A/N: just a reminder that i tend to post to AO3 faster, because unlike FFN ao3 actually has a strikethru text option RIGHT in the doc editing field, instead of making me go to a text generator and copy pasting from there and its just so much work posting on this site i sometimes ignore it for a week or two before i manage to have the energy to deal with the annoyance and post xD
I don't know why ffn accepts strikethrus from the text generator but NOT my google doc, but it pisses me off so fuckin much you have NO idea.
As always, thanks for reading, and hope you enjoy!
Sakura's fingers dance lightly over the windowsill, back and forth, back and forth, a soothing distraction. Her other hand plays idly with the strands of her hair, twisting, twining, pulling-
She carefully doesn't look at her reflection in the glass, doesn't grind her teeth-
̶D̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶e̶
It's not-
She… she's been forced to admit, since Natsu came, that perhaps she was a little vain about her appearance.
Natsu, who never cared about mud or blood or whether his hair is a mess of tangles or not. Natsu, who tries, but only because he's trying to respect that it's her body, and is all too prone to forgetting.
Natsu, who only thinks about his appearance when he's trying to help her, and never because it bothers him.
Sakura, ever since she's been able to see, can't help the discomfort sometimes, at how- how-
How much of a boy Natsu is.
̶S̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶a̶b̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶s̶e̶n̶.̶
̶S̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶.̶
Even Tenten doesn't make as much of a mess as Natsu does and Sakura has every right to be annoyed!
So- so maybe she's a little vain. It's not a big deal! But. Right now, her appearance…
Sakura's eyes drift up to the glass, and then sharply away. Even that half-reflection is too much, her eyes-
She's not sure why… at some point during the fight, her window started… she can't really explain it, even to herself, but something happened. And now, her face-
It'll be fine. It's probably not her real face, though Natsu hasn't woke up yet for her to see. She's pretty sure real faces can't change like that.
Though- shouldn't it be harder for her mental image of herself to change? At least, she should have to want it, right?
Sakura bites her lip, fighting the urge to cry. She's fine. It- it probably- maybe- hopefully- hasn't affected her real body. She's fine. She's fine- Even- even if her face does look like that-
Her team wouldn't hate her- p-probably….
Sakura brings her feet onto the chair, and gives in to the urge to cry.
She ignores the roughened feel of her face, pressing into her knees-
She cries harder.
"Oh, Outer…"
A warm hand on her head, gently ruffling her hair, and Sakura sniffles.
"S-Sakuni…" she doesn't lift her head, can't lift her head-
She doesn't want to see the same face on her Other, doesn't want to contemplate what it could mean if she doesn't see that same face looking back-
"It hasn't affected your body."
"W-what? How do you…"
Weight, settling on the edge of a chair made for one person, pressing warm into Sakura's side. "Because Natsu woke up a little bit ago. He was supposed to come talk to you first, but the idiot forgot. Don't worry, we can yell at him for it later. Everything hurts, and I won't lie, your hair is a disaster, and I don't think Natsu's even noticed yet, but this? This is temporary. You and Natsu, to pull off your plan, you really tangled your energies together. So when Natsu went too far and started losing control, well… this is what happened. I'm not unaffected either, though it's a little less intense I think. Igneel says it should slowly revert as your body and chakra coils recover from the strain. This is… temporary. Even if it hurts to look at."
"Lost control?" Sakura peeks out, glimpses a green-tinted hand on her shoulder, and buries her face back in her knees.
"Aaah, yeah, I suppose it never really came up. Igneel told me, and did speak at length with Natsu on the Bridge, but you weren't really there for either of those conversations… Natsu's power is pretty dangerous, as I understand. The kind of power humans aren't really meant to control, so it has side effects. If they push too hard, they can literally lose their humanity. Natsu's own body has defenses in place, to help prevent that. But ours doesn't, and Natsu's not really good at holding back."
Sakura snorts, and Sakuni chuckles with her. "Yeah, you know how it is. Thing is, with how tangled together all three of us are, you and I got hit with the backlash of it, and in some ways we might have actually got hit worse. Sure, our body's a bit of a mess right now, even if it hasn't changed at all, but- this power, it warps the mind as well. And while Natsu's mental avatar is unchanged, that's because he has a lot of training specifically to handle this magic. You know? But we don't, so when all that energy was running rampant, it messed us up a bit. If it doesn't revert on its own, we can probably ask Natsu for help though. If that idiot ever remembers he's supposed to show up, that is…" Sakuni trails off, grumbling, and Sakura giggles.
"We'll have to come up with a good lecture for him," she offers, peeking out again to smile at her Inner, and Sakuni grins back, wide and vicious.
"I like how you think! Hmm, how should we start…"
"Kakashi, I am one wrong word away from stabbing you. So be careful when you open your mouth."
Kakashi's mouth clicks shut, and he stares consideringly at Inoichi. The Yamanaka head looks dead on his feet, and Kakashi can't blame him, honestly, a high-ranking T&I operative in the wake of an invasion, especially one where some of their own actively betrayed them? The man must be surviving off of more caffeine than half the ANBU corps combined.
…probably the cause of at least half the work the ANBU are doing, for that matter. He knows from his own time, lots of fetch requests from T&I that were a complete waste of ANBU skillset but too sensitive to be allowed to anyone with less clearance, and he can't imagine there's less of that now, in the wake of the invasion.
…he's going to get stabbed, isn't he.
Kakashi sighs, shifting his weight to better protect his poor kidneys. He really can't afford for them to take any more damage, the medics are getting annoyed, something about 'too much repeated trauma' and all that rot. Still, best not to chance it... "I wanted to follow up on the evaluation of Uzumaki Karin."
Aaah, there's the kunai. Impressively, Inoichi's control is just enough that he doesn't imbed it in Kakashi's face. The way his muscles spasm though, it's a near thing.
Kakashi takes a delicate step backwards. Just in case.
"I understand that you're fond of your students, Hatake-kun."
Oh dear. Oh dear. Kakashi has badly underestimated Inoichi's annoyance with him.
Is it too late to run?
"And because I understand that, I can equally guess what went through your head when you found an Uzumaki among our enemies. But no matter how many times you ask. I. Cannot. Allow. A foreign agent. Access to our jinchurikki. No, do NOT open your mouth! LISTEN! It doesn't matter whether she cleared all the checks. It doesn't matter that she was an unwilling participant. Danzo-sama will have my head if he thinks I even, for a second, considered this! And if I were stupid enough to put your request down on paper, he'd have you strung up as a traitor faster than you can say warhawk. I'm sorry, Hatake, but it's not happening. Not unless you put your name in to become Kage and authorize it yourself. Okay? I can tell you she cleared all her checks and is just in holding. I've left her abilities off the reports, for her own safety, but that's all I can do for you. She'll stay in holding until things calm down, and maybe in a couple months we can bring this up again to whoever becomes the Godaime. Now please leave before someone starts asking questions, this place is crawling with ANBU in masks I don't recognize."
Kakashi opens his mouth, because what, in the wake of betrayal why would-
And then he thinks about it.
ROOT. Of course.
Supposedly disbanded, but, well.
He knows Danzo better than he'd like.
He grimaces. Time for that conversation with Naruto he was trying to avoid…
"I understand. Thank you for your patience, Yamanaka-sama." He bows respectfully and takes off, sending a clone to Jiraiya and letting the Sannin know he's changed his mind.
Now to convince his blond-haired bratling to actually go along with it…
Kakashi sighs.
The things he does for these kids, really.
And they don't even appreciate it!
No respect for their sensei at all!
He finds the blond, unsurprisingly, in Natsu's hospital room, sniping with Sasuke.
What a headache.
"Fighting, boys?" He asks, moving seamlessly between them and ruffling their hair. Naruto yelps, falling forward, as Sasuke scoffs at him. Kakashi smoothly continues before his students can rebut him. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to steal Naruto away again, try not to fight the bedsheets while we're gone!" he offers cheerily, scooping the blond up against his protests and escaping with a shunshin.
"Lemme go lemme GO! Sensei, whaddya want I already ate and took a shower and everything!"
Oh dear.
Kakashi knew Naruto wouldn't like this, but he does agree with Jiraiya's logic and.
Well.
His students have a terribly unfortunate habit of learning things they're not supposed to, and he needs Naruto to not find out about Karin until he's got things figured out.
Or at least until she's out of T&I.
…yeah. At least that much.
He's got to get the boy out of the village.
But he knows Naruto won't want to leave his team behind, and neither of them are fit for travel. Even if Natsu woke up right now, Kakashi knows there's no way he'd be immediately ready for any length of trip, and certainly not at the pace Jiraiya needs to set if they want even a chance of pulling this off.
This is going to end in bruised kidneys, for sure.
Hopefully just bruised.
"Jiraiya's requested you for a special mission-"
"NO!" Naruto jerks away, arms crossed, glaring up at him, and Kakashi can't really help the flinch at those eyes, glinting in betrayal. "Sensei, you can't just send me away-! My team's hurt-! I'm not leaving them in the hospital!"
He'll regret it later, but. He needs to tell the kid the truth - some of it, anyway.
…somewhere they can't be overheard. "Let's have this conversation back at my place, yeah? At least just hear me out first, because this is really important."
Naruto scowls, opening his mouth to, quite clearly, reject him, bubbling with hurt and resentment, and. Kakashi needs him to agree. "Please. Naruto-kun. It's important."
The anger doesn't fade, but- hesitation. Kakashi doesn't sigh in relief, just offers his student a bright smile beneath the mask when he nods in acquiescence.
It's a silent walk back to his apartment, and a silent wait as Kakashi goes through his seals and makes sure everything's secure. Kakashi thinks about making tea, they've had other conversations in that way before, but- perhaps that isn't the right mood, this time.
He sits down at his small table, and once Naruto joins him, still suspicious, still angry, he starts. "I know you've… already heard about Sandaime-sama's death. A new Hokage has to be selected." He raises a hand when Naruto tries to say something, wordlessly asking for time. "Sandaime-sama never told his advisors or the wider village council about Natsu and Sakura's situation, leaving it only to those few of us who needed to know. It was a concession he made, as much for my sake as because Inoichi quite firmly vouched for Natsu's character. However, detailed reports have been kept regarding Natsu's situation, sealed in the Hokage's private records. Currently, the one most likely to be chosen for Godaime Hokage is… not someone who would treat Natsu kindly."
"WHAT?! But Natsu's done nothing wrong-!"
"I know that, and you know that. But that candidate, he's a paranoid man, who doesn't like people he can't control, whose village was just invaded besides. You and I both know Natsu is…not controllable on a good day, nevermind a bad one. Jiraiya doesn't want him to become Hokage either, but the only other person who has a chance of winning the selection… left Konoha a long time ago. She hasn't wanted to come back at all. But, for a lot of reasons, most of which I agree with… Jiraiya thinks you might be able to convince her to come back. I know you don't want to leave your teammates behind. Naruto-kun, I understand completely. But there's simply no way that the warhawk would allow Natsu to continue as a member of Team 7, if he had authority as Hokage. Likely, he would require Natsu and Sakura to be confined to a T&I hall until the Yamanaka could find a way to forcibly expel him. We need to petition Tsunade-sama as the Godaime Hokage if we want to keep Team 7 together, which means you and Jiraiya need to leave, and you need to leave as fast as possible. Currently everyone is busy cleaning up the mess from the invasion and planning the funerals and Sandaime-sama's wake. But the time-sensitive things won't last much longer, and we need Tsunade-sama here before everything's done. Do you understand?"
Kakashi hates the look of fear simmering behind Naruto's eyes, and tries not to fear the fury he can glimpse behind it. For a lot of reasons, Kakashi is absolutely certain that if Danzo becomes Hokage, they'll have a rogue jinchurikki faster than he can say kyuubi. Between Karin and Natsu, nevermind Danzo's opinions on Sasuke- and with Danzo's normal behavior on top of that…
It would be a clusterfuck of epic proportions, and Kakashi really does not want to see it come to that.
"Why would she listen to me?" Naruto asks, softly, eyes turning down to his hands.
Kakashi sighs. The closer he comes to that truth without saying it, the more angry Naruto will be when he learns about Karin, but… for now he needs an answer.
"Her grandmother was a member of the Uzumaki clan, who'd married into her family, so you're related to her. She… has a lot of complicated feelings for Konoha, and doesn't really want to come back, but we're hoping… between you and Jiraiya, that you can convince her. There just aren't a lot of shinobi with the kind of reputation that could challenge the warhawk as a candidate, so we're really banking a lot of our hopes here. If you can't convince her, I can try putting my name in the candidates pool, and hope my own reputation is enough, but… I don't want to be Hokage. I can't be both Hokage and your sensei, and I'd really rather be the latter. Assuming I could even win to begin with. But that means we have to bring Tsunade-sama back, and you're our best hope. I know you don't want to leave when both your teammates are in the hospital. And I'm sorry that I'm asking you to. If I thought anyone else had a better chance of convincing her to come back, I would never have asked you. I can promise you that I won't leave them alone until you're back. No one should be looking too closely at Team 7 while they're busy with everything else, but I plan to be keeping a very close eye on them just in case. They'll be safe, I can promise you that."
Naruto drags his gaze up, meeting Kakashi's eye, his own burning with resolve. "I'll hold you to that, sensei. And- if you're that certain Natsu'n'Sakura won't be safe unless we get that lady back, then I'll convince her, 'ttebayo. But- even if she refuses. I won't- I won't let anyone hurt them. You understand?"
His eyes are more purple than blue, with a fire that burns more fiercely than human will can account for. If he focuses, Kakashi can detect just the slightest hint of something demonic creeping through his student's chakra.
He nods, resolute. "Don't worry. No matter what happens, I don't abandon my team. I'm your sensei, so I'm with you guys all the way to the end. No matter what."
Wide eyes, shock painting his student's face, as though Naruto can't believe that he'd-
Kakashi looks away. If he keeps staring, at his sensei's son, his student, ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶l̶d̶-̶h̶a̶v̶e̶-̶b̶e̶e̶n̶-̶b̶r̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶,̶ as Naruto looked at him with complete surprise that Kakashi would support him-
He can't look.
"Okay. O-okay… I'll… go back my bag then?" Naruto's voice comes out slightly hesitant, as he glances back in the direction of the hospital, and Kakashi ruffles his hair.
"Jiraiya will meet you at the gate in half an hour, so you have time to go back by the hospital if you're quick. Don't tell Sasuke the details, because those rooms aren't secure, but you can let him know you're going on a mission at Jiraiya's request. I'll fill him and Natsu in properly as soon as Natsu wakes up, ne?"
Naruto nods, then turns as they make it to the door.
The hug, as unexpected as it is, makes Kakashi feel even worse.
Naruto will be so upset when he learns about Karin.
He hugs his student back regardless. Kushina would find a way to stab him from beyond the grave, if he didn't.
His poor kidneys have made it this far intact, he really can't risk it now.
Kakashi's clone finds Jiraiya as the older man leaves the Administration building.
"Naruto will be joining you," he offers casually, and pretends he doesn't see the sharp look the sannin gives at that.
"That's certainly a change of tune."
"Mm, well, I suppose I've got a personal stake in this now."
"Really now? And you didn't before?"
"Maa maa, it's not that surprising! I suppose the current flowers just haven't grown on me like I'd hoped, terrible feng shui and all that."
A snort, and Jiraiya claps him on the back hard enough to make the clone trip. "Pah! I told you, didn't I? You should trust your elders more, brat! But sure, I can take the kid off your hands for a bit!"
"Mm. I hope my new plants will thrive..." the clone muses, waving off the questions he knows to expect. "You know how it is. Some flowers just need the right soil, before they show their petals. I think we need an import, is all."
He sticks his hands in his pockets and walks off, Jiraiya's eyes burning through to his spine, until the clone disappears in a puff of smoke.
There's still so much work to do. Kakashi mournfully looks at the pocket containing his precious Icha Icha, and sighs.
Not yet, at least.
"Finally done lazing around?"
So louuuuuuud.
Natsu rolls over, groaning into the pillow.
…it smells vaguely burnt. Huh.
"Oi, idiot, don't ignore me."
His head is killing him. Igneel is right Natsu is never doing that again ow ow ow-
A heavy sigh. "I'm going to call the nurse."
Nurses… Erza… as a nurse… Natsu whines, trying to sink into the mattress. He doesn't need any more injuries!
"So you can hear me. Ugh. I should have known you'd be stupid when you woke up."
His brain is melting out his ears, why does it hurt this much, it didn't hurt that bad before!
Ugh, but maybe if it hurts inside his head, then it makes sense that outside his head must be pretty messed up…
No… that's too much thinking… maybe he can just go back to sleep…
"O-oh! I-is Na-t-tsu-kun awake? I'm sorry, I-I picked a bad time, I'll l-leave now!"
"Wait!"
Noooooooo too loud-!
"U-um-"
"The idiot hasn't said anything, just keeps groaning. Since you're here, could you take a look and tell me if he's done something stupid to himself again?"
"O-oh, yes, u-um one moment!"
The hairs on the back of his neck go stiff, a sense of predatorpredatorbeinghuntedbeingtracked sending every nerve alight. Natsu's fingers curl, magic gathering, and he catches himself just a moment before-
He breathes, slowly, for a moment, letting the power relax, settle.
Shit, his instincts really have gone haywire. Center, center… he's going to need to find somewhere to meditate.
Ugh but he hates meditation.
"U-um. There was a spike, for a moment, but- it's settling back down? And um. Everything does look weird, b-but I don't think they're in um… in any danger… b-but I really don't k-know enough…"
"Thanks, Hinata. Oi. Idiot. Can you actually understand me or is your brain fried from all that power you were throwing around before? At least tell me you haven't lost even more braincells."
Right, that's- that's Sasuke. He's… concerned? That makes sense. It must have been pretty scary for him when Natsu lost control, he's just a kid, really…
Ugh but everything hurts.
Natsu turns his head so his mouth isn't smothered by the pillow, and works up the energy to answer. "F'kin… hurts." he grumbles, then smushes his face back into the pillow.
He's going back to sleep.
And no one can stop him!
"Oh, it looks like my last little genin is awake! Welcome back to the land of the living, Natsu-kun, Sakura-chan!"
A hand scoops him off the bed, and Natsu whines. Let him sleep-!
"Now now, don't be like that! Naruto's been requested for a special mission outside the village, and he'll be much happier if he can see you're awake before he leaves! You can go back to sleep after, ne~?"
Naru's… leaving? Alone?
Natsu cracks his eyes open, flinching at the wash of colors he knows he shouldn't be seeing.
Fuck, did he fuck up Sakura-chan's eyes?
No, nevermind, that's not important, Naruto first-!
Natsu finds his feet, swaying a little, though Kakashi's hand catches him before he can fall. "Why's he l'v'n, thas not…"
Oh everything feels wrong, unsettled, not in the right places-
He's too small, he's too big, his tongue is too short, he's too short-
Natsu breathes deeply through his nose, the sharp scents of lemon and antiseptic burning through his nostrils and grounding him.
He steadies his feet, turning slowly. Kakashi's hand lifts slightly, not touching, but close enough for him to still feel the warmth, close enough for sensei to catch him if he stumbles again.
Natsu doesn't stumble.
Everything's a kaleidoscope of contrasts, making it almost impossible to focus, and Natsu tries to dredge up the distant memories of Igneel coaching him back when he was a child and first caused his eyes to change, panicking and confused-
It'll fade. It faded then, and it'll fade now. Igneel agreed that he'd been stopped before he could go too far, that the mutations were temporary. He's just… gotta remember how to deal with the dragon eyes. He focuses, ignoring the whiplash of vertigo as he directs his gaze to the girl who spoke before.
"You-" He coughs, sees the rippling flinch from the girl, the way she stumbles back-
"You saved us, right? Me'n'...S'k'ra-chan. Didn't… get your name?" The longer he stands, the steadier he feels, though Kakashi's hand never leaves entirely.
Natsu appreciates it, probably, distantly. Sasuke'd be a brat if he collapsed.
"I-I- um- I-"
Behind him, his teammate scoffs. "Yeah, she saved your sorry ass after you went and nearly burned yourself up. Hyuuga Hinata, the shyness is normal, if no less annoying for it."
"U-um… sorry…"
Eh. Natsu can deal with shy, if that's all it is. "Don't be sorry! I definitely went too far, I'm really glad you were there to help me out! I'm a lot older than Sakura-chan, makes it real hard to remember sometimes that her body can't keep up, I just… forgot, I guess, ehehehe…"
"Oh! I'm… gladicouldhelpbutireallyhavetogonow!" The girl, Hinata, spits in a rush, and Natsu watches the sharp colors disappear down the hall.
Eh. He'll go find her later and give her a proper thank you.
Girls like cake, right…?
Kakashi chuckles, and suddenly Natsu remembers that he's annoyed. "OI! What's this about Naruto leavin', why's he goin' anywhere?!"
A hand, sharp contrasts of black and white, crossing his vision and then ruffling his hair. "Well, now's not the best time to get into all the details, but it really is important, and can't afford to wait for you and Sasuke to be strong enough to travel. He'll be coming by the hospital shortly to see you before he leaves, so try to stay awake at least that long, ne~? I promise I'll explain everything once you both are discharged."
Natsu would argue, but he doesn't get the chance, as Naruto crashes into the room hard enough to crack the door. "NATSU'S AWAKE?!"
Getting checked out of the hospital is a fairly quick process, once Naruto leaves. Everything still hurts, in ways Natsu can't quite put into words, but when he tried to ask Sakura-chan to help him explain it to the doctor-
Well.
…oops?
So, once he's back home he'll have to sit down and talk to her, but for now it sounds like loads of people are hurt from the invasion and the hospital wants all the beds they can get! So since he can walk and talk, that's good enough for them, and the only reason they were really keeping Sasuke was because there was no one who could watch him, with Kakashi-sensei running all over the village on jobs and Sasuke's gotta be supervised. So they can both just go home to Sakura-chan's parents, and get out of the hospital's hair!
Only… as they turn the corner onto the street, the house… the whole street really…
It's all in shambles.
Earth jutsu have torn up the street, the houses, scattered detritus across what used to be a residential district. One of the neighbors' weather vanes stands proudly in what used to be the middle of the road, no longer spinning with the wind.
Natsu stares.
Kakashi-sensei places a hand on his shoulder. "Aa, I'm sorry, I've been so busy running around I hadn't realized- I know they've both been by to visit in the hospital, I'll go to Administration and find out where the Harunos are staying-"
"It's gone." Natsu can feel the manic grin creeping up his face but- "It's gone! That orange abomination! My prayers were answered! It's been destroyed!"
"A-ah?"
Natsu can't help but practically skip down the street as they head back towards the village center, shaking off the pain with cheerful abandon as he regales Sasuke with how they'll have to celebrate the occasion.
He's pretty sure Sasuke's calling him an idiot with just his eyes, but Natsu's mood will not be deterred!
"Natsu, Sakura! How long have you been up? Did we miss the runner…?" Mebuki crosses the street at a run, coming up to them and looking Natsu over intensely before wrapping him in a tight hug.
For the first time since she said she was ignoring him, Sakura steps up to the window, leaning against it, and Natsu hugs back.
Kakashi-sensei answers for them. "Natsu only just woke up, but you know how it is. The hospital's strapped for beds, and since he's able to walk, they discharged him. Both he and Sasuke still need observation, I hope you don't mind that I volunteered you for both. Though, I admit, I hadn't realized your home was destroyed when I did so. I'm sorry if-"
"Oh hush, it's fine! We can absolutely take them both in, one of my friends is letting me stay at her place - she has family in the countryside, and decided she'd rather leave for now just in case things heat up again. Kizashi already went through our house and gathered everything that could be saved too, so don't worry, Natsu, Sakura! Your room was completely untouched by the attack, and only damaged a little by the house listing! We were able to save everything except your mirror!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!"
Kakashi secures the room with methodical precision, Sharingan eye open, making absolutely certain that every brush stroke is perfect.
With Natsu's fiery temper, he can't be too careful. He'll count himself lucky if the only damage is to his eardrums, but… he gets the feeling if he waits until later, the damage will be a lot worse.
Right now both his students are injured, exhausted, in pain.
They can't murder Danzo if they wanted to.
…give them a month, and Kakashi's pretty sure that won't be the case anymore.
Well, he always did work best under pressure.
̶T̶h̶a̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶l̶i̶e̶.̶ ̶H̶e̶ ̶f̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶b̶i̶l̶i̶t̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶ ̶p̶r̶e̶s̶s̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶.̶ ̶S̶o̶ ̶m̶u̶c̶h̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶.̶ ̶B̶l̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶f̶a̶c̶e̶,̶ ̶b̶l̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶m̶,̶ ̶a̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶b̶e̶a̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶h̶a̶n̶d̶-̶
He'll find a way to keep them from murdering shinobi councilmen in the future. He has a whole month to plan! That'll certainly be enough! And the Nara will keep the brats busy, he's sure, so-
Aw, drat. He's out of stalling time.
At least these brats aren't likely to stab him. Set him on fire, maybe, but stabbing? Not so much. His kidneys live to see another day.
He tucks away his supplies, spinning around with a flourish.
Clap.
"Alright kiddos, today's been a long day I'm sure so-"
"I just woke up, it's been like. An hour. Tops."
Kakashi pouts. "You don't have to ruin my fun. But fine, if you want the long boring version-"
"I do." Sasuke stares at him like he's actually contemplating stabbing his kidneys.
Today is just not Kakashi's day.
Well. He didn't really expect to get away with the short version, but he had to at least try. He sits down, letting a sigh escape. Both his kids tense - and what an interesting study in contrasts, really. Sasuke tenses like a shinobi, whole body falling loose, the languid rest of a predator.
Natsu braces. On some level, Kakashi's always known that Natsu is a much different type of fighter than the shinobi of the hidden villages. But it's always fascinating to see it. Natsu prepares for a fight by steadying his footwork and emptying his hands, a defensive position strangely at odds with his offensive combat preferences. Natsu's always happy to let his opponent make the first move, unless lives are in danger. But he doesn't ready to dodge. He readies to block.
Such a small difference, but such a large indication of his character.
A pity men like Danzo would never respect such a person.
"Maa, what do you know about the political situation of Konoha, at the moment?" Kakashi glances at Natsu. He's not sure if their beloved interloper ever bothered to learn anything about the politics of the village, or just wrote them all off when Sandaime tried to tell him things he didn't care about. Not that Kakashi can blame him much, so much has been poorly handled here. Ah, but what can they do about it now? Move forward, and hope for the best.
Well. That's what Kakashi's aiming for, at least.
As expected though, Natsu grimaces fiercely. "Politics? Ugh, y'all're a giant yami guild, I don't need to know anything else, and I don't care to either. I only stayed cause leaving wouldn't be fair to Sakura-chan, and you guys were pretty cool I guess. I don't like your politics though and I want nothing to do with them."
Kakashi sighs again. About what he expected, but still…
Sasuke's face crawls with horror as he catches on.
"Unfortunately, Natsu-kun, politics wants something to do with you. Or, more precisely, since the Sandaime Hokage died during the invasion, we don't have a lot of people who would be supported to take his place. The most favored… well. I'll be honest, he already had some… objectionable ideas about how to handle both Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun, even before you came into the picture. Once he gains access to the Hokage's files about you… all of Team 7 is going to be in quite the dangerous situation. And I know-" Kakashi quickly adds, cutting off Natsu as he tries to speak, "that you would happily fight Konoha if he tried to do those things. But, whatever else this village is, it's my home. Naruto's home, Sasuke and Sakura's home. If it comes down to it, I will help you three leave the village. But… I'd rather not abandon my home, my friends, my family graves, if I can help it. That's why we had to send Naruto out - he's related to one of the only other people in the world who could reasonably challenge that man for the title of Godaime. I'll help you leave if there's no other choice, but I have to at least try to find a different path. Ne?"
"You mean Danzo." Kakashi removes his eye from Natsu, a little surprised. Sasuke's face…
There's a terrifying sort of pain there, a nightmare Kakashi himself is all too familiar with.
"He approached you?" Kakashi asks, bites, recalling-
"Just once, right before I left the hospital after-" Sasuke looks away, to the wall, fist clenched hard enough to bleed. "He said… that madness runs in families. And that he'd petitioned to have me more strictly evaluated, but that the bleeding hearts of the hospital had refused. He told me to tread carefully, to make sure I didn't slip- I…" Sasuke stares down at the bloody crescents on his palm, smears streaks of it idly across his fingers. "I had nightmares. For months. Of killing all my classmates just like- I hunted down a nurse, later, who would tell me his name. So I could avoid him. I never wanted to see him again."
There will never come a day that Kakashi doesn't curse Itachi with every fiber of his being. But most days.
He curses Danzo more.
He's never quite been able to shake the feeling that something is wrong with that man, esteemed councilman or not.
"Mm, I'm sure he has some redeeming qualities, but mercy and basic human decency aren't really among them." Kakashi offers cheerfully, a joking tone for words meant all too seriously.
He waits for the explosion from Natsu, but- it doesn't come.
The look on the kid's face is one of measured distaste.
"I suppose that kind of man would be favored to lead a yami guild… I guess I can see what he'd want with Naruto'n'me too. We've got power in ways you guys can't have, I guess, an' no one hates that like stuffy old men do. He's probably all 'MWAHAHA this power should be mine to control! It's WASTED ON THE LIKES OF YOU!' And then he calls you stuff like a small-minded fool and incompetent and undeserving and- Y'know. He's that type of loser. I've seen 'em before."
Natsu leans back with the dramatic exhaustion of someone far beyond his years and yet-
That's not quite true is it?
Logically, Kakashi knows Natsu is an adult.
Natsu's personality makes it very difficult to remember, sometimes, but.
Natsu and Itachi are the same age. It… puts things into a strange sort of perspective, to think about it like that, but here, in this moment, that's the first comparison Kakashi draws. As Natsu grins conspiratorially at Sasuke, elbowing the other boy out of his funk, as the Uchiha turns his back with a scoff, but with shoulders looser and a smile only half-hidden on his face-
Kakashi's known the world is unfair since he was practically a baby. Sometimes, despite that, it still hits him strongly enough to make him want to stab something.
For now… looking at his students, as unorthodox as one is, perhaps Kakashi should put more effort into remembering that Natsu is an adult.
Sometimes, the pyromaniac is even mature enough to act like it. He should encourage that. It's what a good sensei would do, really, he's been out here letting his oldest student get away with not taking responsibility, for shame.
̶D̶i̶s̶t̶a̶n̶t̶l̶y̶,̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶-̶d̶e̶s̶e̶n̶s̶i̶t̶i̶z̶e̶d̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶b̶r̶a̶i̶n̶,̶ ̶K̶a̶k̶a̶s̶h̶i̶ ̶s̶c̶r̶u̶b̶s̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶a̶ ̶m̶e̶n̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶i̶m̶a̶g̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶I̶t̶a̶c̶h̶i̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶N̶a̶t̶s̶u̶'̶s̶ ̶m̶a̶n̶i̶c̶ ̶g̶r̶i̶n̶,̶ ̶c̶h̶e̶e̶r̶f̶u̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶l̶i̶g̶h̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶e̶.̶
Though Kakashi would have to be blind to mistake Natsu's lackadaisy mockery as a sign of disinterest. Just the way Natsu looks at Sasuke, so clearly trying to drag him out of his headspace with casual humor-
No. Natsu didn't downplay his opinion of Danzo because he doesn't care. He did it because getting worked up wouldn't have helped Sasuke shake off the mood brought on by that memory.
̶N̶o̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶K̶a̶k̶a̶s̶h̶i̶ ̶h̶i̶m̶s̶e̶l̶f̶ ̶i̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶f̶u̶r̶i̶o̶u̶s̶-̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶s̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶?̶!̶
…well. It's looking harder and harder to keep ROOT from being burned out of the village like woodrot from a forest. Even so, Kakashi has to try and prevent that sort of damage, just on principle if nothing else.
"Mm, I wish I could say I'd never heard him call someone a small-minded fool but that would be quite the lie, if I'm honest. Though for the record, I have never heard him mwahaha at anything, and personally I never hope to. We're all better off without that." Kakashi shudders dramatically, eliciting his own small snort from Sasuke, and continues, "But… he shouldn't be a problem. To either of you. I didn't send Naruto away casually. Having the jinchurikki leave the village is a matter that entirely on its own will distract Danzo a bit while everything gets cleaned up. And that's not even considering that Naruto truly does have a good chance of convincing Tsunade-sama to return to the village and take the title of Godaime herself. Danzo won't be able to do anything, then, though I'm sorry it had to happen in such a rush when you'd only just woken up."
Natsu scoffs, standing. ""Yeah yeah, you make your plans and all that rot. All I care about is that if that guy tries to show his face anywhere, y'know I'm gonna punch it in! What's he look like? Oi, Sasuke, you remember, right? Who am I beating up?"
Kakashi sinks into the couch with a groan, as his troublesome brats plot to murderize a councilman of Konoha.
He takes it back. Natsu is a child and he's 90% certain the boy was fucking with him when he claimed otherwise. That has to be it.
Maybe if he falls asleep now, he can honestly say he didn't hear his brats plotting treason when Ibiki questions him.
At least that old warhawk is good for something… they're both thoroughly distracted, I won't have to worry about them burning down the village for Karin until after Tsunade-sama gets here.
Hopefully.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE?!"
Oh dear.
"...'s looking out the window, didn't really want to talk to anyone…"
"WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE IS THAT? THAT ASSHOLE CAME INTO YOUR ROOM AND ACCUSED YOU OF ALL SORTS OF STUPID SHIT AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN MEMORIZE HIS FACE TO BEAT HIM UP LATER?! SASUKE YOU GOTTA REMEMBER SOMETHING I CAN'T BEAT UP EVERY OLD MAN IN THE VILLAGE, THERE'S WAY TOO MANY!"
"...he had a cane? I heard it tap against the tile…"
Abort abort abort!
Kakashi lunges to his feet, catching Natsu just as the pink-haired menace lunges for the window.
"Absolutely not, you cannot beat up every single cripple in the village Natsu-"
"THEN JUST HURRY AND TELL ME WHICH ONE I SHOULD BEAT UP!"
Kami-sama, aid him.
"Everything alright in here? I know you probably have your fancy seals up, but we've got lunch ready if you aren't still busy!"
…Kakashi is going to build a shrine for Haruno Mebuki. Truly, such timing could only come from a goddess among women.
Natsu sags in his arms, grumbling something about Sakura, as Sasuke goes to disable the seal and open the door.
Crisis averted.
For now.
Naruto can't help but look back at the gate, still charred in places, the wall around it damaged like something heavy crashed into it.
He wants to turn around. But Kakashi-sensei wouldn't lie to him, he didn't get any feeling like that at all!
If anything… if anything, Kakashi-sensei was scared.
That, more than anything, convinced Naruto that sensei was telling the truth.
The person everyone wants to make the next Hokage… that person must be really bad if Kakashi-sensei was so scared about it.
Naruto doesn't want to leave, not when Sasuke still can't breathe right and Natsu keeps looking weird, like he can't see where anyone is really- Natsu's eyes just keep bouncing around, never looking, and Naruto doesn't know what that means, he didn't have a chance to ask, he'd taken way too long to even notice-!
Natsu… wouldn't actually go blind, right? He glances at Jiraiya, but the old pervert probably wouldn't know, not if he's been so busy trying to find other people to be Hokage.
Naruto wants to ask, but bites his tongue. Kakashi-sensei said it wasn't safe to talk about, so… probably he should wait, right? At least until he can't see Konoha anymore. They need to be far enough away that no one will hear them, or that guy sensei's scared of will find out they're trying to stop him and he might…
What?
Naruto grimaces, scratching at his whiskers. He didn't actually ask what would happen if that warhawk guy found out what sensei and Jiraiya were planning. If he was gonna be Hokage, then he had to be a good person, right? Maybe a little too paranoid, if he'd be willing to hurt Natsu, but no one would let a bad person be Hokage, so…
Naruto glances up at Jiraiya again, biting his lip.
Should he ask…?
"What is it, kid?" Jiraiya eventually offers, glancing back.
"Um… Kakashi-sensei explained a bit, about how all the previous Hokage have been chosen as successors, n'stuff, but… what happens when th'Hokage didn't choose a successor? How does everyone decide? Why's sensei so sure it'll be that warhawk guy, I don't even know who that is, so he can't be famous or anything, right?"
"Hmm, good question. It's definitely a tricky situation." Jiraiya starts, as he leads the way off the main road and into the trees, "Technically, yes, each Hokage chooses their successor. But realistically, if the successor they chose was someone that wasn't well respected, then it's not likely that many people would respect that choice. And in a shinobi village, well. Let's just say that kage would have a short stint, for sure. Each time in the past though, the successor was well-loved. Our shodaime, of course, chose his brother, Tobirama, who, while a bit more strict, was still a very well respected and powerful man. He was also a genius, and people do love their geniuses." Jiraiya's voice twists uncomfortably, but Naruto doesn't know what to make of it, and the sannin doesn't give him a chance to ask. "Tobirama, of course, chose one of his students, Hiruzen, who was well-regarded as a brilliant man and powerful shinobi in his own right, a famed genius who even at that time had the title of The Professor for how clever he was. Sensei, of course, chose Minato-kun as his successor. Minato, the war hero with a heart of gold, whose love for Konoha shown through his every action, who was able to complete and perfect some of the experiments Tobirama left behind, who once single-handedly took on an army of a thousand Iwa shinobi and won." Jiraiya pauses, swallowing. "Minato's term was far too short, and he'd barely even had the chance to consider a successor before the Kyuubi attacked. So, in order to keep things running smoothly, especially while the village was recovering from the attack, sensei took the hat back. He didn't want to, really. He was old, even then, and tired. He wanted to retire, and spend time with his family, but the village couldn't afford to find a new Hokage under those circumstances, and… it was supposed to be temporary. He would hold the post long enough for the village to recover, then he would name a successor and retire like he'd meant. But…"
Jiraiya grimaces, then, glancing at Naruto before turning back to the trees ahead of them.
Naruto's not stupid.
"So… it was my fault? That there isn't a successor?"
Jiraiya flinches. "It's not. Well it's not your fault, really, only partially because of you…" he glances back, then hastily continues. "Well, um, he actually tried to nominate Kakashi. He said, he could hold the hat for a couple years, to properly train him, that… that Minato would have probably made a similar choice, given time, but… well. Everyone insisted he was too young, that in the wake of the Kyuubi's attack Konoha would need to look strong, that putting someone so young, no matter how decorated, in the hat, would cause the other villages to want to take advantage of us. So, sensei couldn't convince anyone of it, and, well. Many people in Konoha supported Danzo as the Godaime, even back then, believed that he would be the face of strength Konoha needed to stand strong against the other villages."
"So… everyone thinks that Danzo guy is really strong? Why haven't I heard of him then? Or is he like one of those cool shinobi in the books, with like, secret identities and stuff? Does he have a thousand names?" Naruto can't help bouncing in excitement at the thought, bouncing forward until he's close enough to grin up at Jiraiya.
The old man snorts. "Please! I wish I could see his face if you told him something like that, old man would probably look like he'd bit a sour prune! Ha! No, the reason you don't recognize the name is probably just because you skipped over his parts in the history classes. Can't blame you there, of course, since he and sensei were kind of like rivals, the history books focus more on sensei's achievements during the war than Danzo's. Pretty sure the old warhawk's still salty about that too…"
"Jiji had a rival?!" Naruto stops, before quickly darting forward when Jiraiya doesn't stop and wait, scrambling to catch up. "Wait! Wait, what's this about Jiji's rival no one ever told me he was cool enough to have a rival!"
"What, that's the standard of coolness now? Whether or not you have a rival?" Jiraiya barks a laugh, before tossing his head. "Sensei… sensei cared far too much for Danzo, in my opinion, saw the man as a dear friend when I'm certain Danzo only ever saw him as a rival and never returned the affection. I've never been able to stand the guy, myself. But even sensei knew that letting Danzo become Hokage back then would be a terrible idea, considering what he wanted to do to you…" Jiraiya sighs, glancing back once more.
Naruto bites his lip. "I guess… he's one of the people who didn't like me very much, because of the kyuubi?"
Jiraiya grimaces. "Worse than that, kiddo. I… don't really know how much I should rightfully say. I was in the village briefly, for… for the funerals, at least… and… a lot of things were said in anger, back then, that maybe were taken back in later years, with cooler heads. So maybe I'd just be waving old gossip around, and… whatever his feelings, sensei at least never removed Danzo from the council, so… they'd had to make up at some point, though he was furious that day… I'd never seen him so angry." There's a melancholy in Jiraiya's voice so deep Naruto can almost feel it.
The funerals after the kyuubi's attack…
That would be his mom's funeral too. If… she was allowed to have one.
Naruto… can't think about that. He-
He's not sure he can ask-
If Konoha blamed him so much, how much more must they have-
"Did… did they give my mom a funeral too?"
This time, Jiraiya stops. Despite the rush, despite the rapid clip they've kept since they left the village. Jiraiya stops, crouching, meeting Naruto's eyes as he rests a hand on his head.
"Don't even question it kiddo. They… Danzo… he said some nasty things about your mom, but. Even he wouldn't dare question any shinobi's right to a funeral. She was buried with honor, like all the others. No one even spat on her grave, that I ever heard."
Jiraiya's hand is warm, heavy, as it ruffles through his hair, and Naruto practically feels the weight lift off his chest. He hadn't even realized how much he'd worried, about whether…
But now-
He has to know. "What did he say about my mom?"
Jiraiya sighs, standing back up with a wave as he takes off again. "He… claimed that the reason the Kyuubi escaped before had to be due to the weakness of the jinchurikki. Your mom, after all, was originally from Uzushio, and only later came to Konoha, yeah? His reasoning was that she secretly resented Konoha for not saving her village, and so her will wasn't strong enough to stop the Kyuubi from destroying our village, in return. Said that maybe she secretly wanted it to. A lot of people… they liked that explanation. Liked it too much. Danzo said, it would be better for the new jinchurikki to be bound to the village, to never even be able to think about betraying Konoha- it's the only time I ever heard sensei truly yell at someone, when Danzo first proposed that they do that to you, practically brainwashing even if no one used those words… sensei's fury was so thick even I was practically choking on it, he dismissed us all and said he never wanted to hear such a suggestion again. I don't believe anyone dared to so much as breathe a word about how to train you, after that. But despite Danzo having a lot of approval among the rest of the shinobi, sensei never named him as a successor, never even considered it after that. Not even for an instant."
Jiraiya shakes his head, and Naruto's fingers dig tightly into the straps of his bag. "Mom…"
The sannin blinks, glances behind. "Don't- Danzo was wrong, kid. Your mom loved Konoha. 100%. She missed home, sure, but she loved Konoha, and the people, and especially you. It wasn't a weak will that set the Kyuubi loose. It was sabotage, but we never managed to catch the guy who did it, could never prove it. And for all his faults, sensei did his best to protect you from Danzo, if nothing else. But- well. Danzo's still the most-favored candidate, for a lot of reasons. Sensei tried to find other people, after that, once Danzo had proven he couldn't be trusted to take care of you the way sensei wanted to. But… everyone else he tried to name, people shot down. So he wore the hat, longer and longer, never finding someone to take his place… eventually he even asked me, in his desperation, but… my reputation isn't one people would be happy with, even if we could probably make them accept it, and that's nevermind all the work I've put in to building my information networks, work that no one else would be able to maintain since it relies quite heavily on my summons and I haven't taken an apprentice…"
Jiraiya sighs, glancing up through the leaves, as Naruto worries the strap of his pack.
"Kakashi's older now, of course, and could maybe stand a chance if he volunteered, but- well. That's only a maybe. People could possibly argue, after all, that they couldn't possibly remove him from your team, use you as an excuse again. It's not right, but I can't say it's impossible either, so. We need someone else. Someone who would show Konoha's strength, even in the wake of this invasion, someone who's respected. Tsunade…"
Naruto waits a beat, then two, silence hanging in the air. His lungs are thick with a thousand words he doesn't know how to say.
Maybe he… can talk to his team when he gets back? Before he tries to figure out how to ask those questions…
Which leaves… "Tsunade who? Who is that lady, I never heard of her!"
Jiraiya laughs. "She's my other teammate. Best doctor in all the world, and the most terrifying woman you'll ever meet! Her rack could make a kami blush!" Jiraiya crows, making a dramatic mid-leap pose, but deflates as Naruto just stares at him. "Oh you're no fun. Anyway, Hime-chan left the village during the war, after her brother and her fiance were murdered. People tried to talk badly about her for that, but… well. A lot of shinobi stood up for her. Everyone saw, those days, how she'd drag herself out, mission after mission, saving people from death itself even as she got paler and paler, more and more exhausted… even though people tried to call her a coward for leaving during wartime, no one could really deny that Hime-chan had given everything she had. Pushed herself past all her limits trying to make sure as many people came back as possible, until the day the people she cared about most didn't make it back, and… it broke something in her. Something deep, something none of us knew how to heal. Some of the greener shinobi, they looked down on her for leaving, but everyone who'd been there from the beginning, who saw how far she pushed herself for Konoha… they defended her right to step away. To mourn her family, to find her peace, whatever little of it she could. They recognized… we recognized… that she'd given literally everything. And if we put her back on the battlefield, if we forced her to stay, then."
Jiraiya stops, staring distantly. "She'd die. She'd suicide on the battlefield, if… if we made her stay. She just. She didn't have the strength, after Dan died, after her brother had died, to keep going. We respected that. Even… even when I didn't want to, I respected that. And so did everyone else. But now… now the only option for Hokage is Danzo. Danzo, who believes you shouldn't be allowed to have free will, Danzo who will never accept Natsu- Hime-chan… I can't imagine she'll want to go back to Konoha even now. After everything she's lost, she… I don't think she'll ever want to come back. But we have to try. Because people love her. She never once lost respect, for the miracles she performed, the lives she saved, even as she lost everything around her- If she came back and said, 'I'm Hokage,' the whole village would literally hand her the hat with no questions. She's that beloved. Konoha's lost princess…" Jiraiya's grin wobbles, a loss deep as a canyon yawning behind it. "I just… hope she'll hear us out."
Naruto… maybe he doesn't know a lot about this Tsunade woman. He can't really imagine what it would be like to lose the people he loves most, can't-
̶N̶a̶t̶s̶u̶,̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶l̶a̶p̶s̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶d̶r̶o̶p̶p̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶o̶l̶l̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶l̶i̶f̶e̶l̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶l̶i̶m̶b̶s̶,̶ ̶S̶a̶s̶u̶k̶e̶ ̶b̶l̶e̶e̶d̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶r̶n̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶c̶l̶a̶w̶s̶ ̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶t̶a̶i̶l̶-̶
Can't really imagine looking at his village and seeing only the things it took from him-
̶C̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶s̶ ̶c̶l̶o̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶d̶o̶o̶r̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶a̶ ̶y̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶t̶e̶p̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶s̶i̶d̶e̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶a̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶-̶
Naruto can't imagine those things. But that Tsunade lady, the way Jiraiya speaks about her, she sounds like she saved people. Over and over again, with everything she had. And everyone respects her for it.
Naruto does too.
And maybe he's selfish, 'cause he heard all that, and now he's gonna go ask her to save one more person!
If she's anything like him, she probably misses it. Even if it hurts too much for her to admit it yet.
So he'll help her out, 'ttebayo!
The first 7 drops like a stone in her gut. She can tell, she can feel it, even before the last two slots settle, she knows it's going to win. Tsunade removes her hands from the machine, as though that might make a difference.
7.
…
7.
She doesn't cry. She can't- she has to find Shizune. Where-?
"Shizune!" She has to find her. Where is she- she's not here-
What did she miss what happened what went wrong-?
"SHIZUNE!"
The room falls silent, only the soft plink of the machines still sounding off, but- there!
Shizune weaves her way through the crowd at a rapid clip, Tonton in her arms.
"Tsunade-sama? What's wro- Oh! Did you actually win? Congratulations, Tsunade-sama!"
She can't breathe. She can barely form the words in her mind, can't make them real-
She can't lose Shizune too. Not her. Not all that she has left.
What else could fate possibly take from her-?
"We-We're leaving." She croaks out, throat cracking, surely splitting in two-
They have to run. Run, escape, flee from whatever's coming, flee from fate itself-
"But- your winnings-"
"They can keep them. We're leaving." She doesn't grab Shizune and drag her out, but-
She wants to. She has more respect for her apprentice than that, but. They have to run.
Now.
While they still have the chance.