"—and why do we keep doing all this physical exercise and weapon training?"
I cracked an eye open, watching the brat pace back and forth across the water-slicked floor of my prison. His voice had that particular whiny pitch that scratched at my ears like nails on a chalkboard.
"I can totally do that stuff on my own. I wanna learn some cool jutsu."
A tired sigh escaped me before I could stop it. I should've ripped this bandaid off earlier.
"Naruto." My gravelly voice drew his attention towards the cage. "You won't learn any 'cool jutsu' at the Academy. That's the jōnin instructor's job."
The brat froze mid-step. He blinked twice, his face scrunching up like during math class as he stared for one, uncomprehending moment. Then his shoulders slumped forward, the fight draining out of him like air from a punctured balloon.
"That sucks."
"That's how it is. The Academy only teaches you the basic ninja skills and the three essential jutsu."
"Lame." He kicked at the water, sending ripples across the dim chamber. "Sasuke is already learning how to breathe fire. I wanna breathe fire, too."
I fought back the urge to roll my eyes.
"Everyone in his clan knows how to do that by the time they graduate."
Naruto's head cocked to the side, hHis brow scrunching up. "Then why don't they teach it at the Academy?"
"Because it's an Uchiha clan technique, and they'd rather not have it spread outside their own."
The frown on his face deepened, pulling at the corners of his mouth. "But that's not fair to the other kids, y'know?"
"Of course not. Clans will always have an advantage."
"That sucks."
"It's how the shinobi world is. If you don't like it, then become strong enough and change things."
Naruto went quiet, blonde hair shadowing his eyes as his gaze drifted down to his feet. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, sending a few ripples through the shallow water pooled around his ankles.
"So I'm not gonna learn any cool stuff at the Academy?" His voice came out quieter than before as he looked up to meet my eyes.
"No. You'll learn useful stuff."
His face twitched like he just tasted something sour. "Lame."
I pulled myself upright, hands resting on my knees as I fixed the brat with an unimpressed look. "Be patient. Jiraiya promised to teach you a jutsu when he comes back."
Naruto's face lit up like someone had flipped a switch, eyes going wide and bright. "Ah, right!" A grin split his face from ear to ear. "Man, I can't wait! When is toad gramps coming back, anyway?"
"No idea. Probably in a few months."
And just like that, he deflated again. "Ugh..." His whole body sagged as he blew out a loud, exaggerated sigh. "So long. What am I supposed to do until then?"
"Master the basics." I propped my chin on one hand, voice dry as desert sand. "You can barely walk on water and your throwing skills aren't even passable yet. Why do you want to run before you learn how to walk?"
A long-suffering groan tore itself from the brat's throat. He threw his head back dramatically, arms hanging limp at his sides. "You sound just like gramps."
I stared at him.
My eye twitched.
Did he just compare me to that leaf muncher?
"It's called wisdom."
"Uh-huh." Naruto crossed his arms, mouth quirking into a tiny smirk. "Sounds like an old people thing."
"It's these 'old people things' that help brats like you become great ninjas."
"If you say so," he said, and then the little shit stuck his tongue out at me.
A beat of silence filled the chamber while I contemplated my next words.
"How many old ninjas have you seen?"
The question came out a little sharper than intended, and Naruto paused, his brow furrowing.
"Well, there's gramps, obviously." He ticked off one finger. "Toad gramps. That old guy you had me looking for." Two more fingers. "Oh, and that other old guy I saw once at the kunai shop. And, uh..." He scratched at his head, gaze wandering around the chamber like the answer might be hiding in the shadows. When he looked back at me, he just shrugged. "I guess there's not that many?"
A smirk curled on my lips. "And why do you think that is?"
"Because... they don't live that much?"
"They die young." I nodded, the words settling between us like a heavy blanket. "They don't get to live that much."
"Oh..." His voice came out smaller than before, and I could see the wheels turning behind those blue eyes.
Good.
"So you see, brat. An old man in a line of work where people die young means, at the very least, that he knows what he's talking about."
Naruto nibbled at his bottom lip. "I guess," he said, cocking his head a little to the side. "You're not a ninja, though."
My eye twitched again.
"That's not the point." I took a slow breath through my nose, reminding myself that he was just a kid. "The ninja example is just something so you can easily understand. The point is that you can learn a lot from those much older than you, and that you shouldn't dismiss their words just because you think it's 'lame'."
"Yeah, I get it..." He nodded slowly, gaze drifting around as we lapsed into silence.
A sigh escaped me as I watched him standing there, shoulders hunched slightly. Not the lightest topic for a seven-year-old, but he was training to become a ninja. Better he learned now than later, the hard way.
"Hey, Kurama."
I blinked. The brat was looking up at me again, a question gleaming in those bright blue eyes.
"Hm?"
"You think Sasuke's parents will let me come over and play?"
A frown crept across my face at the reminder.
Those pink-eyed bastards.
I'd rather he stayed away from them right now. Especially now, with that powder keg waiting for a spark.
But...
"You could still play with him at the training ground."
They'd already made friends. I wasn't getting between that.
"Yeah, but..." Naruto shuffled in place, puffing his cheeks out like a sad chipmunk. "I kinda wanted to see where he lived."
Something in my chest tightened at the simple honesty in his voice.
"We'll see how it goes," I said, straightening myself and pushing a smirk onto my lips. "Now pay attention around you. Karin just showed up and asked you something."
The brat jolted like I'd zapped him with lightning.
"Oh crap." He whirled around, eyes wide, as if expecting the girl to pop out from the shadows. Then he shot me one last glance—somewhere between grateful and annoyed—before vanishing.
A quiet puff of air escaped through my nose.
Stretching my back with a series of satisfying pops, I lay down inside the cage. My head found its familiar perch atop my crossed arms, my eyes fluttering closed. But the thoughts inside my head picked up like a gathering storm.
Those Uchiha...
The frown returned to my face. My lips twitched, pulling back slightly to expose my fangs.
Not my problem—
An image flashed unbidden behind my eyelids.
A pair of eyes glowing in the darkness. Looking down at me like I was nothing. Like I was beneath them. A dark, intricate pattern spinning in slow, hypnotic arcs against a backdrop of vivid, hateful red.
My eyes snapped open.
I ground my teeth together hard enough to hear them scrape. A wave of molten heat rose in my chest, spreading outward until my chakra boiled under my skin like acid trying to eat through flesh.
I've done enough.
More than enough for what they deserved.
Not my problem anymore—
"I hope you learn what true strength is... Before that time..."
The memory hit like a physical blow.
That warm, fatherly smile, crinkled at the corners with age. A hand reaching out—
My jaw clenched tighter.
A harsh scoff escaped me, sending ripples across the still water.
And what about us, old man? Aren't we your children, too?
You saw how they treated us. Shackled us.
Still think they deserve the kindness?
Ninshū was a two-way road, yet some people only knew how to take.
And I was supposed to just give them more?
Another scoff pushed past my lips.
I buried my head deeper into my fur, lying there in the silence of my prison as old memories flickered behind my eyelids.
Pink-eyed bastards...
<[]>
"Hey mom!"
Kushina looked up from her notes as the sound of rapid footsteps filled the room. Naruto burst through the doorway, face flushed from exercise, hair sticking to his forehead with sweat, and that bright, infectious smile stretched across his face.
She smiled back before she realized. "Yes, sweetie?" she said as she placed down the old notebook on the couch. "Done with the training?"
"Yup!" He nodded, bouncing on the balls of his feet with that boundless energy that everyone in their clan often struggled with. "I'll get started on the chakra stuff."
She leaned closer, reaching out with a hand. Her fingers threaded through her son's blonde hair, ruffling it gently. "Such a diligent boy."
Her son let out a giggle, leaning into her touch.
A flicker of warmth pulsed in her chest, like a dying ember she tried desperately to catch.
How much she'd missed this...
She pulled her hand away, poking the boy's nose with a finger as he puffed his cheeks. A quiet laugh escaped her lips.
Naruto looked up. Something flickered across his face. He averted his eyes before meeting her gaze again.
She knew that look. What mother wouldn't?
A smile tugged at her lips. "Something on your mind, honey?"
"Um, yeah..." His hand came up, one finger scratching at his cheek in that nervous gesture he'd picked up from somewhere. "Can I go play with Sasuke at his house?"
Her eyes widened a fraction.
Mikoto's son.
Something warm fluttered in her chest, settling there like a tiny butterfly.
Naruto and Sasuke were friends. Just like she hoped they would.
"Did his parents agree?"
Mikoto definitely would. And Fugaku shouldn't have a reason to refuse.
He put that tough front up most of the time, but she knew better from her friend. The man cared deeply about his family, even if he didn't really show it.
"He said he was gonna ask." Naruto's voice pulled her back to the present.
Kushina nodded along. "I can take you there if they do."
It had been so long since she'd last seen Mikoto. They had so much to catch up on.
"Awesome! Thanks mom—"
A brief, sharp knock echoed from the entrance. Kushina turned towards the sound and shared a look with her son, who simply shrugged.
"One moment!"
She stood up and made her way to the door, pulling it open.
A small figure stood on the threshold. A cute little thing with short dark hair framing a round face and eyes pale like the moon.
A Hyūga.
That girl from Naruto's class? Hiashi's daughter?
"U-um," the girl spoke in a voice so soft Kushina had to strain her ears a little to hear it. Her tiny hands clutched a large paper bag against her chest like a shield. "Excuse me..."
Kushina stepped aside, smile warming as she looked down at their little guest. "Hey there, sweetie. Come on in—"
"Oh. Hey Hinata!" Naruto materialized at her elbow, sliding into the empty space and raising one hand in greeting. "What's up?"
"H-hello, Naruto." The girl's voice somehow got even quieter.
Hinata shrank into herself, gaze darting between the two of them like a small mouse cornered by a hungry cat. Her eyes settled on Kushina, staring up with a wide, expressive look.
Kushina's smile dimmed.
Hiashi must have mentioned something. Hopefully none of the unpleasant details.
"Good day, Lady Uzumaki. I'm Hyūga H-hinata." The words came out formal, practiced, completely at odds with the nervous energy radiating from her small frame. She lifted the paper bag, holding it with both hands like an offering. "Please accept this gift. My father is sending his regards."
His regards.
Then why not come in person? Too busy for that?
Kushina's jaw tightened for a brief moment before she smoothed it away. She reached out and took the bag with a smile that felt painted on.
"Thank you, honey." Her other hand found the girl's head, patting it gently.
What a sweet girl.
That Hiashi better have a damn good reason for sending his daughter to do his socializing.
"Please call me Kushina, sweetie. Or even auntie if you want. You don't have to be formal with me."
Hinata went completely still.
Her cheeks flushed a deep red that spread all the way to her ears. Those pale eyes went wide and her hands dropped limply to her sides as she stared at a fixed spot up ahead, unable to meet her gaze anymore.
So cute.
"Come in." Kushina stepped back, beckoning the girl inside with one hand. "I'll go get Karin."
The creak of a door sounded from somewhere deeper in the house. A rush of footsteps followed, lighter and quicker than Naruto's, but pattering against the wooden floor with the same boundless energy.
Kushina looked over her shoulder just in time to see the tiny spitfire round the corner, as if summoned by the mere mention of her name.
"Hinata!" she said, an excited smile lighting up her whole face.
Naruto took a step to the side as Karin skidded to a stop in front of the doorway, nearly colliding with Hinata in her enthusiasm.
"Come here, I wanna show you something!" Karin's voice rang out as she fixed her askew glasses. She grabbed the smaller girl's hand without waiting for permission and tugged her along the hallway, Hinata stumbling slightly to keep up, until they both disappeared around the corner.
Kushina stood there for a moment, watching the empty hallway, paper bag clutched in one hand. She turned to her son, lips quirking at the corners. "Aren't you joining them?"
"In a few." Naruto brought his hands together in that familiar cross seal, a look of focus settling on his brow. "I gotta leave some shadow clones to practice."
His chakra stirred, and with a cry of "Shadow Clone Jutsu!", a plume of smoke exploded the doorway, thick enough to obscure everything from view.
It dispersed as quickly as it came, revealing a small group of identical blonds standing at attention around her son. Naruto barked instructions at them, hands gesturing animatedly, and the clones saluted in unison before rushing outside.
A spark of warmth flickered in her chest, spreading through that cold ash before it fizzled out just as quickly.
Still smiling, she watched as her son whirled around and ran deeper into the house, following the same path the girls had taken moments before.
She lingered there in the entrance, listening to the sounds of distant giggles before she closed the door. Her gaze drifted back to the the couch and the old notebook lying there in the middle.
She should get back to work.
<[]>
Kakashi landed on a thick branch, the wood bending slightly under his weight. A quick pulse of chakra through his feet, and he launched himself forward, crossing the distance to the next tree in a low, practiced arc.
It had been a while since he'd last visited.
He wasn't sure exactly how long. The days blurred together when he spent weeks on a mission with his ANBU team.
But everything had its ups and downs.
He'd rather go on long missions than stay in the village. It kept his mind occupied.
He could visit the memorial stone in between.
Five days of rest before the next assignment felt like too much though, if anyone asked, but it gave him plenty of time to catch up.
And apologize.
To Obito. To Rin. To Minato-sensei.
It was never enough. Never would be, no matter how many times he stood in front of that stone with words that felt hollow in his mouth.
If he'd been just a little faster. Just a little stronger. If he'd had just a little more chakra to spare on that day—
If he hadn't failed them when it mattered most...
His gaze drifted sideways to a nearby tree, lingering on a bird perched atop a branch. Small thing with brown feathers, cleaning itself without a care in the world.
Hopefully they'd get a new mission soon.
A sudden pulse of chakra brushed against his senses like warm fingers dragging across his skin.
He stopped mid-leap, landing hard on a branch that groaned under the impact. His head swiveled left and right, scanning the forest around him.
He closed his eyes and kneaded his chakra carefully, letting his awareness expand outward in a concentric circle.
That presence became clearer.
Bright, warm chakra. Strangely familiar and comforting, like a heavy blanket wrapped around his shoulders on a cold night.
His eyes snapped open.
He moved.
The trees blurred into smears of green and brown as he pushed more chakra to his legs, that familiar presence growing closer and closer with every leap.
Kakashi landed on another branch and dropped into a crouch, his pulse hammering in his ears as he looked down at the clearing below.
Several wooden posts littered the space, some with faded targets painted on their surface. A typical training ground.
A lone figure stood in the middle.
Golden chains jutted from her back like living things, swaying and moving like hungry snakes.
Kakashi felt his throat clench, and his chakra stuttered.
His arm shot out on instinct, fingers digging deep into thick bark to keep himself from pitching forward off the branch.
The woman raised one arm, pointing at a training dummy, her vibrant red hair swaying with a breeze. The chains flew towards the wooden post, wrapping around it in a circular formation. They tightened and glowed brighter, shaping themselves into a small barrier that shimmered in the light.
Kakashi released a breath he hadn't noticed holding.
His hand moved to his headband before his brain caught up with the motion, fingers hooking under fabric and pushing it up.
If this was anyone's idea of a joke, he'd—
The world tinted red, sharpening to perfect clarity.
The image in the clearing stayed exactly the same.
No transformation. No illusion.
He froze, a cold feeling crawling up his spine.
She was real.
Sensei's wife.
Kushina.
It really was her.
Kakashi took a shuddering breath, Sharingan tracking the woman's every movement as she sent her chains to form another barrier.
How?
The question echoed in his skull.
She'd died on that night, together with Minato-sensei.
Didn't she?
He'd been at the funeral. Saw them with his own eyes.
How?
A decoy?
But why? Why lie about it? Why now? Why—
He shook his head, fingers clenching tighter around the branch.
No.
It didn't make sense. None of this made sense.
Kushina had died. She'd died...
And now she was here?
Kakashi jumped down from the tree before he consciously decided to move. His feet hit grass. The impact jarred up through his legs but he barely felt it, a sudden wave of dizziness leaving his head spinning as he pulled himself upright.
How?
How was this possible?
A jutsu?
But what kind of forbidden technique could do this? And after six years?
His jaw worked silently, opening and closing without sound. He took a step closer, then another, as if pulled forward by an invisible thread. On the third step he stumbled, the world tilting sideways as another wave of dizziness washed over him. Cold sweat broke across his back as he swayed on his feet.
His hand came up to cover his left eye, palm pressed tight against his face.
He shook his head again, trying to clear the fog.
This didn't make any sense. Dead people stayed dead.
His gaze found her again through the gaps between his fingers.
His feet moved. One step, then another.
On the third, he froze again, head jerking back as if slapped. Chakra surged through his legs like a jolt of lightning. The world lurched and then blurred into muddled colors and shapes.
He ran.