Chapter 18: The Beast

"No one is born a monster. But I wish some people were. It would make it easier to hate them, to kill them, to forget their dead faces."

― Victoria Aveyard, Glass Sword

Naruto & Hinata

She feels Naruto's hand curl at her shoulder before she can even fully turn around, touch a clarity to a static ringing in her ears taking in Hashijimi's cooling body. Bile stings and churns at the back of her throat, slowly creeps forward as she blinks back a fresh set of tears.

Naruto's breath tickles the back of her neck and goosebumps rise across her arms, grip on her becoming a squeeze.

She leans back into his hug, blush warming her face as his lips brush near her ear.

"Hinata, focus. Look at me."

Opal glances to him only for a flicker of a moment before they go back to Hashijimi, drawing her hands into fists.

"I know, I know. My tears are wasted on her. I just thought that...it would be me or you to finish her off. I had...questions, so many questions I wanted to ask as to why she went to Kabuto of all people when I'm sure in time Father would've changed his mind-"

"None of that matters now that she's dead so forget about all the what-if's here and now. Disappointment is something we're both used to, even before you were made a sacrifice. Yeah, I wanted to be the one to crush in her neck for what she did to you, but it's not gonna happen now." Naruto cuts her off.

Hinata purses her lips at his sharp tone, so used to it now that it ignites a small grin, body loosening up just slightly. "...Fine, you've spilled enough blood as is anyways without needing to add Hashijimi to your body count."

Naruto's gaze turns back to Kabuto's retreating form and his pulse thrums tenfold in his ears with a renewed sense of purpose, low growl of the fox deep in the back of his mind.

"You owe me a murder."

Naruto steps forward before Hinata's hand can pull him back.

"No, this hasn't turned into a bloodbath yet."

He gathers a swirl of wind, walk becoming a run.

Kabuto sides steps the sphere. Tsunade was dangerous enough at the way she nearly shutdown his nervous system, hands still tingling from reorienting himself before the effects became permanent.

"Too slow. I don't see how so many of your peers have trouble dealing with you." He scoffs.

A clone appears from both behind him and underground, whistle of wind becoming a screech.

"You know nothing about me."

Obsidian widens preparing for the collision, the first Naruto's grip a vice on his arms keeping him in place.

"Rasengan!"

The blast slams into his chest, blood rushing to his mouth spilling out in a stream, gulping in air in rasps.

'Heal. I need to heal before this reaches my heart!'

It's fine, his chakra can't be so low already despite this direct hit.

But a jolt strikes at his legs and his body topples, wincing seeing a cobweb of electricity and fire coated around his ankles and feet. His eyes track over to Hinata, smirks when it seems she won't be able to even get the trail of flames and lightning past his ankles.

Right, the former Hyūga heiress is here too.

"Naruto, he's trying to heal the main wound to his chest!" Hinata warns.

Kabuto clicks his tongue, onyx boring towards her in disgust.

"Stay out of this sacrifice. You should be thanking me for ridding you of that doctor and soon this boy who you've been forcibly tied to!"

He lifts his hand to aim a kunai at her, Naruto parrying it out of the way.

And before the weapon can fall back to the ground, Naruto twists his arm back towards him, jabs the metal cleanly through into his hand.

Kabuto bites down a yell, peers into eyes that have gone a deep scarlet, heat of his rage seeping across the terrain.

'Shit. This isn't good. I need to get out of this before he attacks in a way that will permanently damage me or worse.'

"You like to copy Orochimaru so much like a good, pathetic follower; don't you? So I'm sure you want to mimic him and lose the use of your arms too; right?"

Metal instantly digs and twists its way into the muscle and nerves of both his arms, briefly locks him in place. Kabuto grits his teeth not to pass out, realign what pathways he can that hasn't completely torn.

"I-I've dealt with far worse during Master Orochimaru's experimentations. These mean nothing." Kabuto scoffs lowly.

Naruto's clones move in to pin his feet, knocked back by a sharp kick of Kabuto's legs, head turning roughly shoving the main Naruto off. He cracks and straightens bones to get both kunai out of his arms before erecting a barrier of smoke. All at once, snakes slither forward out of shadow and grass, a river of ink blacks to silver whites soon start covering his form.

"We'll...meet again soon Naruto Uzumaki. But for now, I must leave everything to Master Orochimaru."

"Are you really going to let him get away with this?" The fox questions.

He doesn't even really need to goad him, Naruto already pulling at more of his chakra.

"Of course not."

He tears into his left knee before Kabuto's body can fully disperse, unnerved even as all his snakes' coil at his hands to try and push him back, poison evaporating to steam before they can pierce his skin.

Wind knocks the rest away, forces obsidian to gaze into crimson.

"Consider this a parting gift."

Naruto grins wildly seeing a flash of panic cross his features because for all his bravado, Kabuto is still a human.

Still doesn't want to die here and now.

His left knee bends and cracks from his pressure, wind further tearing into him from all angles this close.

Hinata gets to a standing position seeing a new set of golden eyes within the haze of gray, forces Naruto back.

"Get back! The air is too poisonous!"

Kabuto instantly slides from Naruto's hold at the distraction, slips into the shroud of gray with the remaining snakes left.

Hinata hears Tsunade's voice beside her assessing them both for major injuries, fists tightened at her sides to force them away from the area. Jiraiya nods in unison with her, summons a toad to aid in tossing them backwards out of the way.

"Both of you are leaving this field; now!" He declares.

Pearl catches with amber just as they get tossed back before her gaze follows to Tsunade's final old teammate from the life she left behind.

Orochimaru approaches forward, sighs at the mess of pooling blood under Hashijimi to the myriad of injuries covering Kabuto's body.

"You disappoint me Kabuto, but I'll deal with you later." He hums.

Golden eyes move on to his former teammates.

"Ah, I was wondering what was taking Kabuto and Hashijimi so long. Tsunade, it seems you've changed your mind on my offer? This is your last chance to truly have both Dan and Nawaki back by your side don't forget."

Tsunade cracks her fists in response at the way he rolls their names off his tongue with a syrupy grin and he notes then she isn't trembling despite all this blood surrounding them, the way it clogs the air and even sticks to her own attire.

Killing intent shines her eyes.

"It wasn't an offer I was ever going to take."

Hiashi & Neji, Hyūga Compound-Meditation Hall

"Hashijimi. The latest update I've gotten is that she was seen in the company of Orochimaru and Kabuto."

Hiroto pauses at Hiashi's silence. Crickets chirp filling the void, crescent moon sinking beneath a thin veil of clouds. He's been waiting all day for this update and it does little to quell the frustration lingering about his chest.

Opalescent stays steely, gaze staring forward towards the garden as fireflies flicker out to the pond's edge casting yellow-green glows against the water.

He flicks a hand up. "Continue."

Hiroto nods. "It's highly possible he's already...disposed of her to make an example. I'm not sure how this will affect our standings in Konoha once the news spreads out Master Hiashi. It's possible once all is said and done, they'll send a team of jonin or ANBU to retrieve her and imprison her for treason and deserting the village or find...whatever remains of her body to be buried in an unmarked grave."

"At the end of the day, we still honorably gave away Hinata to appease our village's Tailed Beast. People can talk all they want about this, but it shouldn't change our standings at least socially." Hiashi finally gruffly voices.

He clicks his tongue before nodding to himself, meets Hiroto's stare.

"However, do what you can to stay on top of any gossip mongers, journalists, or press that may try to bring up the clan's name in a harsh light for any amount of ryo; small or large. Alert all the guards to be wary of talking to any shinobi or civilian trying to get details on Hashijimi's final moments here. This will all eventually blow over knowing we already casted her from the Hyūga name."

Hiroto bows his agreement to the orders, leaves him alone once more.

'I see she made true on her words of trying to bring the clan down with her in death.' He sighs.

The only difference was that a different type of monster got to her first before Naruto could.

"Uncle?"

Neji moves out of the moon's shadow, lips pressed in a flat line.

'He's been acting more like Hanabi as of late.' Hiashi notes at his guarded expression, eavesdropping within the corridors of the manor and just outside the edge of doorways to listen in on his latest meetings with Lord Third's old advisors to ANBU guards giving various updates on the possible next candidates to be the 5th Hokage.

'It seems most want one of Lord Third's old students to take up the mantle. It will be either Tsunade or Jiraiya then.'

As long as nothing changes about the gifts the clan receives in Hinata having been given away, he has no complaints or concerns about either of them.

Hiashi gestures to the spot Hiroto has vacated with a pat of his hand.

"You have something on your mind." He asks more as a statement than question, opalescent studying Neji casually.

Neji nods slowly, eyes following where his had been earlier to the garden. They've sparred and meditated together sporadically since the failed invasion, the favor he had from most of the main clan members now tepid at best after his stalemate against Hinata.

"Hinata. While I know she's no longer an official member of the clan, I can't help but have this gut feeling that she's going to soon become a woman neither you nor I will recognize."

Hiashi studies the ripples in the water, sighs. "Yes, and? It's a good thing that Hinata hasn't faltered despite her status as Konoha's sacrifice. I only wish she had shown such tenacity when she actually still held the Hyūga name."

Neji considers his remark. "Do...Do you ever regret giving Hinata away?"

"...I can admit the thought has crossed my mind, but no, I don't."

He blows out a breath at Neji's brows setting in, clearly wanting to know more about his current feelings towards his eldest child. He unfortunately isn't the first person to ask him this and he's sure he won't be the last knowing what Hinata has been up to as of late from updates he's gotten from both civilian and shinobi. Inoichi had been one the first people to boldly directly ask him in so many words why he had gone through with the process to sacrifice Hinata.

"I know you and your clan have plenty of ryo that you could've have paid the fees to prevent your daughter from being chosen. So why didn't you? Have the Hyūga become so prideful in matters of strength and skill that they'd give up one of their own first before spending a bit of ryo?"

Hiashi notes the way Shikaku stiffens beside him, Choza lowering his gaze to his half-eaten onigiri. Maybe the pair are wondering the same things to themselves too at having sons around the same age as Hinata. However, they're too polite to ask so blatantly like their long-time teammate and friend.

Or maybe they just figured it would be too much of a headache to get caught up in the affairs of other clans unless absolutely necessary.

"The decisions I make for my daughters are none of your business Inoichi. You conducted the mental aptitude test and found no deficiencies in Hinata, correct? Despite Hinata not caring so much for things like her looks or clothes and instead focusing on her studies and training unlike that daughter of yours, she hasn't shown her worth to me or the clan to keep her as a Hyūga. She will better serve Konoha as this year's sacrifice to the jinchuriki performing a duty that will honor our clan."

Inoichi jolts from his chair, jade eyes turning a stormy green.

"What right do you of all people have to judge me on my daughter's choices when you're the one about to-"

Hiruzen clears his throat from the entryway, quiet sweeping across the room in a rush of air.

"Ah, sorry to cut in on you speaking Inoichi. I trust you have the results for me on the mental screening you conducted on Hinata Hyūga, right? Can I and everyone here assume she's cleared psychologically from your standpoint as leader of the Yamanaka clan and Analysis-Intelligence Division of Konoha to proceed with the rest of the measures for the sacrificial procedures?"

Pearl meets verdant, Inoichi slowly lowering himself back into his seat.

"Yes Lord Third, everything is cleared from my end."

The other clan leaders, Jonin, and even regular day citizens probably think of him as having been too strict, too harsh on his eldest.

But then he thinks back on his last conversation with her.

"You're afraid of the beast that is Naruto when you should be afraid of what he has taught me, what I will do to break apart the archaic rules of this clan someday soon."

A light grin etches his face taking in the swath of stars above them, so be it if she does indeed challenge him one day.

He'll reaffirm once again that he made the right call.

Or perhaps she'll prove him wrong knowing the brief show of skill he saw of her using lightning.

He moves to stand, nods to a set of attendants to prepare his bed for the night before looking back to his nephew.

"Your gut feeling may prove true in the near future Neji. Though for now, matters involving Hinata aren't our concern."

Sakura-Haruno Household

"Sakura, it's nearly 1:40 am."

She can hear the frown in her Mother's voice, tightly wound with both worry and exasperation at her new nightly routine. Almost every day now she heads out immediately after breakfast, sometimes even before sunrise to meet with Anko-sensei. They train until sunset before she heads home covered in the foliage and dirt from the forests.

Combine that with her head thrumming and skin burning from the new poisons Anko's given her to swallow, inhale, and inject and it's no wonder her Mom looks so spooked by her current state.

But still, she doesn't turn away from her collection of herbs she's planted or the colorful vials set in a row in front of her. Verdant eyes brighten as she drops a chemical mix onto a ginkgo leaf, admires as the bright amber-gold color slowly leaches away from it into a withered brownish gray.

"5 more minutes and then I'll-"

"No, you said that nearly an hour ago missy! You still need your rest Sakura and you won't be able to help Kakashi or grow as a shinobi if you aren't getting enough sleep. Do it for me and your Father sweetie, he gets fitful when he knows you're staying up late." Mebuki cuts her off.

Her chest tightens, resists a scowl at her using Dad against her when he's going through the throes of a slow recovery process with weekly physical and occupational therapy. He tries not to let her or Mom see it, but in-between his corny jokes with the therapists he's still getting the phantom pains from his missing leg, hardly touches the medications his orthopedic doctor prescribed for fear of addiction.

"I don't want those pills sweetie! I'm not going to end up like those shinobi always searching for their next fix even after their injuries have healed. There's been an influx of them since that invasion and it's only going to get worse with that snake man and his associates still at large-"

"Shh, Sakura is going to be home soon Dear!" Mebuki shushes him.

Sakura meanwhile pauses outside the door, neither having realized how loud their voices carry, especially with the kitchen window open...

This is part of the reason why she's dove into studying the subject of herbal medicine. If Dad doesn't want to try the medications the hospitalists are prescribing, perhaps he'll be more willing to take the teas or powders she can mix into his food or drinks.

If only the germination process wasn't so slow.

Sakura blows out a breath to think up another excuse, though no more are going to work for tonight or this morning now really at twisting to look at equally stubborn green eyes.

She moves an arm forward to shut off her lamp, room plunged into black as she shuts back her books.

And to prove Mebuki's seriousness, she grabs Sakura's books and plants as soon as she leaves her desk chair.

"Hey, be careful with those! It took Ino and Mr. Yamanaka nearly a month to get me those seeds!" Sakura calls out after her watching as one of the lily's petals droops and sways within its pot.

Mebuki just gives her a wave over her shoulder, heading for her bedroom; the click of their door locking is practically deafening to her ears.

"Goodnight Sakura!"

Sakura dangles and kicks her legs off her bed, considers burning off this nervous energy at the training grounds or doing a 'night walk' as Naruto likes to call them.

A scratch at her window decides for her.

Pakkun.

"Any news on Kakashi-sensei?!" She asks by way of greeting while fishing out a pack of dog treats she got on the way home yesterday to be prepared for this situation coming.

Pakkun shakes a paw up at her offer, pats at his stomach.

"No thanks! I'm trying to keep to a diet of low fats, salts, and sugars with how much weight I've gained."

Sakura blinks, nearly matches his dry tone to ask where said weight gain is considering his shape is no different from the last time she saw him. Nothing about his features particularly change for her to be concerned as he hops into her lap, but a prick of nervousness lodges into her throat.

"No new updates on Kakashi, but I unfortunately have some bad news regarding Sasuke. It seems he had a run in with Itachi too and is now in the same critical condition as Kakashi."

Her fingers grow numb, teeth scraping her lips and tongue drawing blood.

'Focus. Gather more details.' She controls her breathing.

"Ah, and when did this happen?"

Pakkun shakes his head. "Maybe a few days ago? Sorry, word travels slow at times amongst the various summons. Tsunade though should be able to help make them both have a full recovery with her skills."

Sakura nods slowly, fights down a sob, stomach churning and twisting so violently that she slips Pakkun from her lap to get to the bathroom.

"Sorry, sorry. I...I probably ate too much back during dinner time." Sakura faintly mutters, flushing away hopefully everything she's expelled from her stomach for the night.

Pakkun light scratches at her legs.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to fault you for worrying over your sensei and one of your teammates."

Sakura reaches for a washcloth, turns the sink until the water scalds her fingers a deep pink.

"No, I can't just keep sitting here waiting. Tsunade, I need to find all her old medical procedures and notes from her time as part of Konoha's Hospital medical board."

Pakkun yawns flatly, gestures to the dark bags beneath her eyes.

"Such records are probably sealed and also outdated with how much medical ninjutsu has progressed since then."

Sakura wrinkles her nose in thought, paces back and forth from her desk to her bed before snapping her fingers. "I volunteer twice a week at the hospital. I'll find a way to get to the files without it seeming like a break in."

Pakkun nips at her legs stopping her fretting.

"You're running on just 5 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Sleep and think on this more in the morning."

'My mind is already made up.' Sakura knows and Pakkun must sense this too as he groans.

Because maybe amid said files she can find something useful on Itachi Uchiha as well.

She can finally put her poisons to the test in real world application.

Naruto & Hinata-Forests Outskirts of Tanzaku Quarters

'Gotta stay awake. I need to keep watching this match.'

They moved Sasuke towards a ravine in the northwest side of the forests, hopefully out of sight enough via the leaves and rocks surrounding him for nobody to disturb him sans the toads ordered to watch over the area. Naruto shakes away a rush of nerves, clicks his teeth to stay focused.

Whatever Kabuto did to him in those final moments before his snakes came has thrown his body off, blinking spots from his eyes. The more they clear, the more he realizes that Orochimaru has turned his attention to him.

Hinata squeezes at his shoulder the same way he did to her earlier. "We need to get out of everyone's sight by moving deeper into the woods."

They're too far away to pick up on the entire conversation the trio are having, though he can guess what's running through Orochimaru's mind from the way yellow eyes shine with mirth, licking his lips.

"-You two are foolish to keep protecting him. If he caused this much damage to Kabuto, what would happen if the Akatsuki truly got their hands on him?

Jiraiya says something in return he strains to hear, rising a fist up only for Orochimaru to fully crack his neck their way.

"Enough. I'll kill the boy here and now!"

He elongates his head to rush in for them, Tsunade immediately impeding his path, fist forming a shadow across his face. The crunch and tear of muscle and bone split the air, not relenting stomping a foot the ground.

"Earth Release: Thunder Quake!"

The ground shakes and splits into a web of cracks, lightning crackling up along each jagged path of stone and dirt.

Tsunade slams another punch in to try and fully topple Orochimaru, teeth clenched as his lips warp into a bemused smirk.

"Your fight is with me asshole; not them!"

Orochimaru realigns his neck, snickering turning into a chilling laugh. "Oh, what's this? Hmm, why the sudden interest and protection towards the jinchuriki and Konoha's sacrifice? Just a few weeks ago, you couldn't be bothered to care about Konoha's traditions."

'Huh, I wasn't sure if earlier was just a fluke, but she's truly covered with blood and not really reacting. This isn't good considering my current handicap.'

Tsunade spits at his sunken in cheek, nails digging crescents into his skin leaving a wake of red. The seal upon her forehead activates, earlier wounds regenerating as gold eyes briefly spin to Kabuto's still incapacitated state.

This is a fight he'll need to do on his own.

"Since I decided to be Konoha's Fifth Hokage!"

Jiraiya glances to her in mild surprise before half-smiling, nodding at the grin she sends back in return.

'It's time to finish this then!'

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Naruto and Hinata take to the canopies of the trees to truly watch, field soon filled with a toad, a snake, and a slug that tower high enough to make the Sannin look like specks in comparison. The grass beneath them darkens to an ashy black as each animal watches each other, waiting for one to strike first.

Manda scoffs at Orochimaru's current state, takes in his bandaged arms with what both Naruto and Hinata assume is disgust.

"Pathetic. You've never looked so weak in front of me Orochimaru; you didn't even bother with bringing me a human sacrifice."

Orochimaru ignores his complaint, Katsuyu spraying acid in the snake's direction. Jade eyes shoot to her, instantly slither out of the way and behind her.

"You're slow once you use that acid of yours." Manda hisses as he wraps around her, her body dividing before he can fully bite or constrict her in place.

Gamabunta unsheathes his sword, further blocking his mouth. "You won't have to worry about your summoner for much longer once I'm done with you."

Naruto watches the toad's ease of coordination with Jiraiya, pair not even needing to speak with each other to form a combination of oil and fire that coats the field in a new smog of blacks and grays. As it stands, at least his son Gamakichi is friendly enough with him.

'They all get along so well, but then again, it's not their first time using them in battle.'

"...Orochimaru seems to be losing." Hinata notes quietly, Naruto turning his gaze to follow as Jiraiya and Tsunade close in upon him.

His tongue is wound in Tsunade's fist, Jiraiya's hair forming a barrier to encase him.

Cobalt narrows, shaking his head.

"No, he's shedding out of that body." Naruto mutters, his true form returning to Kabuto's side.

"There are other ways of me getting the use of my arms back if you're not willing to help me Tsunade. The next time we all meet, I'll be in perfect condition and in the perfect body to fully destroy Konoha." Orochimaru decides and Naruto swears his eyes shine with renewed glee past him and Hinata.

Right in the direction where they've hidden Sasuke.

Sakura-Konoha Hospital

The cameras operate in 5-minute intervals before they move in a new direction.

Tiny black circles on the ceiling that looked so much like bugs to her until she caught the wink of a red dot in the center. There are two cameras she notes on opposites side of the medical records section. One that rotates towards the library, the other towards the hallway that leads to billing and international care for the rare patients that come in for treatment from outside Konoha.

5 minutes. That's all the time she'll have to get in and out of the medical records office it seems.

'Today is just a practice round, a way to time myself and get a good idea of who frequents that hallway the most and for how long.' Sakura reminds herself, adjusts her starch white uniform, hat, and name tag signifying her as a volunteer and aid to any medical services needed.

But next week she'll dress casually and blend into these seas of patients, hopefully be invisible enough to security.

Medical records are on the second floor next to the patient reading and listening areas tucked away to the left; she recalls. The aptly dubbed 'island floor' for the calming music that plays 24-7, the many lounge chairs that lay about for patients and loved ones to take a quick nap, and the scent of rose, lavender, and chamomile to further relax jitters over a pending lab or imaging result.

It won't be a problem if a patient sees her necessarily, but a colleague like Mr. Shiomoto who often works in the ER helping her in stocking the supply room could instantly go to the head of volunteering for the deemed suspicious behavior she's about to commit.

'It's fine, I have a plan for that too.'

Nobody, not even crabby Mrs. Ryutari will fault her for wanting to look at the records of her Dad and the next steps in his plan of care.

So the following week, she picks an afternoon is when the second floor is the least busy, when the lunch rush is done at Oasis Cafe and majority of both staff and patients have gone back to their clinics, offices, or next appointments.

Even after having practiced this route for over a week now to the point she sees in her dreams, her stomach won't stop twisting, heart skittering in her ears trying to shoo away all this surrounding ambient noise.

This fear.

She pretends to check her watch as she approaches into range of the cameras, stops herself seeing a wisp of blonde hair from the corner of her eye.

'I've only seen that face in old photos.' Sakura blinks, legs rooting her in place as the figure turns down the hallway, growing team of doctors at her side scribbling down notes furiously to keep up with her orders.

"Lady Tsunade?" Sakura whispers out the name, unsure if maybe it's a doppelgänger or truly her. She hadn't heard from Ino or any of the gossipy old women who frequent the marketplaces in the late morning that she, Naruto, or Hinata had returned.

Sakura rubs at her eyes, the woman gone.

She's sleep deprived and running only on the small bit of rice and egg soup her Mom practically forced her to sit down and eat before she left for this supposed shift.

Either way, goosebumps ignite her skin to abort checking the medical records today, rewinding her mind back through her calendar, the most important dates she circled to be prepared for.

'When did she arrive back in Konoha?'

Jiraiya & Tsunade-Tanzaku Quarters Festival Grounds

"I gotta admit, I underestimated her." Jiraiya muses.

His peers up at a clear blue-violet sky, the end of an eventful day.

Naruto and Hinata sit huddled together at the table opposite of them, enjoying the spoils of their winnings at the various carnival games. They split plates of takoyaki, taiyaki, and yakitori. Naruto brushes at confetti from Hinata's hair while she reaches to swipe at bonito flakes and soy sauce clinging to his chin.

A rare full grin etches his features and Jiraiya considers this is the first real celebratory event Naruto's gone to where he isn't on the outskirts or being given offerings of expired food and hand-me-down toys.

"They're both full of surprises." Tsunade surmises, gesturing to the band aid on his hand.

"You try and steal from the kiddo when he wasn't looking?" She jests.

Jiraiya chortles at her assumption before nodding slowly. "I was only trying to warn him about the sin of greed!"

Tsunade snorts dryly, notes silently the way he guards his sake glass from her potentially drugging him again to stop her from making any rash decisions without his input.

'Alright, time to get this over with.'

She downs the last of her sake, turns her focus towards Naruto.

"Naruto! I need two minutes of your time."

Naruto looks up and over at her, smile vanishing as fast it came. It reminds her too much of Granny Mito in the moments when she let her own grin and mask slip off revealing the true nature of her stormy thoughts...

She holds up 1 finger as he grudgingly ambles over. "Fuinjutsu. To answer your earlier question regarding the Uzumaki."

Naruto blinks, suspicion and surprise clouding his expression, glancing to Jiraiya who nods confirming the validity of her statement.

"What made you giveaway this information so easily now y'know?"

Tsunade huffs, lightly taps at his head, about to wrap him in a half-hug only for Naruto lock up from her touch, steps backwards away from her hand's reach.

'Ah, of course he won't trust me so soon.'

"Listen, I may have been taught by Sarutobi, but he's from a different generation than Jiraiya and me. He changed up the rules regarding our village's jinchuriki and sacrificial rules under his reign because he had Danzo and those other two advisors in his ears all the time aiding in swaying some of his policies. That changes once I officially take over as the 5th Hokage; got it?"

Naruto doesn't answer in response.

Instead, blue silently goes back to lilac, sees mirroring confusion in her expression and from Hinata's end, a tinge of red swirling about threatening to spread.

Naruto blows out a breath, he wondered for a good while before realizing it didn't matter when his annoyance towards Hinata being gifted to him switched to attraction, the realization Hinata has never once thought of him as a demon or tried to leave him alone.

That started during Old Man Third's reign, died with him.

'So what will these new supposed polices Granny will put into effect mean for us?'

-x-

It's my birthday weekend! While I'm not working at the clinic thankfully, it's admittedly not the best of weather outside to celebrate due to these dang storms once more passing through and I'm once again feeling a bit sick/dealing with allergies.

However, it's been nice to hunker down to do some writing and catch up on X-men 97 along with Shogun, and Kaiju no.8! I need some new anime to get into with a lot of shows on hiatus or not that many episodes in? You guys got any recs for good like slice of life, romance, or action anime?

Pa-tre-ons as always, get early access to chapters along with bonus material, NSFW, and my original writings. I posted a NaruHina Mother's Day one-shot earlier in the week! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there! Check out my Insta by the same name for my anime drawing, book recommendations, and travel blog!

Let me know your thoughts!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!