao voices from the front.

Hiruzen straightens.

"Tonight: Surround him, make it quick and easy. Leave his body where I know he'll see it." He commands.

They bow and disappear in a flash. This will be Orochimaru's first warning that someone has been tipped off to his plans.

He watches as the sun starts to dip low, returns to his files with a sigh.

'This isn't going to be easy for me either Jiraiya.'

Naruto, Boruto, Himawari, & Jiraiya-Naka River

'Oh good, he got my message.' Jiraiya smiles as he walks up. He hadn't been sure Naruto would see his toad despite placing it right by what seemed to be his favorite to-go packs of instant ramen, cereals, and breakfast bowls. He brightens as Naruto gets to a standing position, notes the scrolls beside him.

He must've been looking him up while waiting!

"You're late...Mister...Mister whoever you are! Ugh, your letter said 10:00 am y'know!"

Jiraiya chuckles. "Oh come on now Kid, no need to be embarrassed! You were just looking up in those scrolls my world-renown infamy; weren't cha?! I don't blame you; I'm impressed by all my feats too!"

Naruto's anger morphs into puzzlement, cocks his head.

"I don't know you are, am I supposed to? Wait, you're that old pervert that the ladies at the grocery store were complaining about the other day y'know! You fit their description of an old guy with long spiky white hair, warts to his face, and green attire."

He blows up a gust of wind spraying him with bits of water and grass at Jiraiya's lack of answer to such a horrible account of his looks before hearing giggling behind him.

"Toad Gramps, stop trying to be cool." Boruto chides him.

Jiraiya beams apologetically, points behind him to the siblings.

" Well, I figured Naruto was looking my identity up. Anyways, apologies on my lateness! As you can see, I was picking up these two and we got held up by the Hyūga morning spars."

Naruto blinks as the pair wave.

"Huh? Why are the kids here?"

Boruto frowns indignantly. "You're a kid too! Toad Gramps said he wanted all of us to train!"

Naruto purses his lips. "Technically, I'm your Elder as well y'know."

Boruto snickers then. "You wanna be called Gramps too or Big Bro?"

Naruto instantly bristles. "I'm not even that old I'm sure in your present day! Hinata and I must be like Kakashi-sensei's age or something."

Boruto shrugs, grin widening.

"If you say so! Old Man Kakashi retired years ago from active shinobi duty after being Hokage-"

Naruto jolts as if splashed himself.

"What?! When does he become Hokage?"

'I don't think I've ever heard sensei mention wanting to be Hokage! Actually, he never talks about himself really or his past. I guess Old Man Third would have to retire at some point.'

Boruto looks away from his questioning look, walls up again.

Jiraiya claps his hands, blows on a whistle forcing his attention.

"Enough chattering! Naruto, we're getting down to business to cover the basics so I can teach you the summoning jutsu eventually. Boruto, Himawari, I'm going to focus on you two learning more long-range attacks and defensive maneuvers should you get trapped in any sticky situations."

He spaces them out along the riverbank, Boruto raising a hand.

"Why can't I learn the summoning jutsu like Papa or err Big Bro?"

'Ugh, I gotta get used to saying that!' Boruto reminds himself.

It will always feel a bit strange, but better now to make such errors than in front of someone with more malicious intent.

Jiraiya shakes his head. "We only have a month. Naruto needs to get on the level of an opponent like Shikamaru whose shadows can paralyze him in place or Shino who's bugs can sap his chakra and overwhelm with poison. I'll gear it towards Shikamaru since that's who he'll be facing in the first round."

He pauses noting Himawari, the wild card of them all.

All he knows is that she has the byakugan and some minor training in the basics from her Hyūga clan lineage.

'Good thing I brought some of these along.' Jiraiya shuffles that paper out of his vest.

Chakra paper in particular.

"I know your brother's nature affinities, but not yours Himawari. This will give me an idea of some basic techniques I can train you in." Jiraiya explains, holds one out to her.

Himawari takes one excitedly, Boruto and Naruto momentarily stopping their training to look as well.

The paper instantly tears in two.

Wind.

Jiraiya nods. "Wind like your Old Man."

He picks up one half of the paper, eyes narrowing at the blackened edges, smoky residue when he thumbs at them.

'Fire as well from her Mother's side?'

He pockets that information for now, nods for them to get going on their assigned tasks.

Boruto takes to Jiraiya's lessons with ease from hitting his targets he set up along the trees to controlling his chakra, the total opposite of his Father watching him struggle to properly walk along the water.

"You gotta have a constant stream of chakra moving to your feet." Boruto advises at Naruto's shaky balance, body plunging when he tries to take a step forward.

"Argh, yeah, yeah, I get it! Step back for a minute!" He shoos him away.

Boruto silently does as he wants, looks over to Himawari tentatively still close to the edge, but balancing better on the water than Naruto at the moment.

'Did Dad always struggle with techniques like this? I thought all of this came to him with ease?'

There's so many parts of him that have been cut or ignored from all their history lessons from this era.

Naruto flops back along the banks. "I still don't really understand this y'know."

Jiraiya walks up beside him, looks him over up and down.

Boruto watches curiously as the tips of his fingers ignite.

And then he slams said palm straight into Naruto's gut.

'Whoa, what was that move!?' Boruto blinks in awe, looks over to Himawari only to see her gaping.

Frozen.

"Hima! Hey, you okay? Don't worry, I'm sure Big Bro is fine!" He reassures, hand moving for her wrist to refocus her.

She pushes his hand away, azure still locked on the pair.

Scarlet flickers in her eyes, too fast for him to be sure, it must've been a reflection of the sunlight along the water.

Because when she turns to look at him again, tears cling to the edge of her usual blue eyes.

"Why'd Toad Gramps just hit him like that?"

Boruto shrugs helplessly, this is just how training is done in the past. No matter how harsh it may seem to them.

"There! That should fix your issues with chakra control!" Jiraiya beams, peers back over to Boruto and Himawari to see Boruto lecturing on how to use wind against the trees and leaves offensively and defensively.

Jiraiya grins at the mini tornado the size of her palm Himawari manages to spin up before huffing at the exertion.

"Hard to believe those two are part you based on how you currently are Kid!" He chortles.

Naruto rolls his eyes, turns over.

"Shut it."

By the end of the day, he at least has the general skills and basics down.

They spend the rest of the week testing out wind based techniques that can block out Shikamaru's use of shadows.

'This still isn't enough. We're moving too slow.' Jiraiya decides by the end of week 2.

It's time for Naruto to master summoning, one way or another.

"We're not going to the river, woods, or mountain bases?" Boruto notes at the direction Jiraiya leads them to.

The ground turns from grassy to rocky and uneven.

Jiraiya looks over his shoulder at the trio, two eagerly curious siblings in the back, and one cautiously optimistic boy in front.

Boy who will one day be said siblings Father.

'Not even in my strangest dreams involving training students did I ever think such a scenario like this would happen along my travels.' Jiraiya muses.

"Watch your step you three! And yes, you guys are in for a different type of challenge today!" He cheers.

He holds up a hand to stop them, crevice in the earth opened before them.

They've reached the abyss.

Jiraiya nods over to Naruto to step forward first.

"Alright Kid, it's do or die time now. You're gonna learn the summoning jutsu through fear."

Time slips away from them both as his eyes widen a fraction, too late to stop his momentum as he shoves Naruto forward straight into the dark.

An explosion of chakra erupts behind Jiraiya as Naruto disappears from view, jolts him that perhaps some rogue shinobi followed them out here.

He twists in preparation to guard the siblings only to see this malice, this rage pouring into the terrain is from the youngest one here.

Himawari.

Boruto steps back from her in pure panic at the vermillion that coats her, eyes burning a deep crimson on Jiraiya.

Jiraiya momentarily stills as well.

'Ah, so she's the one I should've been truly keeping an eye on.'

And now he's dealing with completely new territory.

The tears in her eyes evaporate from the heat, teeth clenched.

"Why'd you just push Papa into that hole?!"

Naruto & Hinata-Training Grounds/Konoha Main Stadium

He takes the long route to the arena, stomach a ball of nerves.

All the whispers he's heard from Boruto and that he himself has eavesdropped on must be true.

From both civilians and shinobis within and outside Konoha, its 10 to 1 odds in Shikamaru's favor.

Nobody, not even probably Kakashi-sensei who he hasn't seen in this one month believes he'll win this.

"Don't worry Kid, I'm betting 10,000 ryo on you! I'll use the payday to treat you to ramen and spend a night at The Voyager Gentleman's Bar & Club!"

Never mind that one night at that rumored high-end club/hotel within the red-light district will most likely cost 10,000 plus ryo.

'Whatever, Pervy-Sage can burn through his ryo anyway he wants.'

But just to be safe, he'll move Gamachan's hiding spot when he gets back home...

He startles noting violet hair near the grounds, peers closer.

'It is Hinata!'

"Oi, should you be training again so soon?!" Naruto questions as he walks up, chuckles as she freezes in surprise.

Pink rises to her cheeks as Hinata turns to greet him.

"Ah, well D-Dr. Fukube gave me the okay to start light training at discharge. I have to follow up with him monthly at least through the end of the year."

Naruto snickers, ribs her gently.

"I'm just messing with you Hinata! I'm glad to see you back on your feet y'know. Hopefully, I'll be the same once I beat Shikamaru's lazy ass! Err, well unless he came up with some tactic against me."

Lazy as he is, there must be some truth to why all the jonin-sensei call him a 'silent genius'.

'Ugh, nope, nope! I can win, I know just how to stop him with everything Pervy-Sage taught me!' He reminds himself.

Hinata gently intertwines their fingers before he further spiral, lilac eyes warm.

"You'll be fine Naruto. I believe in you, all of us do. You've failed before and never let any taunts or jeers stop you, they won't stop you today either."

The knots in his chest loosen like falling weights, bumps their heads affectionately making her whole skin burn from pinks to reds.

"I'll cheer you on! I-I can even be louder than Lee!" Hinata blurts out, toes curling in utter embarrassment.

'What am I even saying?!'

Naruto laughs, fingers pressing lightly at her flushed face.

"I'll look for you in the crowds!"

He departs for the stadium, Hinata following after finishing her series of blows to the opposite end poles.

Neji finds her first through the web of people, nods to the open seat to his left.

To her right she sees Kiba and Akamaru have saved her a seat as well. Neji's is the better seat for viewing, though she considers for a brief moment pretending she hadn't seen him.

She catches Kiba's eye, faintly shakes her head.

"Another time." She mouths out.

Neji is offering an olive branch of sorts; the next opportunity may not come again for weeks to clear this air between them.

"You saved me a spot?" Hinata poses out the question as she takes a seat, takes in the lingering bandages to his torso and neck region his jacket can't fully hide.

Neji hums, follows her gaze.

"I've held a grudge against you for the longest time. I know sorry isn't enough-"

"You're right; it isn't. Especially knowing you would attack innocent members of our family/clan. Actions speak louder, so prove you mean it Neji, prove that you don't just see me as the fallen heiress of the Main Branch." Hinata curtly interrupts.

The frostiness of her tone stops him from saying more, nods slowly in return.

"Boruto and Himawari aren't just regular clan members though, we both know this. They're not...from this time period. Future children of yours and Naruto's or two people who look suspiciously like you both." He mutters.

Hinata doesn't answer, leans forward as Hayate calls for Shikamaru and Naruto to come to the center of the field.

Naruto & Shikamaru-Konoha Stadium

'I just nearly walked into a very troublesome situation.'

Shikamaru slides himself away, he shouldn't have gotten out of bed, heartbeat rising to annoying thud in his ears.

He might not live to see tomorrow now.

But luckily, neither sibling notice as he maneuvers back into the hallway's dark side out of their view.

"Dead?! How can Baki be dead?!" Temari demands.

Kankuro shushes her as Temari's voice echoes off the walls.

"Keep it down Sis, you're being too damn loud! This is why I wanted to wait until your match was done, but there's no time! It's clear someone got tipped off to the Invasion plans as he was ambushed sometime late last night, I haven't seen Kabuto around either." He reasons.

Kankuro holds up a hand before she can question him further.

"There's more...Dad's body has been confirmed through DNA analysis back home. He's been dead for weeks. The man currently here in Konoha is an imposter, probably Orochimaru or someone associated with him."

Temari tenses, whatever she wanted to say dying on her lips.

"So...Suna's been betrayed." She finally mutters, leans back against the opposite wall.

Kankuro places a hand to her shoulder.

"Find Gaara before his match starts. We have to get out of here, it's no longer safe for any of us to stay in Konoha."

Temari scoffs, crosses her arms.

"What makes you think he's going to listen to me? You saw how he was against that Lee kid during the preliminaries! And now that he's set to fight the Sasuke Uchiha, he isn't just going to back down so easily!"

Kankuro openly groans, buzz of the intercom overhead stopping him.

"May we have your attention please: The First Round of matches for the Chunin Exam Finals is about to begin! Nara Shikamaru and Uzumaki Naruto, please head to the center arena for your match!"

Shikamaru draws in a breath.

'Well, let's get this over with.'

Bad enough he'll have to walk by those two, focuses his gaze straight ahead.

Still, their stares burn holes on his back, catching the tail end of their whispered conversation.

"-We need to find him before his match. Whatever it takes Sis. I'll try to find any Suna nin in the audience that can help back me up as well."

His hands jitter, forcing them flat against his sides.

'Ugh, couldn't they have had that conversation in the locker areas?'

He can't exactly shrug off such information, looks out into his stands for his Dad or Asuma-sensei.

Asuma catches his eye first and Shikamaru tacks on a weak grin, hopes something in his expression conveys the grimness he's just heard.

He mouths the word 'Invasion-Suna' in a rush, Asuma's features remaining the same.

'Ugh, the village could be screwed and I don't want to be in the middle of a match to deal with it!'

"Oi, are ready to go over there? I'm not going to get tripped up by your shadows y'know!" Naruto chimes out.

Shikamaru peers over to him, chuckles at his bright grin.

He could easily be hiding rage or annoyance from what he's heard of his skill. Especially at all these bored looks sent his way from the crowds, boos asking for when Sasuke vs Gaara will come up.

And Naruto's facade briefly cracks glancing at a particularly rowdy shinobi from Kusagakure.

"I didn't spend my hard earned ryo to watch two nobodies fight!"

Naruto peers to the guy once, Shikamaru noting a flash of darkness creep into his eyes like a billowing storm and the man instantly quiets, sinks back into his seat.

"Alright, begin!" Hayate announces.

Naruto instantly rises up his hands.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

At least dozen Narutos' race in for him from all sides.

"Wind Release: Gale Clap!"

Bursts of wind kick up dust and dirt, clicking his tongue as the area becomes shrouded.

'Overwhelm me with numbers and smokescreen kind of effect, huh?' Shikamaru considers.

It's Naruto's signature way of attacking; one he can't afford to get too close to.

He draws up his own hands to keep the clones at bay.

"Earth Release: Rock Splinters!"

He stomps his foot down unleashing a barrage of jagged stones.

Only a few of them pop at the clones, shadow possession sliding forth paralyzing the real Naruto.

Along with the fist that was just seconds from hitting him straight on.

"Good, now I'm close enough to ya!" Naruto beams.

'What?' Shikamaru frowns.

His cheeks puff out, manages to lean his head back just slightly.

"Toad Oil Bullet!"

The gunk temporarily blinds him, swipes it away quickly before it can burn.

A screech strikes through the air before he can decide on his next move, turns to the crowds to see that glasses guy who dropped out pinned to the ground by a group of ANBU.

Other onlookers point to the Kage's box now erupted with smoke.

Naruto's brows knot in rising worry.

A chaos spreads across the audience in a frenzied wave, people dispersing from their seats for the exits.

"What's going on up there?"

Naruto's gaze skirts to Shikamaru if he knows, equally puzzled by this development.

Shikamaru half-smiles. "Don't know. Your guess is as good as mine."

But maybe today isn't so unlucky for him.

There's no time to worry about this fight when everything is going to hell around them.

-x-

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we actually know Himawari's nature affinities from the research I did for this chapter, right? Anyways, I wanted her to have a mix of Naruto and Hinata's. Plus, as you can see from this chapter, some sides of her manga abilities from True Blue Vortex are showing up!

If you want to read ahead to see bits of my plans for Chapter 11, I've posted an extended scene on pa-tre-on. I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there! Plus, everything is discounted through this month so just use the code C3982 if you want to check out extra goodies!

It's been 10 years since Naruto: The Last (And I feel old lol). I collaborated with NaruHina Altaluna Fanzine to post an August Moon Festival NaruHina fanfic one-shot which I believe should be going up on their twi-tter page later this month along with any other writers or artists that might've participated to celebrate the milestone!

Let me know your thoughts as always!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!