Young Eclipse

Naruto x Ino (After story)

Prologue

The fourth shinobi war. A yearlong campaign against the rogue Uchiha madman that drew the world's attention. Every single shinobi, regardless of allegiance came together to fight against this threat to world peace.

It lasted a year of gruesome and bloody battles against the forces of white Zetsu, and reanimated shinobi. Said shinobi were dealt with by a careful ambush by the last loyal Uchiha and his revived brother ending the reanimation before he was able to call in his bigger guns. Just as they all thought it would get easier, it didn't.

The ten tailed beast roar brought the true meaning of fear alive as it trampled through the combined forces, it's Uchiha master unable to control it, and allowed it to run rampant with no restraint.

Despite the encroaching darkness, hope remained as a golden ray in the form of Naruto Uzumaki who decided that he cannot allow it to run amuck, and somehow managed to draw its attention away from the masses. Partnered with his friend and fellow Jinchurki Killer Bee, the duo forces it back and a viscous battle of monsters ensued.

During the tussle the battle travelled further and further from the gathering shinobi, trying to recover and regroup. They saw the horizon explode on several occasions; the final one preluded the eight tailed smashed through a mountain, before smashing into another and slumping down with blood pooling out of many cuts and wounds. Screams and cries out at his state as the beast began to fade away into chakra particles.

These particles soon darted off towards the ongoing battle and another earth-shattering roar which was then matched as another sky splitting roar followed. A massive eruption then followed before the silence dawned under the new dawn.

The allied forces arrived to find a crumbling form of the Beast of nightmares, but a handful weren't bothered by it instead looking for their comrade and dearest companion. Among the wreckage of tangled limbs found the true hero of the war, Naruto Uzumaki body burnt up and in a weakening state. A random call of. "Naruto!"

Unanimously the entire leaf contingent arrives to find their comrade, classmate, and fellow shinobi, breathing his last breaths. Naruto manages to wheeze out, "Sorry… guys… I broke m…"

His coughs were loaded with dust and thick black blood, a clear sign of his encroaching demise. "My promise."

"Stay with me Naruto. You promised me, remember…?" surprisingly, it was not his pink haired teammate who cried that but rather a blond heiress who was more than a little frazzled at the number of losses she herself has had this fight.

Ino was at his side, grasping his hand, hovering over, thinking that it was first her father, uncle figures, and over half her clan when Obito struck their headquarters, fighting her reanimated sensei, now her boyfriend of only four months.

Gripping his hand tightly, tears falling from her blue pupilless jewels for eyes, Ino pleads for any Kami to save just him, she doesn't care which one, just save him please. Naruto though, coughs again, "I'm sorry… Ino…"

Coughing again, cutting him off mid-scentance, Naruto barely able to feel the pressure or warmth he wasn't really giving her hand, his hokage, and mother figure, Tsunade Senju, too was beside him, trying desperately trying to keep him alive, but was failing. Naruto continued lowly. "…you… I… know you…"

Ino whispered through her tear stained face, tears that ran through the ash of war reavealing her pale, flawless skin. "I'm pregnant doofus. We were meant to be a happy family remember? Even dad said so…!"

Naruto managed a crocked smile at the news, his blank almost grey eyes gaining a small amount of life briefly, his desire to witness the miracle elevating him briefly, as tears trackf down his ash covered, war torn face. He chocked out, "…I'll tell the… others…"

Coughing up more blood and ash, his strength finally begins to fail and shut down from the damage from the fight, Naruto manages a chocked sniffle. "…I see it… our family… married… Hokage… I'm going on now… Ino… I… sor… love you…"

Upon those final words his heart stopped, body falling limp, yet his tears continued to fall, running past his temple, eyes that once held joy, mischief, and warmth fading to dull and lifeless. Never has the passing of one been so soul consuming as when Naruto Uzumaki left the world of the living.

Tsunade's hands stop glowing, her jutsu only confirmed the passing. Sakura Haruno, teammate of the recently deceased, cries into her sensei Jonin vest. The man, Kakashi Hatake, hugged her back firmly as his own tears refused to be held back.

Every single shinobi, regardless of their origin, lowered their heads in respect for the passing of the one who gave everything, even his future, to save them all. They had won but at what cost.

The passing of the child of prophesy was a dark day for the elemental nations. Though he had succeeded in bringing peace as he was foretold to do, it offered no comfort for those who now enjoyed it. Naruto would be honoured across the nations, in every hidden village, every capital city, as statues of him were erected in various poses with various shinobi of note to honour the fallen from all.

In Kumo, Naruto ran side by side with Killer Bee, Ay, and Yugito with nine tails coming off his back, eight from Killer Bee, and two from Yugito and Ay above them charging toward the front gate of the village in the square. The plaque read, "To defend tomorrow."

In Mist, Naruto was honoured by standing alongside the Mei Terumi, the Mizukage, and the seven swordsmen of the mist, holding his mother's sword, back-to-back in a circle in the main square before the kage tower. It's plaque read. "To defend those at our back."

In Iwa, Naruto stood with Han and Rochi. The three were in traditional Iwa Jonin attire with the third Tsuchikage Oniki, his Kage robes and hat, hovering above them with the three locked arms with one another. In true Iwagakure shinobi fashion, their plaque read, "The Will of Stone will always Hold the Line."

In the Hidden Leaf, however, Naruto stood in Jonin attire, great care was taken to have his trademark long headband straps trailing in an unseen wind. Standing with his trademark grin alongside Tsunade Senju, also in wartime Jonin attire but holding the Kage hat, Shukaku Nara, hand in ear as if talking into an earpiece, Inoichi Yamanaka, holding a handsign, Choza Akimichi, weapon in arm and a blank faced Jonin dubbed the 'Unnamed shinobi' all stood back-to-back in combat poses. Naruto was holding the flagpole for the shinobi alliance, the fabric flag flowing in the actual wind.

Ino Yamanaka gave birth to a healthy baby boy, named Sora Yamanaka although he was quite obviously her and Naruto's son, as they never married, he had no claim to the name or inheritance of either Namikaze or Uzumaki. Despite that, he grew up a happy energetic child who excelled in his clan's techniques and shinobi studies.

At the age of three, his chakra was already that of a final year academy student. By his sixth birthday he had successfully mastered all the genin level techniques of the clan and one Chunin rank under his mother's personal tutelage.

Despite running the clan and the flower shop, Ino raised her son well though many says she dotes on him far too much. She, alongside the other Rookie ten, and especially his uncle's Shikamaru and Choji, told him stories of his father and not the bloated ones the village drummed up for the public.

Sora was happy with his life at the moment, his eighth birthday party was coming up next week and his grandma Tsunade had just gave him another lesson on chakra control, that despite being nearly high-Chunin level, was nearly perfect and so was studying a bit of medical jutsu for 'Just in case' emergency situations.

He was also completely unaware of the diabolical, maybe genius plan being worked on by his mother and smartest Uncle in the leaf, all his training was for this purpose to save the ninja world from the last Uchiha.

Yamanaka Clan Office

"Are you sure we calculated everything?" Ino stresses as she looks over the incredibly large and complex formulations spread across her office space and up the walls. Shikamaru sighs again for the umpteenth time, whilst rubbing his bloodshot eyes. The heavy bags beneath his eyes suggest a lack of sleep on his part, though as he is reaching for his pitcher of coffee again, he replied. "Positive."

Kicking off the wall, for the sixth time he might add, the Nara returns to the centre of the twenty by fifteen metre office, sipping absent mindedly, Shikamaru continued explaining. "By tweaking the time part of the Hirishin, we can target, within a respectable reason, a timeframe of about four years…"

"That's a big window." Ino clipped scanning a particular seal diagram again. Shikamaru groaned lightly, drawling. "If I were an Uzumaki, I could probably get it narrower, but this shit is complicated as all hell. It took half the clan eight years working on this to get this far."

Ino paused for a moment, softly asking no one in particular, "There must be a way to…"

Shikamaru swallows his latest sip of spring blend coffee, before asking. "Oh, and are you sure about sending my nephew? We could…"

"Sora deserves this chance." Ino snapped at her brother in all but blood, she sighs heavily again, looking at the Nara stating. "You know as well as I do, that give or take five months, and the fifth war will kick off. We gave up so much for this peace only for that nut job of a Uchiha to threaten it again."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru yawns again, looking to the heavens for answers but by doing so he has an idea as his eyes meet the chandelier, glistening silently above, he murmured. "The crystal."

Following his eyes, the Yamanaka matriarch looks up at her light fixtures for a moment before looking back at her old teammate turn clan leader with a raised brow, Ino wonders if he had finally gone off the deep end but asks anyway. "Crystal?"

Shikamaru nodded again before yawning into his hand, speaking his thoughts aloud, "The first Hokage neckless. It should still have…" he yawns again, earning a tick mark from his troublesome blonde friend. Shikamaru continued, "…some of his residue chakra on it."

Ino paused on that as she contemplates it, it actually might work. "That might just…"

Shikamaru heads to the door, yawning again. "I'll talk with the hokage, grab a coffee on the way, and you grab Tsunade."

Ino huffs before giving one last look over the large seal array, loaded on numerous large paper sheets across the room before then heading off. This has a too work. Their last hope.

Yamanaka Flower shop

As Ino reached the shopfront, her son and former sensei, Sora and Tsunade, enter the building, much to the luck of the clan matriarch. Ino spoke up, "Just who I needed to talk to."

Gaining both newcoming blondes' attention, a uniform raised right brows earning a chuckle from Ino who rests her head on her left palm, elbow on the countertop as she addresses her baby boy. "Sora, darling, go get cleaned up and we'll cook dinner together tonight. How does…?"

He was already halfway up the stairs before she could finish. Cooking seemed to be his favourite pass time, especially with his mother, although lately, things have been getting busier and busier so that they haven't had much mother son time.

The retired Hokage leans against the counter now, amused as ever at her grandson's antics, Tsunade jokes. "As eager as every to please his mummy."

Ino replied hotily, "I'm an amazing mother… right?"

She then flips her long, platinum blonde hair over her shoulder, in a joking matter, mirroring her younger self for a moment. Though when her face becomes stony, it was a signal that the serious talk was about to start. Recognising this, Tsunade matches effortlessly and a small sound barrier engulfs the duo. Ino stated flatly. "We need the neckless."

"Not happening." Tsunade's immediate response, not even blinking or flinching as she did so. Ino sighed, before offering. "Hear me out at least…" Ino sighed and upon a

After a moment of thought, the elder kunoichi nods, Tsunade stating. "This better be good."

Ino nodded firmly, beginning her explanation carefully. "A few years back, I joked about using the Hirishin, a space time technique, to travel back and saving everyone."

Araised eyebrow from the former kage, somewhat amused at the thought. Ino smiled sheepishly, rubbing her left forearm with her right hand, muttering out. "I admit, I may have a had a few bottles…"

Tsunade chuckled lowly, replying. "A few…?"

"Anyway…" Ino pushing the conversation forward, not wanting to dwell on that too long, and ignoring her own tick mark upon her head. She continued. "Shikamaru somehow got a hold of a copy of the notes for said technique and approached me saying it may be possible."

Tsunade looked incredulous at the prospect of time travel, it was ludicrous, muttering out, "Time travel? Really?" Tsunade clearly incredulous at the premise

Ino nodded sternly, eyes holding nothing but resolve and determination. Answering her former teacher's expression dead on, saying. "It isn't perfect and there are a few caveats."

Tsunade pressed, "Like?"

"None of us can go back." Shikamaru arriving with Kakashi Hatake, the seventh Hokage, trailing in after him. Once the two men got close, and reapplication of the seal, Shikamaru continued to explain. "We suspect if any of us go, it will cause a time anomaly as there would be two of any of us. Troublesome."

"Sora, right?" Kakashi states more than asks, connecting the dots simply enough. The boy was the only one here with no connection to the past. He earned two nods, Ino stating with a heavy heart. "His talent in our clan techniques, superior chakra control and reserves makes him almost purpose made for this."

Tsunade quirks a brow, now truly invested in this crackpot scheme the Nara/Yamanaka duo had cooked up, asking, "Oh? How so?"

Ino explained calmly, but none missed the pained expression she wore, "I plan on using a forbidden technique to 'Pack' our memories," gesturing to herself then Shikamaru. "Within his psyche to give to our younger selves."

"What good will that do?" Kakashi intrigued by the concept, this was a game changer potentially. "I still have a copy of Naru-kuns that I will then give to him." Ino states down cast at the thought of her boyfriend. Even now, she calls him that despite him dying nearly nine years ago.

Kakashi nodded in understanding, offering a gentle whisper. "A three-man cell then?"

The duo of clan heads nodded, though Tsunade asks. "What about your Jonin sensei? Surely having someone in the know to aide you in a higher position, would be invaluable no…?"

Shikamaru sighed as he nodded, "We thought of that but going off records…"

Tsunade cut off, stating firmly. "I'll do it."

This caused the others to look to the retired medical ninja, brows arched. Tsunade explained. "I would be the best choice."

Ino slowly inclined her head, speaking carefully, "Well, yes, but why…?"

Shikamaru too was hesitant, speaking just as carefully with his experience with troublesome blondes, spoke. "…besides, you didn't return to the village until after the invasion."

They both fall silent when the neckless lands on the countertop, Tsunade states firmly and full of confidence. "If the brat shows that, I'll come running; no doubt about that right?"

The two conspiring clan heads glance to one another The silent conversation continued for a solid minute before Ino sighs, though Shikamaru announced. "Troublesome. Handles two birds in one crystal."

A chuckle from Kakashi at the pun, a deadpan from Tsunade, and a shaken head from the mind walker.

Kakashi nodded thoughtfully, as he drummed his fingers across the pale orange countertop for anything they may have missed, speaking after a moment. "I suppose you'll need access to the restricted files then." Kakashi muses thumping his fingers across the pale orange countertop,

Shikamaru thought on it then nodded, drawling, "Would be helpful, yes."

Ino then informed them all, I'll need to do a mind scan after that then, save us doing it twice. We'll do it after the party next week. Get everything ready by then."

The group who all nodded to this plan that was coming together.

Tsunade then looks to the Nara, assuming he had the seal works based off of Ino's wording earlier, asking. "Shikamaru, the seal you are working on…"

The Nara fiddles with his sensei's lighter for a moment thinking on that, nodding firmly, Tsunade instructs. "We should use the sealing room in the Senju basement. For the absolute best conditions."

Shikamaru smirks and nodded at her, "Thank Tsunade-sama."

The following week flew by for the four planners,' the birthday party was an amazing success, and thoughtful for the young Yamanaka heir. His grandma gave him her prized necklace, the same one she gave his father along with the promise to up his training. Uncle Gaara gave him a picture of his father when he saved him before the war. The entire Suna force seemed to be in that picture. He also asked why Kankuro wore his sister's makeup, much to the amusement of the sand siblings at the familiar barb.

Kakashi gave him a face mask, in the same vein of his own, and he was never seen without it after that. Uncle Kakashi was the greatest ninja who trained his dad, so it could only be great.

Shikamaru gave him a personalised shoji board, the pieces were fashioned in the vein of the Konoha eleven, and Akatsuki which became rather popular in the war's aftermath.

Ino's however was a shock for most as she handed her son, his father's burnt, scorched and battered headband. Considered a highly sort after treasure having gone missing during the wars clean up. No one suspected that Ino took it as she had made several requests for it in the past.

Sora was brought to tears as he clutched it to his chest, hugging his mother tightly in thanks.

The day following the party, Shikamaru and Tsunade confirmed they had read all the relevant documents and Ino called her son to be briefed.

This was the start of the greatest mission to never happen.

Senju Basement

Sora had never been in this part of the Senju compound. He was being led in by auntie Shizune through the entire compound, and up to this big, bulky, steel metal door.

As soon as it parts, the now eight-year-old platinum blond version of everyone's favourite blond goofball finds himself standing before a group of Nara technicians and the Hokage, himself standing in his official robes. At his sides was his mother, and Uncle Shikamaru along with Grandma Tsunade all with grim seriousness upon the faces.

This clearly was not a social call.

Stepping before his mother, who had approached him and hugged half his life away whispering sweet nothings which sent off alarm bells within the young mind walker. After giving the mother time with her son, Kakashi bellowed out in his Kage voice, "Sora Yamanaka-Uzumaki!"

The boy to stand straight and tall, as Kakashi continued. "I, Kakashi Hatake, the sixth Hokage, hereby promote you to genin of the leaf. Do you accept?"

Eyes wide, the boy puffs up his chest and tries his best salute, Sora responding firmly. "Hai, Lord Hokage!" h

Upon that declaration, his mother than produced his father's headband from her own hip pouch properly attached to new fabric, recovered from his room prior to his calling here. Sora took it reverently; the boy looks up at her to see her loving smile and nod.

Placing it on his forehead, tying it tightly at the back of his hair, Sora looks like a carbon copy of his father without the whisker's but with Ino's hair and eye colour. His clothes were in the same vein as his father, his way of honouring the hero he wishes to surpass but has his mother's colour pallet and clan symbols on the arms and enlarged centralised on the back.

Kakashi continued his briefing, keeping this official and on schedule, they didn't have long. "Genin Sora Yamanaka-Uzumaki, this promotion is temporary but required for this SS-Rank mission."

Ino moving to her son's back as she slowly guides him to the centre of the room, Sora replied. "Hai, Lord Hokage." The new genin responded,

Kakashi nodded to that, face staying firm as he continued. "We have a plan to save everyone but requires your complete, and total cooperation. This will no doubt be a one-way trip. We only have this one chance, one shot at this. Do you understand?"

Sora gulped at that, eyes holding a tinge of fear. "One way…?"

"Baby…?" his mother's voice drew his attention to her, standing at his back, Ino whispering as comforting as she could. "What we are about to do will change everything. The war, the people, the entire world… and it all rests on your shoulders. Do you understand?"

Sora muttered, "I do but…"

"If everything goes to plan, we will meet again in a day or so…" Ino shaking her head, correcting herself. "All of us are depending on you, Sora. You remember the seals for mind body transfer, right?"

Upon his nod, Ino continued. "Good. All you will have to do is find me and use it on me. I can do the rest from then."

"Find you?" Sora questioned with scrunched up eyebrows, clearly confused at what he was being told. Suddenly two hands turn him about, now facing his uncle Shikamaru, who says, "Listen, we don't have much time, we are sending you back in time seventeen years or so. Your only objective is to find your mother…"

He pulled out an old photo from one of their many family picnics from back then, pointing to a young Ino Shikamaru continued, "…and use your technique on her. That will bring your mother from now back into her. Though the age gap will be weird. It's too troublesome to think of anyway. She will take over from there, okay?"

Sora nodded, understanding now and clarifies. "So, find kid mom. That's it?"

"Exactly." Kakashi states gaining the rooms attention, he continued, "You will meet everyone again soon. So good luck kiddo." offering his patented eye smile.

Looking at his family, Sora saw determined faces all around, even his grandma nodded with a smile though he could see that she was crying slightly.

Taking a deep breath, Sora declared. "Okay. I'm ready."

Everyone smiles at him, his mother hugging him for dear life whilst whispering sweet nothings in his ear again with one final. Ino's soft voice. "I love you, my clear sky."

"I love you too mum." Sora smiled sweetly in return.

Everyone in the room began feeding their entire chakra reserves into the seal array beneath them, everyone swallowing at least two soldier pills to recharge their reserves. Two were the safe limit, Sora knew that any more would ruin a shinobi's chakra network after that.

Yet here were the elites of the village taking more than what was safe, not caring for the consequences. Grandma even released her forehead seal and throwing back the Akimichi food pills like candy.

The seals glow grows continuously, yet a massive explosion is heard in the distance, muffled by the chamber walls. The area shook causing the seal to flicker slightly, Kakashi orders all within, authority of his position evident. "Ignore it. Keep going!"

He himself was popping his third pill, barely keeping pace with Shizune and Ino. Just then, two Anbu appear in the room to report but was cut off, Kakashi ordering. "Perfect, we just need a bit more juice. Channel your chakra into one of the empty spaces."

Without being needy to asked twice, the two operatives join in on the effort, and before long, the seal had charged, glowing blindingly brightly. Shortly after there was a massive, blinding yellow flash, with the last words Sora would here from that time came from his mother. "Your father's waiting."

Hidden Leaf – Eight years after the Kyubi Attack

Sora finds himself strolling through the market district, not recognising where exactly he was. As he turns a corner, he paused, head tilting. "Why is there a park here?"

Trying to recall the mental map as he approached the grassy field, but it would seem his father's legendary luck was on his side. As before him were the very people he was looking for, the future Konoha-ten, infamous among the nations for their unrivalled coordinated attacks and formidable teamwork. Tested and verified by both Kumogakure's bolt division and Iwagakure's Gem corps.

Sora spotted under a tree in the near distance was a napping uncle Shimakaru Nara, his Akimichi side kick munching at his side. Over by the jungle gym was the ever boisterous and loud Inazuka heir, he never met the guy before but his mother always called him dog breath.

He noticed that the Hyūga heiress was being pushed on the swing by her guard, who himself was glaring at; Sora's breath hitched. Following the Hyūga's eyes led him to a mop of sun kissed blond hair, in the same style as his own, solid cobalt blue eyes set above whiskered cheeked boy of roughly the same age as himself in the shadows of an alleyway just beyond the park.

"Just like mom said…" Sora whispered, but just as he took a step towards his father he was grasped from behind by a large firm hand, and a voice he didn't know, "and whom do we have here?"

Sora let out an uncharacteristic yelp, for a ninja in training at least, and was quick to spin round only to find exactly who he was looking for, and a bit more than anticipated. As before him stood, the legend of the Yamanaka clan, Inoichi Yamanaka, his grandpa. It seems that he was currently escorting his daughter, his mother, to the park to collect Shikamaru and Choji for dinner.

Naturally, when he saw a boy of similar age to his daughter, wearing his clans crest so brazenly upon his person but did not recognise him, he grew curious and approached. He did not mean to startle the kid so badly though.

After taking a moment to regain himself, Sora bowed profusely, speaking loosely. "Umm... I'm sorry, jiji." Sora bowing profusely

This earned a giggle from Ino, a tick mark from the oldest blond present, Sora continued. "I didn't notice you there."

Inoichi mumbled lowly, "I'm not that old," before sighing out visible, before staring down at the child, asking. "Whatever kid, just tell me who you are as I don't recognise you, yet you wear my clan crest."

Sora nodded before explaining, "Ah, well that's because..." he then froze as if someone hit pause, mouth open as his eyes seemed fixated on the clan head than down to the girl at his side, staring at him intently with a gleam of mischief and amusement in equal measure. Closing his mouth and furring his brow, Sora ponders what he should do.

On one hand, his orders were simple or perhaps simply vague. No one said not to tell anyone who he was. Then again, they weren't sure when exactly or if it would even work so maybe they just hoped to get the package to target with no other real objectives after that.

His eyes widen upon that realisation, "Did they even know when I'd arrive?" was his whispered thought that Ino didn't catch but Inoichi did. Sighing hard, Sora began rubbing the bridge of his nose, which was rather comical for an eight-year-old, complaining about stupidly smart Nara forgetting we aren't all that smart, and stupid kages and their lack of direction.

Inoichi actually snorted internally at that, he fully understood the boy whenever Shikaku went off on one of his rants, it annoyed everyone to no end.

The still unknown boy taking a deep breath, seemingly to drain away his frustrations, and a very discreet surrounding check, Inoichi was somewhat startled when he received a telepathic poke from the boy. Intrigued, Inoichi accepted it and heard the boys voice clear as day. "My name is Sora Yamanaka-Uzumaki..."

This caused the older blond to almost face fault, but the boys raised hand, stopped his immediate dismissal or demand for answers. Sora continued calmly. "Yes, I have proof of what I am, who I am, and the ramifications of everything. I am here on orders of the seventh hokage, who gave me a mission that will never happen. For now, can we go somewhere private as this is also technically a clan matter."

Ino knew something was happening between her father and this boy ahead of them. She could sense something just on the edge of something, and not only that, but he felt familiar and warm. Not only that, but her daddies facial expressions also kept changing meaning a mental conversation. Damn. She hasn't learned to listen into those yet.

"Okay, Sora." her daddy finally called out, stunning her that he knew the boys name, Inoichi continued. "We need to drop off Shika and Choji to their homes before we head back."

"Thanks, jiji!" Sora cheered and her father growled out about not being old enough to be a grandfather before walking off, the boy, Sora, falling into step effortlessly. Inoichi called out, "Choji! Shika! Time to go!"

It didn't take long before the Yamanaka trio made it back to the compound and caused many heads to turn at the newcomer. The funniest, in Sora's humble, eight-year-old, opinion, was Azumi-Oba who had to do a double take between him and her daughter several times, almost dropping several expensive vases were it not for the lightning fast relaxes of the grandson of the fourth hokage.

Somehow things moved on to an hour discussion of flower arrangements, Ino and Sora arguing against Inoichi and Azumi, mainly Azumi though, but it was shelved until after dinner.

Post dinner, Sora wanted to get this over with so cleared his throat and all eyes fall on him as he asked. "Is this room secure?"

Inoichi performs several hand signs before the walls all glow briefly, and he nodded saying. "It is now."

"Okay." Sora nodded back, before taking another deep breath, explaining. "I have proof of my claims; my mother used the forbidden art; Psyche Pachetto on me."

Inoichi and Azumi both paled at that, how can someone. Inoichi jumped to his feet from his chair opposite, roaring out. "WHO...?! WHY?!"

Only to fall silent when the boy points to his right, directly at Ino. Ino herself looked puzzled before huffing, arms crossed, "Huh? Me? I've never met you before..."

How dare this boy try and frame her for a crime of whatever this Psyche Pachetto is. Sora continued to explain however, "My orders, and I quote, 'Find your mother, and use the technique on her. She will do the rest.' end quote."

It took more than a few seconds for his words to sink in but when they did, several things happened at once. Inoichi fainted. Azumi squealed. Ino gaped. Sora bust his gut at the sight.

An embarrassing amount of time later, the family was able to compose itself somewhat when Sora stood and bowed in an introduction. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Sora Yamanaka-Uzumaki, son of Ino Yamanaka, clan head of the Yamanaka clan, and Hero of the Fourth Shinobi war Naruto Uzumaki. Though, I have never met him as he died before I was born."

Ino turned pale then green in disgust, muttering. "EW! Naruto? But he's so..."

"Fourth shinobi war..." Inoichi spoke over his daughter with a face of utmost seriousness at the mention of another shinobi war. Sora nodded matching his seriousness, responding. "I hadn't studied it yet, as I'm still only a second year at the academy, but from the stories I heard from mom, uncle Choji and Shikamaru, it wasn't like the others. I don't really know what that means either. Just all I was told was to give the packet to mom and she'll take over from there."

"Sora, dear..." Azumi getting the boys attention whilst Inoichi was thinking on everything present thus far. "How far back did you come from?"

"Seventeen... I think..."

"...and your eight, right?" Azumi pressed. Sora nodded, "My birthday was yesterday."

"Happy birthday." They all cheered, and he beamed at them. Whilst the boy was distracted about his party, Azumi did the math. Her daughter must have fallen pregnant with the war ending within her first trimester. She would have been sent home otherwise.

For whatever reason, assuming it to be true, the Hidden Leaf sent an eight-year-old back to change things which means things were desperately bad with little to no other options. The blatant use of forbidden jutsu's leads credence to just such an eventuality, not to mention that if her maths is correct, this fourth war starts in about, Azumi muttered out. "Eight years. Another war in eight years."

"Sora – Ino. let's begin the unpacking process." Inoichi too had come to the same dismal conclusion his wife had, his daughter in the future had put everything on the shoulders of her son, his grandson, to save them from something.

Something so bad that time travel was the desperation move. Not only that, but the fact also that she was the clan head suggests that he was no longer around either. The only one who could answer these questions will be…

Ino's whining cut off Inoichi's thoughts, as she complained. "But daddy...!"

It was clear she was not liking the fact that, if she understood correctly, her future self-settled for Uzumaki instead of Sasuke-kun. Ino went on. "I don't want to date Naruto-baka when Sasuke-kun is so much..."

Slap.

Ino was in shock, Sora had suddenly slapped her with so much hatred in his eyes that she was frozen in fear. Sora growled out, "That Uchiha..." the eight-year-old spat with so much venom, the adults were surprised the floor didn't melt from it.

Sora continued, "...killed Uncle Choji. Auntie Firen, Auntie Kable, and plenty of my cousins too. My mum doesn't know that I overheard her and Uncle Shikamaru, and I pretended not to know but I still cried at his funeral. Do not ever say that man's name in front of me, again!" he shouted at the end and Inoichi was beaten to the punch by Azumi who was quick to wrap the boy into a hug as he began to break down in tears.

Ino was left speechless again. Sasuke, in the future, kills Choji. Not just him, but many of her clansmen too. There must be... "Stop, Ino." her father interrupting her thoughts, drawing her attention to him. Inoichi shook his head, saying. "You will know what happened soon, so let's go down to the training room and begin the process."

"...but umm... daddy..." the meekness within that plea from Ino caused Inoichi to pause, turn back and really look at his daughter. She looked so lost, afraid, and innocent. Sighing he returned to her and brought her into a fatherly embrace that forced her normally hotly attitude to vanish and the sniffles of a young girl could be heard.

Training Dojo; Sometime later...

Azumi carried her alleged grandson down to the training dojo, Inoichi did the same with Ino and the set both down on a matt at one end of the traditional hall, though Sora noticed how many clover bushes climbing up the support beams equally spaced apart.

With everyone settled, Inoichi asks Sora. "Now then, Sora. You were told to perform the mind transfer to connect the packages to their owners, yes?"

Upon his innocent nod, his eyes still red, Inoichi sighed out, "Well, although that isn't wrong, it isn't exactly safe either."

Azumi looks down at the boy on her lap, asking softly, "Who told you do so dear?"

Sora responded with out hesitation, "Mom did."

"What's the worst that could happen?" Ino questioned with a tilted head, confirming the recklessness she will later inhabit was already ingrained in her character at this age causing a sweat-drop from her father and a soft chuckle from her mother.

"Fine... let's do this all together and deal with your reckless tendencies in regard to mental health later." Inoichi sighs as he shifts with his daughter on his lap, a hand resting on her head with his other stretched out and grasped by Azumi, who in turn placed a hand atop Sora's head.

Sora's Mindscape

As the foursome's breaths synchronised, they soon entered a joint mental space that resembled the Hidden Leaf. A Hidden Leaf that three of the four did not recognise, as they look up to see the Hokage Mountain, but the adults noticed the four Kage towers.

One in the traditional centre, one where the Nara Ranch ought to be and another just off the side up ahead. "Seven faces?" Ino looking puzzled where as Inoichi and Azumi recognised the fifth, and seventh "Tsunade Senju, Kakashi Hatake?"

"I've never met Papa, but they made put him as hokage after his death as lord sixth." Sora comments looking up at the stone face of his father, a soft smile.

"So, the idiot actually did become hokage?" Ino questioned also looking at the monument, a little awed at the sight, "That he did." a new voice called out, jerking everyone's attention to the side where, atop a nearby rooftop sat two familiar, at least to Sora, figures. The second one sighed out, "Troublesome. Figured this would happen."

"Uncle Shika? Mom?" Sora questioned and surely enough the twenty-five-year-old Ino Yamanaka and Shikamaru Nara, in their Jonin outfits, sat with their feet dangling off the edge of the single-story shop. Shikamaru Nara waved lazily, breathing out his smoke. "Yo squirt."

"Knew you'd come, daddy." elder Ino with hands on hips, cheeky grin on full as she leans forward off the edge of the building. Inoichi replied. "Is that why you taught him the incorrect way to...?"

Ino nodded before dropping down from the building, telling. "Yep! You'd want to dive and see if my baby was telling you the truth about everything, he no doubt told you. Then help out with the psyche unpacking. Figured it was the best way to explain just how dire things that had required us to resort to this."

The whole time she was speaking, she was approaching the group, Shikamaru dropping down after her, a half step behind, still smoking and slouched. Inoichi nodded in understanding, murmuring out. "Well thought out..."

He then inspecting his grown daughter before him, she was a lot like her mother but with much lighter hair that matched his own, based on the muscle tone and definition she leans more towards acrobatics, speed, and agility over raw strength. The callouses on her hands suggests a weapon of some kind, her balanced standing stance suggests a long blade, or two short ones.

Azumi was in the same boat but instead of noticing her combat capabilities, it was clear that her daughter had grown into a fine clan head. She clearly raised a fine young man if his hugging her immediately, whilst running the clan, flower shop, and even managed to keep her figure. She smirked, yes, her Ino did well.

Young Ino looked at her supposed elder self and could not help but gawk at how well she turned out. She was a bombshell, even after having a child and from what she said, she is even Clan head. So why did she settle for the idiot Naruto? Surely Sasuke...

"I wouldn't think on that too much, little me." Adult Ino staring at her younger counterpart intensely, causing said eight-year-old to take a step back. Shikamaru snickered silently with the elder woman's side. "Man, it's easy to forget how much of a fangirl you were back then."

"Laugh it up, Fanboy. Just you wait..." Ino all but hissed at her Nara friend, folding her arms with narrowed eyes.

"Enough you two..." Inoichi easily slipping into his parental role between his daughter and nephew figure, yet when he saw them look to him both smile at him, he paused. Ino spoke first, tears in her eyes. "It's good to see you again, daddy."

Though it only lasted a moment before both she and Shikamaru's eyes harden, Ino near enough ordering as a clan head, "Come, let's get you up to speed."

She leaps off, Shikamaru following with Sora on his back, the others following moments later.

Off Centre Kage Tower

Landing on the roof of the out of place Kage Tower, Adult Ino looks back at her father's party with the utmost seriousness. This was not the playful girl that appeared at first, but the clan head and war veteran kunoichi who spoke now. "As you may have realised, the Kage towers represent the combined knowledge that I compacted into Sora's mind and chakra."

Inoichi nods at that, the reason he hadn't put his baby girl down, "Yes. I can feel your chakra making up this building."

Keeping her from touching the foreign chakra that belonged to her. Shikamaru gestured towards the woods, by the Nara ranch, saying. "Mines over there."

"Mines there!" Sora pointing behind him to the traditional position of the Kage Tower.

"Then, whom does that one belongs to." Azumi looking to the one on the opposite side of the village to the others, nearly covered by the forests that surrounded it.

Sora cheered immediately upon gazing upon it. "Ba-chans!" Sora cheered earning

A raised brow from Azumi, who points to herself. "Mine?" pointing to herself

This confused the boy briefly, Shikamaru however supplied helpfully, informing them. "He means Lady Tsunade."

"You know Tsunade Senju?" Little Ino bellowed, bouncing excitedly in her father's arms. Her fellow eight-year-old bobbing his head excitedly in a rare bout of childishness his mother knew he preferred to keep hidden for some reason. The complete opposite to herself and his father, but she listened as Sora continued. "Yeah, she cooked my birthday cake for my party yesterday, it was really nice!"

Sora's bragging that was eerily similar to how Ino does further cementing that Sora was most definitely a momma's boy in the minds of the two grandparents of said boy.

Shikamaru glanced to his Ino and coughs, gaining her attention successfully, "Troublesome. We should get them here too and..." Older Ino kicked her fingers and abruptly the new arrivals appear before the two groups atop the tower.

"Tsk, troublesome." Shikamaru grumbles at their sudden appearance, quickly flicking his smoke off the edge of the building now that his own family had arrived. At the behest of Inoichi no doubt, which included his younger self and his mother.

Shikaku was confused, his tone didn't hide it as he whispered. "What the...?"

His gaze was on the adult Nara before him, looking far to similar to himself for comfort. Shikaku narrowed his eyes upon this unknown, who just flicked a cigarette butt off the edge of this building. "Who are you?"

Shikamaru mumbled beneath his breath, in a very familiar way, "Menodocus; It's good to see you again dad." looking to his side, Yoshino was wide eyed at the sight of her baby all grown up, which lasted all of three seconds as her mind caught on to the fact that this disrespectful Jonin before her was smoking. She yelled. "SHIKAMARU NARA!" causing both instances of said boy to stiffen straight as a board. "How dare you...?"

"The scolding will have to wait guys." Inoichi interrupting the Nara's, who look over to what they quickly deduce is an older Ino as a counterpart to this older Shikamaru along with that kid Shikamaru told his father about was hanging around Ino and her dad. Inoichi continued firmly, "I brought you here as we've heard some pretty dangerous intel, if it's accurate."

"Does the fact that we resorted to time travel to solve it does not persuade you that the situation was dire?" Shikamaru asked suddenly getting annoyed at the lack of faith on their behalf.

"Seriously?" Younger Shikamaru, (I shall refer to as Shika, from now on.) questioned to which the man nodded, Shikamaru said lowly. "Troublesome doesn't even begin to cover it."

"How bad." Shikaku now slipping into commander mode, firm and level gazed with his fellow commander of the Jonin forces, Shikamaru responded in kind. "At the end of the Fourth Great Shinobi war, we were down to just less than sixty percent of your current forces, assuming the records kept were accurate."

There was a collective wince from the adults who understood, adult Ino added on to that, "Including Naruto and the other vessels, most were killed before and the protection of he and the holder of the eight tails was the focal point of the war."

Shikaku and Inoichi both raised eyebrows at that, Shikaku asking. "Naruto is part of the reason for the fourth war?"

"Not him directly, but his passenger." Ino added, skirting around the issue just enough that the kids had no idea, but the adults caught on. Shikamaru then informed them, "A group of S-rank missing ninja band together and collect each and every single one to form the world ending Ten Tails, the originator of all chakra."

"You can't be..." Azumi began to speak but paused by, Shikamaru as he shakes his head, stating. "Naruto explained it like, the beast itself was the will of the planet itself. He, who had, at the time, more chakra than eighty percent of all the worlds shinobi combined, couldn't sense the end of it."

That sent cold shivers down their spines, Shikaku asks the million Ryo question, "How did you beat it?"

This earning a defeated yet clearly frustrated sigh from the normally lazy genius, Shikamaru rubbing the bridge of his nose. "We didn't... Naruto did. He and Killer Bee, did something and neither survived."

"I was only barely able to tell him I was pregnant." Ino wiping away tears as she recalls that moment, "We had been dating four months at that point. He even took me on dates in the war camps and such."

"So, what forced your hand then? If the war was over..." Yoshina not understanding the situation yet. All three-time travellers spoke in unison, "Sasuke Uchiha..." a name spoken with so much venom, the adults instinctively covered the ears of their children. Ino spoke up passionately in her hatred of the betrayer, "Fucking traitor usurped the Sound Village leadership, somehow placed loyalty seals and powerful genjutsu's upon Iwa's and Mist's kage's and forced a war against us. We had less than twenty percent of our entire force, reserves and militia men included, left when Kakashi green lit this plan."

Shikaku shook his head at that grim outlook, running the numbers mentally, reeling at the thought of the casualty numbers, "Damn. So, a desperation play then?"

"Yeah. It was all we really had." Ino confirmed before older Shikamaru spoke next, explaining further. "Took a joint effort between the Nara, Yamanaka, and the remnants of the Uzumaki to break down the flying thunder god enough for us to produce a workable plan. Three years to just iron it out so we could get here."

"Then it's decided." Inoichi looking to his daughter, regret, and sorrow over loosing her innocence prematurely "Sweetie…"

"…please, no daddy…" young Ino almost crying at the thought of everything going on.

As the Yamanaka have their moment, the elder Shikamaru approaches his family and younger counterpart. "We should get moving too. Give them a moment."

Northern Kage Tower

"Haaa… troublesome. Things are that bad huh?" Shika comments as he follows after himself. Shikamaru states with a heavy sigh, "You have no idea. We lost everything. Our wife and the bulk of the clan."

They leap from the roof. Yoshino perked up at that despite the growing lump in her throat at the thought of the clan being on the brink of extermination. "Wife?"

Shikamaru breaks into a soft smile and glances back at his mother, "Her name was Temari. Daughter of the fourth Kazekage, sister of the fifth. We met during our first Chunin exams and grew closer over time."

Landing and pushing off as they reach the edge of the building lines, Shikamaru continued smoothly. "You two got on great. It was such a drag."

Yoshino smiled warmly, "Will you…"

"No." Shikamaru states with a firm resolve, glancing back at his mother with a gaze of absolute steel. "We discussed it at length. It wouldn't be right to thrust this upon her and we had limited space for us. Kakashi would have been good to bring back but…" shrugging as they stop at the front of their destination. He then whispered, "It's time."

The family stepped in together.

Training Dojo

Everyone out of the mindscape at the same time, missing two mental projections. Many of the eyes unsure if they had made the only choice, "Ino...?"

"Dad..." Ino's response was far more calculated than before, the look of a war veteran behind those blues that lacked the innocence they had at lunch. She then looked to her mothers lap, where her own baby was looking back at her. "...Sora."