They stopped in front of the large house, her father studying it for a moment before making his way to the stairs. She hurried after him, falling in step as they ascended to a short hallway, which ended in front of a door.
Her father knocked twice before fixing her with a stern look.
"They may be a newly instated Clan, but the Uzumaki have old ties to our village, and we must treat them accordingly. I expect a befitting act from you. Understood?"
A tight knot lodged in her throat at her father's cold voice, and she barely managed to push through a quiet, "Yes, father."
Just as her father looked away, the door creaked open, revealing a woman close to her father's age, with short, red hair and a kind face.
"Lady Uzumaki," her father spoke with a curt nod, and the woman nodded back, smiling politely.
"Lord Hyūga."
Then, she looked at her, and her smile became much softer.
It looked nothing like the stiff smiles she was used to seeing among most of her clan, much too warm and kind, almost like her mother…
She would have looked at her smile for a moment longer, if not for her father's subtle glare from the corner of his eye. Her stomach twisted on itself as she quickly bowed her head.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Uzumaki. I am Hyūga H-Hinata," she spoke, feeling a sudden flash of heat creeping up her neck as she stuttered at the end, but the woman didn't seem to mind, the look on her face becoming even softer.
"You can call me Yuzu, if you want."
Hinata gave another quick bow, catching a brief look from her father as she lifted her head, the message clear. She'd better not do such a thing.
"You have a beautiful girl," Lady Uzumaki said, gaze shifting back to her father, who only gave a brief nod in response.
The woman's smile dimmed a little as she stepped aside, gesturing inside the house. "Please come in. I just finished some tea."
She walked inside after her father, taking a moment to close the door, before looking around at the narrow hallway. It stretched further ahead, with a few doors on the left side.
"Hinata." She nearly jumped in her skin at her farther's abrupt call, catching his glare as he looked over his shoulder with a frown. "Come."
She quickly fell in step at his side while Lady Uzumaki showed them to the first door, the woman briefly looking inside, her voice warm and soft as she spoke, "Karin, we have esteemed guests."
Hinata stared at a random spot on the wall, doing her best to ignore how her stomach kept churning restlessly, the deepening frown on her father's face as they waited only making it worse.
A girl near her own age, with vibrant red hair suddenly came out of the room, sharing a brief look with Lady Uzumaki as she stopped in front of them.
"Welcome to our house, Lord Hyūga. I'm Uzumaki Karin," she said with a rather stiff bow, to which her father merely nodded before looking away.
Karin's gaze shifted to her, and Hinata did her best not to fidget under the girl's intense stare.
"You have pretty eyes."
Hinata felt a flash of heat creep up her face. "O-Oh, you think so?" She averted her gaze, studying the girl's rather plain clothes, before shyly meeting her deep-red eyes. They looked pretty, too…
"Mm-hmm," the girl nodded with a smile. "They look like the moon."
The heat spread all the way to her ears, nearly setting them aflame, and Hinata made an effort not to look away. Her mother was the only one who ever said anything so nice about her eyes.
"Your eyes are also pretty," she said, and Karin's smile became a little warmer.
Hinata found herself returning the smile, though it quickly vanished when she caught her father's icy glare.
A cold pang abruptly coursed through her chest. She'd forgotten to introduce herself!
She quickly bowed her head, hoping her father would not berate her again, but as she looked up, ready to apologize, Lady Uzumaki met her gaze, a kind smile on her face, before looking at her father.
"Perhaps we should let the children get to know each other while we enjoy a cup of tea?"
Her father regarded the woman for a moment, a frown twitching at the corner of his mouth, before he spared Hinata a brief glance.
"Very well." He nodded stiffly, and Hinata felt a wave of relief lighten her chest. She caught a look from Karin, the girl smiling as her eyes briefly went to the other side of the hallway.
"Come," Karin said as she turned around and walked away, Hinata quickly following as the cold feeling of her father's glare lingered on her back until the two of them entered what looked like a bedroom.
Hiruzen looked up from his papers just as the door to his office swung open, the soft clack of a cane on wood filling the room. Danzō made his way to his desk, his scarred visage a severe frown as usual.
There was a curious gleam in his friend's lone eye, though, which Hiruzen met with a tight-lipped smile.
"I'm glad you could join me, old friend."
Danzō regarded him for a quiet moment, not a single muscle twitching on his face. "You seem troubled, Hiruzen."
A flash of anger sparked in Hiruzen's chest, though he only lifted an eyebrow. "Do I?" He took a long puff from his pipe, the pleasant smoke doing wonders to easy some of the stiffness in his shoulders.
Danzō weathered the pointed glare for the better part of a minute before letting out a quiet scoff. "Let's cut the games. Ask me what you wish."
Gaze narrowing, Hiruzen set his pipe aside, folding his hands atop the desk as he leaned forward in his seat. "When were you planning to tell me about your role in the Wood Style research and your continued dealings with Orochimaru?"
He was ready for the usual deflection, or even denial, yet his friend just kept looking him in the eye unflinchingly, the corner of his mouth twitching with the brief ghost of a smirk.
"How did you find out?"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed ever so slightly. Not only did Danzō seem completely unbothered by the reveal, but he nearly sounded pleased about it.
"Jiraiya found some clues while investigating one of Orochimaru's hideouts."
Danzō's lone eye narrowed a fraction, before he gave a slight shake of the head. "That Orochimaru, always trying to play games."
What?
Hiruzen leveled a pointed glare at the man, a deep frown lining his face. "You haven't answered my question, Danzō."
Another spark of anger heated up his chest, when, just like before, his old friend seemed more amused than perturbed.
"I assumed it wasn't something you should concern yourself about."
"That's for me to decide, not you." His mouth tightened, a hint of steel creeping in his tone. "You've kept contact with a traitor behind my back."
"He may be a traitor, but he can still be of use to the village. His brilliant mind returned us the Wood Style, even if diminished."
Hiruzen felt a muscle jump in his jaw. "Nearly a hundred children have died for it," he spoke through clenched teeth.
"And many more would die if another war begins and we are weak."
Hiruzen remained silent, eyes narrowed as he listened. He couldn't refute him on that.
"Lord First created the village to protect the young, but sometimes, we must sacrifice a few to protect the many."
"That's not the Will of Fire, Danzō." Hiruzen spoke, voice low, but Danzō weathered the piercing glare unwaveringly and stone-faced.
"Of course not." He took a step forward, tapping the cane loudly against the floor. "I am the roots that grow in the dark. I do what I must, so the mighty tree can thrive."
The words rang inside the room as Danzō stood there like a statue, back straight and face inscrutable. Hiruzen opened his mouth, only to close it after a moment.
He couldn't deny any of that.
The Foundation existed for the sake of the Leaf. To ease the burden on his shoulders and do what the Hokage could not… and sometimes, would not.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair with a weary sigh. "What else have you done behind my back, Danzō?"
"Whatever was necessary for the village, so you wouldn't have to dirty your hands too much."
Hiruzen's jaw tightened. "That's not an answer."
"No, it's not the answer you want." Danzō's lone eye narrowed. "Everything I do is for the sake of the village. You agreed to this, Hiruzen. You asked me to bear the darkness to your light."
An old memory stirred at those words before a dull pang tightened in his chest. Two young friends working together to pick up the heavy mantle of their mentor. A dream for a brighter future. A stronger Leaf that would never have to bow down to any other village.
Even after all these years, that dream had yet to come within reach…
His old bones suddenly felt even heavier as he folded his hands atop his lap, sparing his long-time friend a tired glance. "Some things are too much."
"Yet the results speak for themselves." Was all that Danzō said, and Hiruzen could only shake his head.
"Do they?"
Danzō's gaze went to the tall windows at the back, the two of them lapsing into quiet.
"Do you know how many wars I've prevented in the last five years, Hiruzen?" Danzō's measured voice filled the room, and, for a moment, Hiruzen wondered if he'd imagined the almost tired note it seemed to carry.
He picked up his pipe and look a long pull, blowing out a plume of sweet-scented smoke. "Why don't you enlighten me?"
"Three," Danzō said, grip tightening around his cane. "Three wars. Doing the things I do. You can rebuke me all you want, but my actions bring results."
Hiruzen shook his head, mouth pressed tightly. "I wish you could do things a little differently."
"You're not the only one, old friend."
The words hung in the air as Hiruzen took another pull from his pipe, holding the smoke in, eyes closing briefly.
With a weary exhale, he opened them again, looking Danzō in the eye. "You are dismissed."
Danzō held his gaze for a few, tense moments, before nodding curtly. "Have a good day, Hiruzen." And with that, he turned around and quietly left the office.
A weary sigh escaped Hiruzen as he watched the door close shut, the large hat atop his head weighing down much heavier than before.
Things could never be simple in life, could they?
Naruto wanted to pull at his hair. This stupid flute only made shrill noises that scratched at his ears. It was nothing like the awesome song that Kurama shared with him.
But the fox insisted he should keep trying until he got it right.
When was that gonna happen? It's been an hour already, and he still couldn't get the notes right.
Naruto stared at the flute, fighting the brief urge to just throw it away.
Giving up already? An amused voice echoed in his head.
Shaddap, Kurama! This is a lot harder than it sounds!
The sound of laughter filled his mind. Keep trying, you'll get it right eventually.
Eventually? How long's that gonna be? This is taking from my cool ninja training!
You have the clones doing that chakra exercise. The only other productive thing you could do right now is physical exercise.
Naruto's face scrunched up at the mention. No way. I already did plenty of exercise for today.
Then keep playing that flute, brat. Kurama's voice returned, even more amused than before.
I'm not a brat. I'm Naruto.
Could've fooled me. The fox chuckled, and Naruto readied to fire back a retort, when the door suddenly creaked open.
Karin stepped inside, followed shortly by her mom, grocery bags in hand. He sprang off the couch, a smile pulling at his cheeks.
"Ah! You're back!"
Eyes briefly going to his hand, Yuzu gave him a warm smile that made him feel nice and fuzzy on the inside. "I see you're still working hard on your flute."
"Mm-hmm!" He nodded happily while Karin walked up to him, a knowing smile on her face.
"Hey, guess what?"
"You got dessert?" he asked hopefully, but she quickly shook her head.
Just as he felt his mouth curl with disappointment, Karin spoke again, smiling even wider. "I convinced mom to make ramen tonight."
Naruto couldn't help but stare, eyes wide. "For real?!"
"Yup."
A wide smile stretched on his face. "Karin, you're awesome!"
Hands going to her hips, she raised her chin a little, smile turning into a grin. "I know right?"
He pulled her in a hug without thinking, but, just as he was about to pull back, Karin hugged him back, her small arms wrapping a little awkwardly around his back. He squeezed her a little tighter, just enjoying the fuzzy feeling in his stomach.
She was super nice, and her mom, too. And he could visit them whenever he wanted. Having family was so awesome!
Kurama was the best!
A nice feeling, like a warm hand ruffling his hair, suddenly washed over him, leaving a smile on his face.
Hey, Kurama, can I bring Karin to meet you?
There was a short pause as he pulled away from the hug, Karin watching him with a nice smile and rosy cheeks. Her mom was nowhere to be seen, though she probably went to the kitchen.
We haven't finished the practice yet. The fox finally answered.
But I'm booored! I wanna do something else.
There was another pause before a heavy sigh reached his ears. Fine. But then you're going to practice for another half an hour.
Naruto smiled, excitement welling in his chest. Sure, sure. C'mon, let's do the thing.
He looked at Karin, who'd been eyeing him curiously the entire time.
"Hey, Karin. Wanna meet a grumpy fox?"
I'm not grumpy.
The fox grumbled like a grumpy old man as Karin made a funny face.
"A fox?" She said, forehead scrunching up before her eyes grew wider and her mouth went open. "Oh! It's the thing that came up when we met!"
"Yeah. He's inside my tummy."
Karin blinked, looking confused again, before her eyes suddenly widened. "You ate a fox?!"
Naruto couldn't stop himself from laughing at the look on her face.
"Hey, don't laugh at me!" Karin said, pointing a finger at him, cherry red creeping up her face. She almost looked like a tomato.
"Sorry, sorry." He shook his head with a grin, holding up a hand next to her chest and making a fist. "Bump my fist, and you'll see."
"Bump your fist?" She tilted her head, face scrunched up cutely.
"Yep. You can feel your chakra, right?"
"Of course I can." Karin raised her chin smugly. "I can feel your chakra, too."
Naruto blinked. She could feel chakra like Kurama? His mouth fell open a little. That was super cool.
"Wait, really? That's awesome?" Karin smiled at the praise. "What's it feel like?"
"It's really warm."
Huh. So, his chakra felt kinda like Kurama's. That made sense.
"C'mon, let's do it." Naruto held his fist up again, a smile on his face. "Strike your chakra into mine."
Karin bumped his fist after a moment, and he felt the familiar pull at his mind as he did the ninshū trick.
The two brats stood before my humble abode, one of them grinning, the other staring at me, eyes wide behind her glasses.
"Woah, he's huge…"
That's what she said.
I held back a chuckle at my shitty humor but couldn't stop the smile twitching on my face. I couldn't wait for the internet to pop up in this world, so I could finally unleash all the memes.
"Yep, Kurama is reaaally big. Probably as big as the Hokage rock."
Thanks, brat, but maybe at my full.
"Kurama?" Karin cocked her head slightly in confusion.
I smirked around my arms, lifting my head and moving a little closer to the gate as the girl watched my every movement.
"That would be my name."
Karin's eyes widened. "He talks?!"
Naruto gave her a funny look, face scrunched up in confusion. "Why wouldn't he?"
Karin blinked, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Well… he's a fox, and, uhm… foxes don't talk?"
A beat of silence passed, and I held back a snort. She was so cute. My brat could learn a thing or two from her.
"That's silly." Naruto shook his head, smiling all the while. "There's animal summon thingies, and they're super smart and can talk."
I blinked, brow climbing a fraction as I stared at the brat.
Wow, he remembered that? Maybe he wasn't a completely lost cause…
"Animal summons?" Karin's face scrunched up cutely in confusion. "What's that?"
Naruto glanced at me, to which I just smirked. "Why don't you tell her?"
The brat hesitated for a moment, nibbling on his lip as he looked at his cousin. "Well, uhh," he said, spreading his tiny arms as wide as he could. "It's these huuuge animals that ninjas can bring anywhere with a jutsu, and they help with stuff like missions and fighting."
I couldn't hold back the smile as I listened to him. He might not give Sakura a run for her money on book smarts anytime soon, but he wasn't going to be the same dumbass like in canon.
"Ah, I see…" Karin said, nodding to herself, gaze trailing back to me, brow furrowing as she studied me intently. Her eyes then suddenly began to glaze over, and I gripped my chakra even tighter, hoping to suppress it for a moment.
"Karin!" My voice boomed throughout the chamber, and she snapped out of her trance as if slapped.
Naruto stepped closer, a worried look on his face. "Are you okay?"
Karin nodded mutely, her eyes still glued to me. I should've warned her beforehand…
"Don't look too deep. My chakra can be rather overwhelming, especially to sensors."
"Sorry," she mumbled quiet, but I just shook my head with a reassuring smile.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Just be more careful in the future."
"Okay." She quickly nodded before giving Naruto a weak smile. "I'm okay. His chakra feels warmer than yours."
I grimaced inwardly at her words. Good thing I had the presence of mind to keep my chakra in check before these two showed up in here on a whim. It took a good chunk of my attention to have it feeling like sunshine and unicorns, but I'd rather not terrify such a cute child.
"Yeah, Kurama's chakra feels really nice."
I should also tell her not to talk about chakra like that around other people. It would really suck to have the secret get out so dumbly after making that promise to Yuzu.
Karin's attention went back to the seal, face scrunching up cutely once again. "Why is he inside a cage? He seems really nice…"
The brat opened his mouth to say something, only to immediately close it as he gave me a look, to which I simply nodded.
"It's a long story." I told her with a smile. "I can tell you another time."
"Okay." Karin seemed satisfied with that, but Naruto sent me another look, a familiar gleam in his eyes.
"Hey, Kurama, can you tell us a story about our clan?"
Heh. From unstoppable force of nature to glorified babysitter. If the others could see me now…
I felt my mouth twitch with a smile. I didn't mind it, though.
"I suppose I can."
I had to keep up a modicum of appearances, though.
"A story?" Karin asked curiously. "My mom told me a few stories, too."
"Yeah, Kurama is super old and knows a lotta stuff. He tells me a new story almost every night."
My smile turned a little wooden. I appreciated the sentiment, but the way he said it made me sound like a grandpa…
"So, what story is it gonna be this time?" The brat looked ready to jump up and down in excitement.
"One about the children of the Sage and how your Clan took shape."
"Ooh, it's about those brothers again? Ashura was super cool!" Naruto smiled happily while Karin gave me a rather confused look.
"Children of the sage?"
"It's quite the long story." I lowered my head back on my haunches, using some of my tails for pillows. "Would you like to hear it now?"
Karin nibbled at her lip, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Mom said she was going to prepare dinner, and I wanted to help her…"
She shared a brief look with Naruto, to which he nodded.
Understandable.
"Time passes here much slower than outside, but we can leave this story for another time if you wish to leave."
She nodded, an unwavering look in her eyes. "Yeah, I really want to help my mom."
A tiny smile made it way to my lips. Way too adorable.
This Karin was going to turn out ten times better than in canon. She already had that bratty side in her, but this time, with none of the trauma from Grass and Roachy.
"Very well."
Karin looked a little relieved to hear that—silly girl—while the brat eyed her curiously for a moment. "You can cook, too?"
I fixed him with a deadpan, though he was too preoccupied to notice.
"Of course I can." Karin smirked, preening like a cute, little peacock. "I help my mom all the time."
I listened to them with a smile as they went on another silly tangent, pretending to be asleep as they finally left.
Yeah, I could get used to this.
Anko sat on a tree stump, legs crossed and dango plate in hand, idly watching the fiery colors dancing atop the horizon.
She popped another dumpling in her mouth, enjoying the light sweetness and chewy texture as a gust of wind swept briefly across the empty clearing, ruffling her hair.
She couldn't wait to take a shower, but all that exercise worked up her appetite, and she couldn't resist a quick snack. Especially with the dango shop only a minute away.
The old man just came up with a better recipe for the sauce, and she already couldn't get enough of it.
As she flicked away the empty skewer and grabbed another from her plate, a flash of movement drew her eyes to the tree line on her left. Her other hand went to her right thigh on reflex, digging inside the holster as her body tensed.
A moment later, a blond kid dressed in a white shirt and blue pants popped out from behind the trees, making his way across the grounds.
Her arm dropped at her side, most of the tension leaving her frame.
The hell was this twerp doing here?
Her eyes went to his face, taking a better look as he strutted towards her spot without a care in the world.
He barely looked the Academy age—
Her hand froze, gaze lingering on the thin whisker marks on his cheeks, dango only a few inches away from her mouth.
The jinchūriki brat?
She threw a quick, subtle glance around, eyes darting from one tree to another before narrowing. She couldn't sense anyone else.
The hell was going on here? Shouldn't this kid have an ANBU keeping an eye on him or something? Was there a Hyūga watching from afar?
Shrugging inwardly, she took a bite out of her dango, chewing absentmindedly as the brat got closer, all smiles and rainbows and shit.
Kinda weird, now that she thought about it.
You'd think a kid like him would be a little mopey, what with catching so much shit from the village for something he hadn't done, but he seemed to be holding up pretty well. Maybe he was tougher than he looked.
That was good. He was going to need it.
She'd caught so much shit from the idiots in the village, she could build a house with it by now. But the joke's on them, 'cause she was having the last laugh.
Who gave a shit what those assholes thought? She was going to become a jōnin, live her life however she pleased, and rub it in their noses.
She was nothing like that traitorous piece of shi—
A sudden pang tightened in her chest, her neck pulsing with a dull pain. She gritted her teeth, hand clenching into a fist as she took a slow, fortifying breath.
Even after four years, she couldn't fully get that bastard out of her head.
It was that fucking seal on her neck, but Lord Jiraiya had already done his best, and, unless the Leaf found a better expert hiding under some rock, she'd just have to get used to it.
The kid stopped an arm's length in front of her, head cocked to the side and a curious look on his face as he studied her closely.
She wasn't sure what he found so damn fascinating about her. He wasn't even at that age yet.
"What'cha doing here at this hour? Shouldn't you be home, hitting some books? The shinobi life ain't no joke, kid."
She watched the brat for a reaction, but he just met her gaze with a proud curl of his mouth. "I already did that."
Anko blinked. She didn't really keep up to date with the village gossip, but wasn't this kid supposed to be a bit of a troublemaker? Did some academy instructor put the fear of god in him, or what?
Unless he was lying… though she doubted a five-year-old could ever pull that on her.
"So, whaddya want?" She cocked an eyebrow. "The dango's all mine, and if you were hoping to catch an awesome ninja while training, you're a bit too late on that."
The brat shook his head, scratching his cheek with a sheepish smile. "Ah, no, it's not that. I was just looking for someone to teach me the Henge."
She blinked owlishly. The Henge? Seriously? Didn't he have instructors for that?
"And you came here?"
The kid shrugged. "It's the closest place to my house."
Eyes narrowing, she studied him closely for a moment before scoffing. "I don't have time to teach snot nosed brats."
What did she look like? An Academy nanny?
A frown pulled at her lips as she uncrossed her legs, throwing the empty skewer aside with a flick of her wrist.
She expected him to whine or mope a little, but the kid just stood there, watching her quietly. Kinda creepy, especially how he seemed to be staring right through her.
"You can leave now, I'm kinda busy." She made a shooing motion with a hand before grabbing another dango stick. She snagged off all three of the sweet dumplings in one bite while the brat gave her a funny look.
She cocked an eyebrow, chewing loudly as she spoke, "What?"
"Ninja lady, you should be careful with how much of that sweet stuff you eat. It might be good now, but it'll cause you a big problem in a couple decades."
Anko swallowed, a beat of silence passing as she just sat there, staring blankly at the innocently smiling twerp. Then, she felt her eye twitch. This little shit…
Lips drawing a thin smile, she leaned forward, gaze narrowed. "The hell did you just say to me, brat?"
She expected him to turn tail and run, but he just mimed a huge belly with his arms. "Too much dango, and you're gonna end up looking like an Akimichi by forty."
Pin-drop silence followed as the brat flashed her a cheeky grin. Her smile froze, a spark of anger flaring in her chest. With a sudden twitch of muscle, her hand lashed out on its own, the dango stick sailing forth like a senbon.
It flew past his cheek in a blur, but instead of opening up a thin gash in the skin, the brat just popped in a small plume of smoke.
Anko stared dumbly at the empty spot, eyes wide and jaw slack.
What the fuck? A shadow clone? How the fuck did he even learn tha—
Brow furrowing, her mouth suddenly drew a thin line.
Was this a prank? That shitty ANBU better not be hazing her again, or she was gonna shove a snake so deep up his ass, he'd start hearing the hissing.
A beat of silence passed as she glanced around, though without spotting anything out the ordinary.
Her gaze went back to the last dango on her plate, hesitating for a moment before she popped another delicious dumpling in her mouth, chewing on it absentmindedly. She was young and fit and worked up a sweat every single day. No way she'd get fat.
But that shadow clone…
She wasn't sure, though part of her kinda hoped it was that stupid ANBU. Or anyone else, really.
Because otherwise…
She'd just been had by a little brat.
I opened my eyes to the darkness of my prison, a pleased smile pulling at my lips. I couldn't do much around here for entertainment, but these shadow clones opened up a surprising variety of options, especially when they came out extra bratty.
Certainly, more than enough to keep the boredom from encroaching too much.
My smile grew a little wider. And who knew? We might have even averted the Fat Anko timeline with this one.
Lowering my head, I curled my tails around my body, draping them atop my arms to use as pillows.
Well, I wasn't crossing my fingers on this one, but a guy could hope. Future Anko was a travesty of the highest order. Ninjas shouldn't get fat, not unless their name was Akimichi. Only those guys could pull it off.
The water suddenly rippled around me, bubbles spreading out as I flooded a sliver of my chakra inside the seal, brushing it against the edge. I carefully pushed a little further, hitting the brat with a ninshū poke, only to receive the mental equivalent of a grumble.
Naruto seemed to be having fun running his daily laps. Maybe I could arrange for some random encounter with Gai once he got a little older? If I had to trust anyone in this village with his fitness, I'd pick that youthful maniac every single time.
Speaking of training though, that toad molester had better not run away on a sudden milk run, or we'd be having words. I had ten years to prevent that giant clusterfuck of a Shippuden, and I wasn't going to let any crotchety old men stop me.
I've already made this timeline like, ten times better, and I haven't even gotten out of prison yet.
Karin already made her first friend—aside from the brat—and her total milf of a mom was getting better with each day. Yuzu's chakra already felt thrice as strong as when she'd first arrived.
My lips curled smugly.
She was jaded enough to not easily drink that Leaf kool aid with a smile while asking for seconds. Having the brat in my corner was great, but pulling the last few Uzumaki too, would be deliciously ironic.
I couldn't wait to see how she'd look once we got rid of those pesky age lines and gave her a little airbrushing. My chakra had to be as much of a cheat as Hashirama's cells, and I just needed to let it work its magic. Though, from what I've seen in the past, the four great bloodlines seemed the most attuned to it.
Well, I never tested it with those mentally ill eye-freaks and the Hyūga stuck-ups, but the same logic should hold.
Alien genes for the win.
Though I'd bet the Senju and the redheads still had the advantage due to that Body of the Sage thing they all inherited to some extent.
That stuck-up asshole, Indra, had tried so hard to build a legacy, but all he passed down was mental illness and brain damage. Meanwhile, all of Ashura's kids ended up based as fuck.
If only I'd woken up here during the Warring States period instead…
I could've been the god emperor of redheads.
A quiet sigh escaped me as I allowed myself a little daydreaming, though, sadly, my fantasy abruptly ended when a random thought surfaced to mind.
That shriveled mushroom hadn't visited in a while.
A frown pulled at my lips.
He'd better be getting that shitty plot device of a jutsu ready, or I'd make sure he ended up hugging a bottle for pillow by the end of the year. It was much too early for that bitch to enjoy her retirement. Plenty of things waited for her around here, and I really wouldn't mind having some words. I needed a bit more salt in my diet to keep up a healthy lifestyle.
Author's Note: Maybe we've avoided Fat!Anko with this one. SIKurama is truly doing god's work
If you enjoy my work, I have a Patreon, where you can read ahead chapters of my main stories, get early access to any new stories I may publish, and vote in polls for future content. Like ReplyReport Reactions:Talichboss, magnumdraco, Gothese and 1,648 othersAlexanderBishopApr 15, 2025NewAdd bookmarkView discussionThreadmarks Chapter 9 New View contentAlexanderBishopNot too sore, are you?Jul 26, 2025Add bookmark#2,160"—and then I did thrice as many laps as everyone else. You should've seen their faces. Even Mr. Iruka was surprised."
She glanced at Naruto as they walked, her mouth twitching yet again at the sight.
"Shouldn't you be taking those leaves off now?" He looked so silly with so many stuck to his face.
"Nuh-uh." He shook his head, the leaves not budging the slightest. "Kurama said he's gonna teach me how to walk on trees when I'm done with this," he said, grinning. "I can't wait!"
Karin blinked, forehead scrunching up in thought. Walk on trees? How did that even work?
"He's teaching you a lot of stuff, isn't he?" The fox was kinda like a dad to him, wasn't he?
"He can teach you, too, but you need to get better at the leaf exercise, y'know?"
She fought back a grimace as she heard that. Sticking a leaf to her forehead wasn't all that hard, but it was pretty boring. She didn't have much chakra, and doing it for just ten minutes made her tired…
A frown pulled at her lips. But learning how to walk on trees sounded fun…
Noticing the sign up ahead, she stopped right next to the entrance, Naruto giving her a curious look.
"Why'd you stop?"
"Mr. Iruka said to wait for him outside."
Naruto squinted, cheeks pulling up as he made a silly face. "But that's boooring. Let's go inside and introduce you to the others."
Karin looked at the door, thinking about it.
Well, it was a little boring just staying here and waiting. And the teacher was taking a bit too long, too. He'd understand if they went ahead of him, right?
"Come," Naruto said, gesturing with a hand as he walked past her.
Making up her mind, she quickly followed her cousin, looking around the large room as she stepped inside. A wide, black board on the right, and rows of seats on the left, many boys and girls around her age occupying them.
Some of the children stopped from whatever they were doing, looking at her curiously, but Naruto drew most of their attention as he sauntered ahead with a grin.
"Wow, he's added even more leaves to his face." A tall boy from the front row pointed a finger at them, his brown-haired neighbor quickly joining in.
"Maybe he's trying to turn into a tree."
The two of them laughed, but Naruto paid it no mind.
"Who's that with him?"
"Dunno. Her hair's kinda weird."
"Yeah, why is it so red?"
Her eyes went to the floor, ears burning as a sour feeling twisted in her stomach. Was it really a good idea to come here—
"Ignore them." Naruto's voice cut through her thoughts, and she glanced up, meeting his bright smile. "Your hair is super pretty, y'know?"
The knot in her stomach loosened a little as she smiled back, a flash of warmth filling her chest. He was right, she shouldn't care about their mean words—
"Oi, Naruto! Check this out!" A brown-haired boy, with red markings on his face, strutted to the front, pulling out three leaves from his pocket and sticking them to his forehead with a smirk.
Was everyone in the class doing this leaf exercise?
She closed her eyes, focusing inwardly as tiny flames lit up all around her, her cousin a blinding beacon among them. The wild-looking boy's chakra steadily dimmed as he kept pushing more to his forehead, nearly wavering for an instant. Why was he trying so hard for something this silly?
"Three already?" Naruto said, sounding impressed. "That's awesome, Kiba."
"I know, right?" Kiba smirked, breathing a little heavier as he took off the leaves and wiped some sweat off his forehead with an arm. He then paused, finally noticing her. "Who's she?"
"That's Karin, my cousin. She's joining the class today."
Kiba looked between the two of them, eyebrows climbing high. "Forreal?"
"Ya bet!" Naruto grinned, the introduction sparking loud chatter among some of the boys nearby.
"Cousin?"
"I thought he was an orphan?"
"Yeah, nobody ever picks him up in the evening."
Karin fought back a frown as she listened. There were a lot of mean boys in this class.
"That simply means he doesn't have parents. He could have other relatives for all we know." A dark-haired boy with black-tinted glasses spoke as he approached, stopping next to Kiba.
Another friend of her cousin, going by his smile.
"That's right, Shino! I have a family now, and they're awesome!"
She looked away, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment, despite the tiny smile on her face. He didn't have to say that so loud in front of everyone…
"That's good to hear." Shino said, adjusting his glasses. "Why? Because family is very important." The boy turned to her, inclining his head ever so slightly. "I'm Aburame Shino."
The heat crept to her ears as she felt even more attention on her, but she did her best to ignore it, hoping her face wasn't too red.
"I'm Uzumaki Karin, nice to meet you," she told the two boys politely.
They seemed nice, even if Shino looked a little weird dressed like that and Kiba kinda smelled like dog from so up close.
"Inuzuka Kiba," the brown-haired boy said with a grin, though it vanished just as fast, his eyebrows drawing closer as he looked between her and Naruto. "Wait, Uzumaki? How come?"
"Because we're from the same clan," Naruto said proudly. "Isn't that cool?"
"You have a clan?"
"Yep!"
"Never heard about it."
"Maybe you should read more books." A muffled, sleepy voice came from somewhere nearby, Naruto barking out a laugh as he gave her a knowing look.
"That guy is super lazy, but he's actually the smartest in our class."
Really?
Kiba scoffed loudly. "Books are boring! Go back to your sleep, Shikamaru," he said, glaring somewhere at the middle rows, where a dark-haired boy raised his head from the desk with a smirk, only to lower it back after a moment, face down on his crossed arms.
Was he seriously just going back to sleep like that…?
"I don't buy it. Never heard about an Uzumaki clan." Came a skeptical voice from the same group of rude boys from before.
"Me neither," another one said.
"Is that even a real clan?" And another.
"I bet he made it up—
"'Course it is!" Naruto finally lost his patience, pointing a finger at them angrily. "My mom was an Uzumaki, y'know!"
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"What's her name then?"
Naruto opened his mouth to say something, only to immediately close it, gaze veering to the floor.
Were his parents supposed to be a secret like Kurama?
"I don't know…" he said, voice much smaller than before, and Karin frowned, balling her fists.
Would she get in trouble if she punched those boys in the face?
"Then how do you even know she was an Uzumaki, huh?" the same boy taunted.
"Because Gramps said so!" Naruto said, frowning, while the mean boy looked at him in confusion.
"Gramps?"
"That's what he calls Lord Hokage." A raven-haired boy spoke up from his seat by the window, head propped lazily on his hand. He also had a leaf stuck to his forehead.
"Really? I don't believe you."
"I'm not lying!" Naruto glared at the boys, clenching his fists, and she stepped closer, tugging lightly at his shirt to get his attention.
"Just ignore him. He's being a dumbass."
Her cousin turned to her, shoulders drooping a little as he let out a sigh, only for Kiba to suddenly join in, baring his teeth at those boys in a sneer.
"Yeah, cut the crap, you jerks! What do you even know about clans?"
"Stay out of this, dog breath!"
"What'd you call me?" Kiba said, voice nearly a growl, but the other boy ignored him, leaving his seat and heading to the front, jabbing a finger in her direction.
"And who're you calling a dumbass, tomato girl?"
"Tomato girl?" Her tone took a dangerous edge as she glared at the approaching boy, though only got a sneer in return.
"Yeah. You look like a tomato with that round face and that hair." He pointed rudely at her face. "What'cha gonna do about it, tomato head?"
An angry heat flared in her chest, and she took a step forward, fists balled at her side. "I'm gonna kick your ass, that's what!"
"Yeah! Don't make fun of my cousin, or you're gonna get it!" Naruto shouted, making a cross seal, only to freeze a moment later when a familiar voice suddenly cut in from behind.
"Class." Mr. Iruka walked inside, a sickly-sweet smile on his face. "Mind explaining to me what's going on?"
"Nothing!" her cousin, along with nearly half of the class, said at once.
Was their teacher that scary?
Mr. Iruka's eyes narrowed at that rude boy, and he nodded stiffly.
"Yeah, nothing. We were just talking."
"Uh-huh." Mr. Iruka's gaze swept over the entire class. "Go back to your seats."
They all quickly got moving, that boy sending her one last glare on his way back. She met it with a smirk, sticking out her tongue as he sat down angrily.
While everyone else settled down, Mr. Iruka turned to her and Naruto, arms crossed. "This is why I told you to wait outside."
Her cousin smiled sheepishly while scratching at the back of his head. "Sorry, teach."
A tired sigh escaped the brown-haired man. "Go to your seat, Naruto."
As her cousin hurried back, she bowed in apology. "I'm sorry, Mr. Iruka."
"It's alright," he smiled. "I honestly expected him to not listen."
Then why did he tell them to wait outside?
Mr. Iruka faced the class, gesturing with a hand towards her. "This is Uzumaki Karin. She moved to our village two weeks ago, and she will be joining us starting today."
"Where did she come from?" A pink haired girl asked from the back, hand raised.
"A small town in the South," Mr. Iruka said, just like the Hokage had suggested. "You can talk to her during recess if you—
"See! I told you!" Naruto spoke loudly, finger pointed at that rude boy, getting a glare in return.
"Indoors voice, Naruto."
"Sorry, Mr. Iruka." Naruto smiled sheepishly under the flat gaze of their teacher, quickly settling down.
Shaking his head, Mr. Iruka looked at her, the smile returning to his face. "Go take a seat, Karin."
Bowing her head politely, she made her way briskly across the room, glancing around as she climbed up between the rows of seats. A smile came to her face when she saw a familiar face seated on the left side, all the way to the back.
Stopping next to Hinata's desk, she took the empty seat and smiled at the girl.
"Hi, Hinata."
It's been over a week since her visit, and she wanted to ask her a lot of things. Maybe they could even play together again?
Hinata shyly returned the smile, whispering a soft greeting, but sadly, Mr. Iruka had already started talking, so it had to wait a little longer.
Smile dimming, Karin looked at the front of the classroom, paying attention to what the teacher said.
He took a puff from his pipe, the bittersweet aroma filling his mouth as he pored over the scrolls unfurled atop his desk.
For such a terrifying technique, Lord Second had never intended it to last longer than a few days at the most. An expendable tool of war meant to annihilate the enemy without any real losses, and the most fearsome of the tailed beasts would have it used to reunite a child with his long-departed mother.
Hiruzen's mouth twitched with a fleeting smile. Life continued to surprise him even in his old age. Perhaps a little too much, even.
Picking up his cup, he took a sip of lukewarm tea as his gaze drifted aimlessly out the window.
It has been a while since his last meeting with the fox…
Part of him dreaded what other revelation the Nine Tails might bestow upon him, but his knowledge proved too useful to ignore. His willing aid even more so, especially at a time like this.
From what he had glimpsed over the past weeks, Naruto had been steadily improving his chakra control far beyond what was expected at his age, and he even motivated some of his peers to try and catch up.
He was making good use of the shadow clones to supplement his training, even if he employed them in equal measure to cause mischief.
Another smile tugged at his lips. Anko might never live that down once she found out the truth.
Taking a longer pull from his pipe, he sank deeper into the chair, exhaling a plume of smoke as he thought back to the fox's words.
This wasn't a decision he could make lightly, though he had to make one soon. Plenty of other issues kept piling on his desk lately, and he couldn't forgo rest as much as he used to do in his youth.
Going through with this plan would bring him a headache and a half, but he couldn't deny that it had some benefits, too.
Even without much straightforward combat potential, Kushina still had her expertise in the sealing arts. Her knowledge was valuable enough, especially if she was willing to teach.
The Leaf had never seen a military branch dedicated to the sealing arts, and founding such a division could be the edge they needed to turn the tide in their favor.
Though even without…
A pang tightened in his chest, mouth pressing thinly as he closed his eyes.
He could've done more for Naruto. He'd made a promise to Minato and Kushina, and yet, what did he do? The boy grew up lonely and isolated, scorned by the village that his parents had given their lives to protect.
Letting him meet his mother, no matter how briefly… that would be a start to making some amends, wouldn't it?
Hiruzen breathed out a heavy sigh, gaze returning to the scrolls on his desk.
If only Minato hadn't used that Reaper Seal… he could've brought him back instead.
Taking a long pull from his pipe, he rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes and grabbed an empty scroll, unfurling it with a hand as he picked up a brush. He dipped it in ink, and, with another, quieter sigh, began drawing.
He was getting too old for this…
Naruto skidded to a stop, eyes widening as he pointed at the old-looking building in the distance. "Look, Kurama, I found it!"
Good job, kid. You've successfully completed your first unofficial mission.
He couldn't hold back the wide grin, pumping his fist in excitement. "Aww, yeah! I'm awesome, aren't I?"
You're doing great so far, but don't get too big of a head. Kurama's rough voice rang in his head. Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
Naruto blinked, face scrunching up as he walked closer. What's insidious?
Something bad that happens steadily but subtly.
Ah… He looked around, finding nothing aside from that dusty temple as he scratched idly at his cheek. What now? Can we go inside? I bet there's super cool ninja stuff in there!
His stomach flipped in excitement as he stopped next to the entrance, peeking inside but not seeing much with all that darkness. Maybe he'd find an awesome weapon or a scroll with some super cool jutsu, and—
Now, we leave.
Ehh? But why?
Because the stuff that's inside there is very dangerous, especially to little brats who haven't even finished the Academy yet.
Shoulders slumping, Naruto turned away from the entrance with a pout. I'm not a brat…
Say that in five years.
Why did you want me to look for this if I can't even go inside?
It might be useful to know this location in the future. You can go inside when you're older.
He threw another curious glance at the entrance. Like when?
Maybe he wouldn't have to wait too long?
Maybe when you're ten.
He couldn't stop the annoyed groan as he slumped on himself even further. But that's four years from now!
A long sigh echoed through his head. Naruto, this place isn't going anywhere. It'll be here, exactly the same, even in four years.
But what if someone else gets inside? They'd just take away all the cool stuff!
So unfair…
Trust me, they won't. Kurama's voice answered firmly.
How are you so sure?
Because anyone who knows what this place is, also knows how dangerous it can be, so they won't mess with anything that's inside.
If you say so…
Have I ever steered you wrong?
No, he didn't.
Naruto shook his head, a tiny smile coming to his face. No, you didn't.
Then trust me and be patient.
Okay. He nodded, throwing one last look over his shoulder before walking away. So… what are we doing next?
You could try looking again for someone to teach you Henge. Kurama spoke up after a moment, nearly making Naruto stumble mid-step, a frown scrunching up his face at the reminder.
Ahh, I don't get why Mr. Iruka doesn't wanna teach me…
Maybe he doesn't think you're ready yet. Henge isn't something that you'd normally learn in your first year. The civilian kids can't even properly infuse chakra yet.
But I can almost walk on trees!
He doesn't know that.
Ugh… Naruto sighed, shoulders slumping.
It's also likely that he sees it as showing favoritism, and with so many clan heirs in the class… well, I wouldn't blame him.
Favoritism? Whazzat?
Well, you see…
Triple-checking the last of the paper tags, Jiraiya stood up with a sigh, sharing a brief look with the Tiger masked ANBU to his right. Those seals should suppress up to five tails worth of chakra, but if it somehow came to worst, Tenzō would handle it.
With how tight the Eight Trigrams Seal currently was, even the Nine Tails wouldn't—
"Are you done yet, Toad Gramps?"
Jiraiya's brow twitched, mouth thinning as he glanced to the side. "You really need to learn more patience, kid." Maybe it was just the age, but Minato wouldn't have asked even once, let alone five times. "A shinobi always waits until he's certain that the time is right," he said with a tight-lipped smile, though sadly, this sage advice washed over the brat like water over rocks.
"But I'm patient enough," Naruto said, face scrunched up in confusion. "I always wait the full three minutes until my instant ramen is ready."
Jiraiya sighed, fighting down the urge to face-palm. The kid was still too young. He'd understand his wisdom in a few more years. Hopefully.
"Alright, let's get started."
"Awesome!" Naruto pumped a fist excitedly in the air. "You gonna teach me another cool jutsu?"
"Maybe later." Jiraiya shook his head, the kid deflating like a balloon.
"Aww… why not now?"
"Because we're here for something else, remember?"
Naruto perked up almost instantly, a grin pulling at his cheeks. "Ah, right! I'm gonna train with Ku—the Nine Tails' chakra! Yeah, I'm super ready. Let's do it! C'mon, Toad Gramps—
Jiraiya held up an outstretched hand, forestalling the word vomit. "First, I want you to listen closely." He crossed his arms, looking sternly at the kid. "This could get very dangerous. The Nine Tails' chakra could overpower you, and the fox might take that chance to weaken the seal, but that's why we have Tiger here with us." He briefly gestured at Tenzō, who nodded curtly in return. "If you feel anything weird, you must—
"Why?" Naruto frowned. "The fox is super nice. He wouldn't do that."
So far.
Jiraiya's mouth drew a thin line, eyes narrowing. Maybe it was his usual paranoia at work, but the kid was still too naive, and the Nine Tails could easily take advantage of that.
This could prove troublesome…
A sigh escaped him. "Let's get started. Ask the fox to give you some chakra."
Smile returning to his face, Naruto quickly made the Ram seal while Jiraiya tensed in anticipation. For a while, nothing seemed to happen, but then, a tidal wave swept over his senses, making the hair on his neck bristle.
Thick, red chakra surged forth, pouring out of Naruto and swirling around his body like hungry-looking snakes. His whisker marks deepened, eyes turning red, and Jiraiya reached a hand in his pocket, fingers brushing against the paper tags. Body coiled like a spring, he watched the frothing chakra as it wrapped around the kid in a half-formed shroud.
Jiraiya's brow furrowed as he kept watching. This chakra felt nothing like what he remembered. Thick and heavy, but not trying to suffocate him, and there was none of that skin-prickling malice he still so vividly remembered.
It even felt oddly warm…
Jiraiya's hands twitched as Naruto moved his arms around, watching that bubbling chakra in wonder.
"Everything alright, kid?"
"Woah… this feels pretty great," Naruto said, an eager smile pulling at his cheeks, the sharp fangs and those deep marks making him look as wild as an Inuzuka. "I bet I could run laps around the whole village!"
"Don't get too excited," Jiraiya said, letting out a breath he didn't even notice he'd been holding, shoulders loosening slightly. "For now, you're only training to get a feel of this chakra."
"Yeah, it feels awesome!"
Jiraiya felt his mouth twitch in amusement, leaving the paper tags in his pocket as he crossed his arms. "That's not what I meant, but it's good to know."
It seemed the fox had kept his word. Maybe he shouldn't have doubted so much, but, well—
"What now, Toad Gramps?"
Jiraiya pushed the thoughts away with a sigh. Later.
"Alright, kid, try making some shadow clones with all that chakra," he said, Naruto's hands already forming a cross seal as he grinned, a cloud of smoke suddenly covering him from view.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Did he make a habit of shouting out loud the jutsu names—
Jiraiya's eyes widened as the smoke cleared, a small army of blonds meeting his stare with cheeky smiles.
Twenty, thirty—no, forty of them.
Yikes. Another decade or so, and anyone fighting this kid would be in for a surprise.
"So, how did I do?" A cacophony of noise filled the place as Naruto, along with all his clones spoke at the same time.
Jiraiya held back a grimace, flashing the kid a smirk. "Not bad for a first try." Unexpectedly good, even, but he wasn't going to let it get to the kid's head. "Dismiss your clones and take a short break. You'll do this a few more times until you're tired."
"Gotcha!" Breathing heavier, Naruto wiped his forehead with the back of his hand as the shadow clones popped into smoke one after the other. "Are you gonna teach me a jutsu now?"
"You're going to keep asking until I do, aren't you?" Jiraiya pinned the kid with a flat look, getting a wide grin in return.
"Ya bet!"
This little brat…
"Well, there aren't many jutsu that I could teach you at this point," Jiraiya said, arms crossed as Naruto pouted. "Don't give me that look. What were you even expecting to learn?"
"I wanna learn Henge!" Naruto whined in frustration. "I've been looking for someone to teach me for two months!"
Seriously? He couldn't find anyone in the whole village to teach him Henge? It was a mere Academy jutsu…
Was it because of the fox?
Jiraiya fought back a frown, a quiet sigh leaving him. It was so easy for people to find a scapegoat, if it made them feel just a little better…
"Okay, I'll teach you after you're done."
"Yes! Finally!" Naruto jumped with an excited shout, Jiraiya shaking his head with a wan smile.
This kid had a long road ahead of him, though, hopefully, he wouldn't have to walk it alone.
Loud giggles filled my prison as I sat at the front of my cage, two of my tails curled all the way to the front, reaching out between the tall bars.
"You were right, they are sooo fluffy~" Karin said from atop a tail as she rolled around in my fur.
"Told ya!" Naruto exclaimed from the other tail, a wide smile on his face.
I cracked an eye open, doing my best to appear dignified. They might be the textbook definition of cute, but I couldn't afford losing my street cred.
"What story do you want to hear today?"
They stopped playing as soon as I spoke, heads swiveling around nearly in sync.
"The one where Ashura went on his journey to help a lot of people," Naruto answered quickly, making Karin pout, but she still looked cute even when upset.
"Didn't I already tell you that one?"
"Yeah, but Karin hasn't heard it yet," the sneaky brat said with a smirk, the frown on his cousin's face turning upside down.
Smooth.
Maybe I wasn't that bad at raising kids after all?
"Alright," I said, the two of them watching me eagerly. "A long time ago, the Sage had his two sons leave on a journey to deepen their understanding of life. Ashura decided to do it by sharing his chakra with people and teaching them ninshū."
"How does this chakra share thing even work?"
I pointed a finger at the brat, meeting his question with a smirk. "You've already been doing it to an extent."
Naruto blinked owlishly, face scrunching up. "Eh? I did?"
My brow rose a fraction. Really? He hadn't noticed at all?
"It's essentially ninshū, but nowadays, people are doing it wrong and only use half of the process. That's why they are having such a hard time getting it right, and you only see med-nin being the most skilled at it."
"Uhhh… I see?" Naruto said, scratching at his head, while Karin listened intently. She was going to be the brains of this duo, for sure.
"To successfully transfer chakra, you must perfectly match it to the recipient's, and to do so, you must first understand their chakra through ninshū."
"What's a recipient?"
I held back the urge to face palm, a quiet sigh escaping me. I'd told him this one before. Goldfish attention span…
Before I could give an answer, Karin quickly spoke, "Something that holds something else, but in this case, it means the person whom you are transferring the chakra to."
A beat of silence passed while Karin glanced up, meeting my gaze, her cheeks slightly red. "Right?" she spoke again, voice quieter as I grinned.
Well, wasn't she a smart cookie. I could see why Roachy put her in charge of an entire base.
"Very good, Karin."
"Yeah, you're super smart, ya know!"
She preened at the praise, adjusting her glasses smugly.
Yeah, this was going to get to her head real fast.
"But that sounds pretty cool!" Naruto jumped to his feet, flashing me a grin. "I wanna be like Ashura! I wanna learn how to transfer chakra, too!"
My mouth twitched in amusement at his words. "Settle down. I'll show you how to do it tomorrow. I'm supposed to be telling you a story now."
He quieted down at that, sitting back on my fluffy tail and waiting patiently for me to continue.
They might be cute, but in times like these, it felt like I was herding cats…
Hiruzen signaled with a hand, waiting grim faced as the hidden ANBU vanished from his office within moments.
"Have you found anything else?"
Fugaku shook his head, a deep frown lining his face. "Nothing since the last time, I'm afraid. On one hand, we have several dead, whose corpses had never been found to date, but on the other, I cannot deny the possibility of a traitor. An investigation of that magnitude would take time, however, even with the assistance of a team from the Intelligence Division."
Over three months, and still no concrete lead…
Hiruzen couldn't hold back a weary sigh. "It pains me to say this, but it would be wise to assume that any other member of your Clan could have been compromised."
Fugaku's gaze narrowed. "Even my family, then."
"We cannot treat this matter lightly." Hiruzen leaned forward, hands folded atop his desk. "That masked man has the Mangekyō, and only an eye of equal power can resist it."
There was no sign as Fugaku stood there like a statue, not a single twitch of muscle on his stony face apart from a slightly raised brow. "Are you implying that I possess the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"Come now, Fugaku." Hiruzen smiled knowingly. "I wouldn't be Hokage if I couldn't tell such things." He was beginning to see why the Nine Tails took such joy in making those unsettling revelations.
"Hm. Assuming that I do," Fugaku said, seemingly unperturbed, "wouldn't you count me a potential suspect?"
For this in particular? No.
Hiruzen shook his head. "I've known you for decades, and you were Minato's best friend. The Will of Fire burns strongly in you, Fugaku, and you've raised a wise son who might one day wear this hat," he said, tapping a finger on the brim of his Hokage hat. "I cannot see you turning like that against the village."
Those words hung in the air for a moment before Fugaku gave a nearly imperceptible nod, the room going quiet as Hiruzen leaned back in his chair.
"That's high praise, Lord Third."
Hiruzen met the man's steady gaze with the ghost of a smile. "But not undeserved."
He'd have to speak to the barrier team, too. It has been close to a decade since they'd last updated the entry protocols, and even a late warning was better than nothing in the face of that terrifying space-time ability.
The steadily growing unrest among the Uchiha was becoming quite worrying, too. He could only hope that it wasn't already too late to solve matters peacefully…
Author's Note: Apologies for the huge delay on this chapter. I got caught up in other projects and ended up neglecting this story.
That being said, we're finally entering the Uchiha Clusterfuck Arc. Kurama seems to have other priorities, though