Chapter 4: Hi, Nice To Meet You!

"A 'hello again' after the final goodbye is sometimes harder than just keeping the goodbye as it was."

― Jessiqua Wittman, A Memoir of Love

Kakashi & Uzumaki Family-Formal Dining Room

'Your son doesn't want me here Minato-sensei.'

Kakashi sighs under his breath, clutches at his stomach to ignore it's gurgling. No matter how good Kushina's food is, he would've saved himself the awkwardness of this encounter with so many new faces. No matter how important of a personal task Minato-sensei wants him to do, he's sure he could've told him about it tomorrow.

"I should've gone home when I had my chance back at the markets.' He muses; his gifts would've been given at a later date.

But now he's squeezed between the Toad Sannin on his left and another boy a few years younger than him who looks eerily like his sensei too on his right.

Across the way Naruto chuckles at something a Hyūga girl beside him says, catches his eye before he sees that look again.

Cerulean hazes over, glances away first.

Whatever he's done, said, or kept from him in the future has changed his perspective of him for better or worse.

Kushina points at him with a chopstick jolting him. "Eat something Kakashi! I can hear your stomach grumbling for food from all the way over here y'know! And don't say you're not hungry when you just came back from an assignment."

'Well, I know better than to ignore an order from her.' He picks up his bowl of gyudon, feels multiple sets of eyes turn towards him.

Himawari leans forward curiously. "Mr. Kakashi, how are ya gonna eat with your mask still on?"

Boruto picks with his rice, wishes he had hamburger right about now. He peers over to Kakashi as well at Himawari's remark, azure shining with mirth at his uncertain look. "Oi Hima, Old Man Kakashi just eats really quick around his mask!"

'Old Man?' Kakashi repeats to himself at Naruto and Minato's stifled snicker.

Himawari's brows furrow, still uncertain. "Your face isn't injured though, right?"

Before Kakashi can create some type of excuse that he's fine, Boruto goes on, points to the corner of his mouth.

"No, Kakashi-sensei has a normal face, y'know. We've both seen it before Hima, he has that like black spot on his left side under his lips."

His eye widens a fraction before he can help it, twists himself to fully look at Boruto. He's just a little kid, but yet he knows about a distinct facial feature of his that not even his closest peers have seen...

'Who is he?'

His heart lurches at the idea of the enemy having slipped in so close right beneath his nose, chest tightening.

With a flick of the wrist, he presses a kunai to his throat, onyx darkening to steel. He peers at Boruto up and down, considers if he's a rogue shinobi in disguise or a test by his ANBU superiors.

"How do you know that? Who are you really?" Kakashi harshly questions him, Boruto frozen beneath him, tongue-tied.

But cobalt eyes soon sharpen in return, gritting his teeth as he attempts to turn his head away. "Get...off of me!"

Naruto and Hinata are instantly out of their chairs with a gentle fist and rasengan poised for his back, though it is Minato who moves in a blur, instantly points his own blade at the back of Kakashi's neck.

"Get off my Grandson Kakashi; now." He orders.

Kakashi doesn't move for a painfully long minute, breath turning ragged. "Sensei, are these children really who they say are or-"

Minato jabs his kunai in enough to draw blood in response, scarlet trickling down Kakashi's neck.

"You heard me; move."

Reluctantly, he slinks off of Boruto. He instantly curls for the opposite corner of the room, far out of his reach. Kushina peers him over for any major injuries, but his fingers curl around Naruto and Hinata's legs, catching his breath.

"A-Are you alright?" Himawari murmurs while at wiping at her tears, Boruto shrugging.

Bruises in the shape of purple-blue fingerprints begin to mar at his neck and arms.

"Fine." He answers shakily.

He glances to Kakashi, draws in another gulp of air before speaking.

"You like to wear various disguises in the future. One of them is called 'Sukea' that you use to give advice to me and my friends sometimes. But it's obviouslyyou. That's how I know about that mark."

Naruto meanwhile bores daggers at him, cerulean flashing a deep vermilion in a way that hauntingly reminds him of Kushina, of the Nine Tails that resides within her unless her future descendants inherit parts of the beast too.

His stomach churns, bile skimming the back of his throat.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" He snaps, Kakashi simply staring down at his hands.

"I-I..." He trails off.

He easily slit at the neck of that rogue shinobi just days ago without mercy or thought, blood turning maroon to black beneath his nails. And now he nearly killed a member of his sensei's family just on a slight suspicion.

Minato holds up a hand for calm, nods over to Kushina who claps her hands as she glances to outside.

It's a bit cloudy, but clear enough for part of the waning moon to be visible, point out the stars she always viewed with Lady Mito back in Uzushiogakure.

"It's not very cold out tonight. How about we finish dinner on the patio? Boruto, Himawari, we can catch some fireflies in the garden. Plus, I'll show you the constellations you can find under the eastern sky."

Neither look too excited at the prospect, though both are eager to get away from this scene.

Naruto looks from Kakashi to Minato, points at Kakashi.

"Sensei or not to me in the future, you need to be gone by the time we come back inside."

The door slams on his way out, Kakashi rubbing at his face. What does he even mean by sensei? He's never pictured himself working at the Academy and clearly, he's terrible with kids.

All of their gazes burn on his back as they follow Naruto outside, Kakashi avoiding each and every one.

Minato draws him a glass of water, nods back to his seat.

"Sit. There's still much we need to discuss despite this tension."

Only Jiraiya beams, swirls at his sake cup. He'll check in with Naruto privately one-on-one once things have cooled down some and the younger kiddos have bathed and been put to bed.

He clears his throat for them not to forget he's still here.

"I always did enjoy dinner with a show!"

Naruto, Hinata, Kushina, & Jiraiya-Uzumaki Patio

Naruto bites off more than he can chew of his takoyaki and natto, grumbles under his breath.

"Ugh, sensei's a bigger brat than I thought! Or maybe I'm the brat for getting angered so easily y'know." He ruffles up his locks.

Hinata lightly bumps at their shoulders getting his attention. "Did Kakashi-sensei say or do something to you back in the future that has you so riled up?"

Naruto follows her gaze to a growing crack in his bowl, sighs as he releases the pressure.

"It's just, I'm realizing that he really knew my Dad, kept so many things from me all this time. I know he was probably under orders, but he breaks or leans on those type of rules all the time. Like always running late to sparring sessions or even back when he let us continue with our Land of Waves mission despite realizing it wasn't a C-rank assignment. Plus, he was about to stab Boruto right in front of us! And I don't know, the thought of seeing him get injured right in front me just kind of made nearly...snap."

Hinata gently intertwines their fingers. "Yes, admittedly, I was going to attempt to jab him in him in his chest or neck to subdue him, though it's better Minato is faster than us both."

Their gazes fall back to Boruto and Himawari weaving through the grass, spheres of neon yellows to greens trailing around them.

The grass crackles behind them, Jiraiya moving out of the shadows, lifts Naruto up by his jacket.

He beams at Hinata's perplexed look as he nods over to a few meters away. "Gonna borrow your boyfriend here for a minute. Have a few questions for him!"

"Put me down Pervy-Sage!" Naruto wiggles out of his hold.

Hinata blinks, red flooding her cheeks, opens then shuts her mouth just as Kushina rushes up, grabs and pulls at Jiraiya's ponytail.

He instantly winces, turns to match the Uzumaki matriarch's glare. "Ow! What are attacking me for?!"

Violet eyes switch between him and Naruto. "Pervy-Sage! That's at least the third time or so I've heard Naruto mutter that moniker for you y'know! Why is that?"

Jiraiya shrugs helplessly. "I didn't ask him to create that nickname. I don't like it any more than you do!"

Naruto rolls his eyes at his theatrics before pausing when Jiraiya puts his hand out towards him. He studies his hand blankly, peers up to see his serious expression.

'Huh?'

"Alright, let's start over. My name's Jiraiya, also known as the Toad Sannin. You?"

Naruto's brows furrow, but he does as he wants accepting the handshake and bow.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, as you already know!" He grins.

The Jiraiya he knows...or knew was never so polite. He rubs his chin thoughtfully at the memory, Kushina's arms still crossed, lips flat.

Cerulean brightens at a new devious thought, turns towards her.

"Mom, the reason I call him Pervy-Sage is because he often peeps on women in the hot springs district for his research. It's how I first met him when he returned to the village right before the Finals for my Chunin Exams."

A curtain instantly falls over her features, scarlet locks fanning about her face like a rising flame stomping back into Jiraiya's face. "What?! You're teaching my son to be a pervert in the future? How could you?!"

Jiraiya holds up his hands dramatically as Naruto slinks away with Hinata back over to Boruto and Himawari, catches his eye and grins.

'Ugh, well he knows how to get out of an interrogation by me.'

For now.

He sighs as he stops Kushina's fists from flying about his face, lucky that Tsunade isn't here to join in. "Listen, you know he just said all that to purposefully piss you off, right? You can't blame me for something I haven't even done yet! We just met after all, at least from my point of view!"

Kushina scowls, breaks from his grip before sliding down into the grass. Her fingers dig crescents into damp earth, pulls up blades of grass and wildflowers. She flops backwards onto her back taking in the darkening sky, the scent of oak and pine blowing in from the north woods.

"You...You can't blame me for being worried y'know. Naruto still won't tell Minato and I much. He won't fully pull that mask down around us..."

Jiraiya shrugs, drops down cross-legged beside her leaning his head against his palm. "Can you blame him? He's been here suddenly stuck in the past for what, 3 to 4 days or so at the most, right? He grew up learning to put on a show or face you could say around strangers and he only seems to drop it around Hinata and those kids. His smiles become more genuine then, his shoulders drop."

Kushina blinks back a wave of tears, rubs at her stomach absently.

'How much has he already inferred from just mere observations?'

Kushina slowly sits up, finds her voice once more.

"He comes from a bad future Jiraiya, the two of them. I know he said he's okay now and things must eventually be fine by Boruto and Himawari's time period, but all those formative years Naruto spent growing up alone is bothering me so much. He was younger than even Himawari is now."

She draws in a breath, continues on at his silence.

"Without Minato and I, Naruto's just...ignored. Given the bare minimum of acknowledgment and treated as invisible by both civilians and shinobi. Lord Third doesn't have time for him taking up the mantle of Hokage again, Kakashi is too young and facing his own darkness to deal with an infant of all things, even you don't do anything to give him some form of love once the news of our passing must reach your ears."

Jiraiya winces at her sharp tone, picks at a set of weeds letting the wind carry them into the night. He scratches a hand behind his head, wonders what he would've said if Sarutobi-sensei asked him to take a temporary break from his spy duties to raise Naruto.

Would he have just ignored said letter? The sacrifices his former student and wife make?

He doesn't yet know when he officially met Naruto. Though going by how he's behaved around him, he knew him for probably a good few years before his apparent untimely passing.

'Kakashi would become too traumatized if Minato dies during the Nine Tails attack. The loss of his entire team and his Father in such a short period of time could send even a veteran shinobi over the edge.'

He draws circles in the dirt, crosses them out as new thoughts come.

'It's interesting he went on to become Naruto's sensei in the future though despite not telling him of his prior connection to his Old Man. That would annoy any one even knowing the circumstances of why it was kept from them. Hinata is more of a mystery, the Hyūga are tight-lipped on their clan secrets if they even know of a way to get them back to their right time period.' Jiraiya rubs at his chin.

His gaze falls to Himawari and Boruto blowing at dandelions now.

"Wind Release: Twister!"

'Huh, Kid knows a bit of jutsu. I'm sure wind isn't the only nature release he knows, but he's probably more guarded now since Kakashi's attack of showing off any skills.' Jiraiya muses.

Boruto draws up a mini tornado to give them a push, sighs as his own starts to drops lower than his sister's.

"Mine's going higher than yours Big Brother!" Himawari cheers as their seeds drift off past the roof.

Boruto grabs another set by the bushes. "Nuh uh! Let's go again!"

Naruto stops Himawari from grabbing at a thorny plant. "No, not that one Hima, go for the ones on your left!"

Boruto frowns, stomps his foot. "Stop helping her cheat, Papa! Or at least help me too y'know!"

He abruptly freezes, that title still strange to his ears, grabs at his hand guiding him to his opposite side. "I'm not! I spy another patch of dandelions nearby; I can give you a clue if you want."

A smile crosses his face. "Yeah, I'll take a hint! Everything's all green there y'know!"

Hinata crouches to match Boruto's height before Naruto can answer. "It's fine! You go for that one growing near the end of the base of that tree to your right."

Naruto arches a brow as Boruto eagerly follows her directions while she deactivates her byakugan, pokes at her ticklish sides. "How are Hima and I gonna win if you use your clan's skills y'know?!"

Hinata giggles, lightly taps him right back that this is now a competition to find the most dandelions. "Himawari can use the byakugan too, don't forget!"

Jiraiya chuckles to himself. 'Well, the Hyūga must lighten up in the future if Hinata marries Naruto and they have those two kiddos. However, the Hiashi Hyūga I've seen in passing via clan meetings isn't one to let an opportunity pass that shows off the clan's power to others. The only other clan that can currently challenge them is the Uchiha with their sharingan. So, besides just accepting that his eldest daughter loves Naruto and vice versa, Naruto himself must become a powerful ally, an asset to Konoha who he wouldn't want to challenge for multiple reasons...'

Kushina studies him thoughtfully and he puts his musings on the back burner of his mind for a later date.

"Oh, I wouldn't be a good parent I don't think. Think about it, I operate from the shadows collecting intelligence for Konoha and I never like to stay in one place for too long. I enjoy the thrill of traveling, brothels, and exploring untouched lands. None of that would be a good environment to raise a child in."

Kushina snorts. "The 'Naruto' in your first book I'm sure would've found a way y'know! He knew hundreds of different ways to talk an enemy shinobi down after subduing them in a fight and negotiate peace options with foreign nations. Sure, none of those situations were exactly 'perfect' areas for a kid to be involved in, but he did monthly drop-ins to his home village with gifts and lessons for the school-age children of the Academy."

Jiraiya pauses, obsidian glancing to her. "Oh, so you do read my books! Have you checked out my Make-Out Paradise Series too?!"

"...That's beside the point; those books are far raunchier! And only because Minato said he likes them, so I got curious one day to see what the big deal was!" Kushina huffs, rolls away from him.

Her nose bumps into a shoe, blinks and looks up.

Kakashi.

He rubs at his arm, gazes everywhere but at her as Minato clears his throat behind him.

"Kakashi here has a few things he would like to say!" Minato announces.

He nudges him forward as he slowly ambles over to Boruto, bows in apology.

"Sorry for attacking you out of the blue like that."

He bows next to Naruto and Hinata before Boruto can even answer.

"Sorry for attacking your future son like that."

They fluster in return, though Kakashi has already moved his attention on to Minato and Kushina. He helps Kushina back to her feet, bows the lowest for them alone.

"My apologies Minato-sensei. I won't let my past feelings get in the way of this new assignment. Kushina, I promise that I'll watch over you throughout the rest of your pregnancy as a guard from the shadows." Kakashi states earnestly.

Kushina sends Minato a questioning look, laughs gently when she hears his stomach faintly rumble, ruffles up his hair. How will she explain this once it reaches Biwako's ears? Kakashi has been assigned to watch over the baby developing in her...

And meanwhile a teenage version of him is also around to make sure nothing awry happens for the time being.

Her eyes briefly flicker about the garden, she has plenty of protection for this pregnancy with this growing knowledge she and Minato have.

"Of course! You and Minato never got to finish eating dinner; did you? Come on, let me go warm up a bowl of leftovers!"

Boruto, Himawari, & Minato- Boruto's Room

"Can't sleep again Hima?"

Boruto scoots over in his bed to give her space, but Himawari remains at the edge, wipes at her eyes.

He sits up, pats to the spot beside him.

'Oh, a nightmare.'

"We don't belong in this time period. Or here." She murmurs as she finally flops down next to him.

Boruto smooths out her violet locks.

"Well...yeah. Though it won't be forever cuz we'll eventually find a way back to our correct time period y'know."

His assurance sits in the air between them, Himawari balling her fists against his blanket.

"...You don't know that. That's why you've been staying up late every night trying to read those scrolls. None of the books Grandma and Grandpa have though cover time travel. Plus, I heard Mama and Papa say they came from the war. Aren't some of those bad people alive now?"

She squirms knowing she shouldn't have eavesdropped, had wanted one of them to read her something, eat a snack with her, or play a game.

Anything to stop her racing thoughts.

"-I guess on the bright side, at least Kabuto is only a child right now. Heh, maybe we can get to him before Orochimaru?" Naruto suggests.

Hinata nods along, grin rising along her lips. "We should make a list of everyone in the bingo books we can think of. Especially those that join the Akatsuki. Perhaps if I tell Father as well about certain assignments Branch members can take, he'll be more willing to hear my suggestions regarding abolishing the curse seal."

Himawari steps back, readjusts her hold on the glass before it slips.

'This is the past. So all the people Papa, Mama, and Auntie Sakura fought in the war are alive again.'

Her heart hammers in her ears, sweat building back in her palms.

Naruto beams in agreement, sighs as his smile crumples a moment later.

"The not knowing is the hardest part y'know. What if they're dying? Have all those undead shinobi pushed through into all the nations?"

CRASH!

Naruto and Hinata immediately turn her way, are by her side in an instant.

"Are you okay Hima? What happened?!" Naruto checks her hands for any bleeding.

Hinata gestures for them to move back from the glass, reaches for the broom and dustpan to sweep the shards up.

"I'm fine! Sorry, I err, just wanted some help falling asleep." She admits, pulls her hands back.

She curls her toes feeling the tips of her ears start to burn. Papa sometimes doesn't even come home until after midnight, it should be easy for her to fall asleep, no matter the environment.

Naruto relaxes, peers to Hinata who nods.

He clasps their hands back together. "Oh, don't be embarrassed by that Hima! What book do you want me to read?"

Boruto ruffles with his hair, Himawari burrowing into his sheets now.

'Great, how am I going to sleep now that she put these thoughts in my head?"

"Hey, we don't know about which bad guys are alive right now and there's plenty of strong people around to take care of them! Anyways, try not to worry about it!"

She pouts in return. "That doesn't make me feel better Big Brother!"

Boruto scowls. "I'm trying my best here y'know!"

Himawari grumbles something he doesn't fully hear, jolts seeing a shadow slink up to his door before calming.

Grandpa.

Minato studies the two, groans under his breath at how wide awake they are. Twin azure eyes peer back at him before grinning.

"Welcome back Grandpa!" They greet him in unison.

Minato simply nods as he steps further into the room. All day he's been studying notes regarding various diplomats he'll be meeting with next week, notes he still needs to finish reviewing.

Sleepiness is abated however seeing them up, parenthood more important.

"I figured I would be the only one up right now and here you two are chatting away at 11:37 pm."

Boruto points to Himawari. "I was sleeping, Hima woke me up!"

Himawari doesn't even argue, leans against Minato's arm as he sits between them.

"I'm just having trouble sleeping sometimes. I don't want to bother Mama and Papa every night cuz they're tired too." She admits.

'All of you have some type of insomnia since coming here. I'll have to ask Lady Biwako if she knows of any herbs that I can brew for everyone.' Minato considers, rubs at her and Boruto's shoulders.

"Don't ever feel nervous to come to us you two." Minato remarks, studies the barren walls of the room.

"Hmm, perhaps if we decorate each if your rooms like how they look in your proper times, you'll feel more at home? I know we don't have all the advanced technology, though we can replicate it as close as we can." He offers.

Himawari brightens at the suggestion, Boruto leaning forward eagerly.

"Do you guys have Konoha's big central mall where we can go buy the stuff?!"

Minato blinks.

"Umm, no! Though I'm sure we can improvise based on what's at the marketplaces!"

Naruto & Kakashi-Konoha Well Woman's Clinic

"So...you're really Minato-sensei's son?" Kakashi looks him up and down.

Naruto arches a brow at his tone, peers up at him from his position shrouded within the leaves. Minato asked him to go on a pharmacy run to help with Kushina's growing bouts of nausea, passing the clinic on his way back.

"If you do run into Kakashi, err well please be patient with him! He truly is nice, but he has his moments where he can be a bit...difficult." Minato advises.

Well, easier said than done.

His distrust practically digs arrows into him.

"Yes? Figured that was obvious from how I look y'know?" Naruto supplies back.

Kakashi shrugs, gaze turning back towards the clinic.

"Rogue shinobi disguise themselves as a comrade all the time."

Naruto hums at that, climbs up into the tree beside him with a speed quick enough to startle Kakashi to sit up.

'How did he get up here so fast before I could even move?' Kakashi studies him warily.

Naruto beams at his surprised expression. "Oh, good! I was beginning to think the only features you could show is boredom or say some witty dry sarcasm y'know."

Kakashi scoots back from him and he can tell he's frowning without even seeing his mouth.

"What do you want anyways? I'm supposed to be focused on protecting Kushina and you're getting in the way of that."

Naruto rolls his eyes, bites his tongue not to volley back equal vitriol.

"To talk. Did Dad tell you of our connection in the future? Ah, there's a lot Hinata and I need to tell you guys! Maybe this should wait until Dad gets off work. No, what if delaying it causes further problems in the future. I should find Pervy-Sage, hopefully he's out doing real research at the library..."

Kakashi shakes his head, considers his antsy look as Naruto rubs his chin of all these things weighing on his mind.

'Sensei's looks, Kushina's brain.'

Naruto snaps his fingers.

"I'll start with something easy! Was Boruto telling the truth about your face?! Sakura, Sasuke, and I always were curious about that y'know!"

"...No." Kakashi answers flatly, studies the clinic door for a redhead.

No luck.

"You're lying! Pervy-Sage said your right thumb briefly twitches when you do."

Kakashi grits his teeth, wills his heartbeat to relax.

"Look, I don't feel like talking about my past or to you. I'm not going to play 20 questions." Kakashi interrupts before Naruto can prattle on.

He studies sunlight breaking through the canopy above, thin wisps of yellow that cross over them both in jagged lines.

When he glances back to Naruto he's completely still, but a storm has gathered in the blue of his eyes.

"Alright, what about Obito and Rin?"

Kakashi fullt straightens, twists out a kunai before he can help it.

"What about them?"

The tip of the blade hits a ray of sunlight, Naruto unfazed.

"...When you became our sensei for Team 7, you'd always run an hour, sometimes two hours late. Make of that what you will. However, I realize now you were just visiting the Memorial Rock at Konoha's cemetery or doing odd jobs like helping old ladies with their groceries. Heh, I guess little things to avoid what Old Man Third assigned you to do."

'Where is he going with this?' Kakashi watches him carefully only to see a second Naruto watching them from higher up, a third one down below at the base of the tree.

Surrounded.

He steadies his blade, poises it for his chest.

"What are you doing?" He hisses, imbues lightning into his opposite hand.

Naruto holds up his hands freely.

"Making sure you don't run. I don't think you will be knowing you take Dad's assignments seriously, but just in case with what I have to say next."

Kakashi doesn't move, places his hand against the bark of the tree.

"Lightning Release: Current!"

Electricity forms a barrier between them, nods for him to go on.

"Like you said, just in case."

Naruto blows out a breath. "Obito. Did...Did any Konoha shinobi check that his body is still in that cave?"

His left eye spins crimson.

"What?"

Naruto pushes on anyways, looks down to avoid his gaze. "Listen! Hinata and I came from when the Fourth Shinobi World War was just beginning! The name 'Madara' has popped up more than once in one of the Akatsuki's members, but that guy is some old dude from the Warring States Period, he'd long be dead by now! So there's an Akatsuki member going around using his name with a sharingan!"

Kakashi scoffs, breathes in and out slowly as his patience cracks. "So? The Uchiha clan has plenty of members that know the sharingan."

Naruto blinks, clicks his tongue.

'Right. The massacre hasn't happened yet.'

Hopefully won't happen with the knowledge he and Hinata have.

Kakashi regards him like he's an idiot, eyes hazing over done with this conversation.

"In the future, the Uchiha clan is...gone save one or two members." Naruto murmurs.

Kakashi's gaze shifts back to him at his somber look and his stomach plunges recalling his earlier statement.

'Did anybody check if his body is still in that cave?'

"How?" Kakashi mumbles.

Naruto doesn't answer, peers towards the entrance seeing Kushina bowing goodbye to Biwako.

"Ginger, chamomile, or peppermint tea for that morning sickness Kushina. And no sweets, save that to once a week, if even less. We don't want anything effecting your blood sugar or blood pressure as time goes on!" She instructs.

"Yes, I promise! I'll tell Minato to hide away any snacks if necessary y'know!" Kushina assures her.

Biwako sighs at the chocolate bar she peeks inside her purse.

'This is going to be a long pregnancy.' She rubs at her head, waves her off.

Naruto glances back to Kakashi as Kushina heads for home.

"Next time. With everybody around to here it."

Jiraiya & Hiruzen-The Treehouse Lounge & Bar

"Long day? I've heard you've been...busy." Hiruzen relates as Jiraiya steps forward out of a haze of smoke.

According to Kushina, he's a deviant in disguise and it's all his fault. Minato more politely saying he needs more time to talk with each child one on one.

Particularly Naruto.

Jiraiya snickers. "You could say that! I've learned I'm a very important individual and influence these past few days to the next generation of shinobi in this village!"

Hiruzen smirks. "Interesting. Is that why you chose this location in particular for us to catch up? So they wouldn't be flocking to you in a popular area of the village?"

He's sure no past Kage or retired Konoha official has ever stepped foot in a place like this.

Jiraiya smiles as a pair of twin busty brunettes pass their table, wiggles his brows.

"Oh, I have connections here! Plus.. I know your type Sensei."

Hiruzen coughs into his sake. "I'm happily married as you're well aware."

Jiraiya simply grins and part of him wishes Biwako or Tsunade were here just to see what his former student's reaction would be.

He waves up a hand to their waitress at Hiruzen's flat look for them to get to business already, orders karaage and edamame for them to share.

"Alright, so that scroll Boruto and Himawari used is a mix of codes that's giving even me some trouble. It appears to be composed of random numbers and symbols I've only seen a handful of times during my travels." Jiraiya begins once he's sure nobody is listening.

Hiruzen stirs at his glass. "Well, that's a start. Where have you seen these symbols?"

Jiraiya blows out a breath and he knows then he won't like his answer.

"That's the thing. I've seen them in nations both small and large. However, I know for sure I've seen it at least in Ame, Kiri, Suna, and Kumo."

-x-

I'll eventually get to Naruto and Jiraiya interacting more, but I didn't want to feel like this chapter was dragging. I'll next update for Mistaken Identity as the next chapter for that is about halfway done.

Eventually, we'll do some traveling outside Konoha!

As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters, my original writings, and bonus content. I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!

Appreciate any thoughts!

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