Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sakura sits idly, staring at the gravestone of one her dearest friends. Obviously, he's dead now. Buried but not forgotten. Beside her, Sasuke glares at the grass that he's seated on because crying makes him vulnerable so being angry at the poor autotrophs is the next best option. 

"It smells like ramen here." Sakura says, sniffing just the slightest bit. 

"You're imagining things." Sasuke replies pulling out some grass. 

Sakura bites her lip, "Ino said something about this. That I might start seeing Naruto if I miss him too much. Hallucinations and whatnot." She bends down and actually smells the cool rock that has 'Naruto Namikaze: A martyr etched into our hearts' inscribed on it. 

She sits up again, scrunching her nose, "No, I'm definitely right. The stone smells like ramen. If I had to guess, Konohamaru and Kiba must've brought it yesterday when they visited. Leave it to them to spill it all here and then not even scrub out the smell!"

Sasuke is now making a nice little necklace with all the grass he's managed to rip out. "It's fine. Naruto is probably enjoying it." And his voice doesn't crack, no. Not at all. "That idiot is drooling in his creepy, wraith-like form I bet."

Sakura tries laughing but the sound is horribly forced and hollow. "Yeah. Yeah, I agree."

They sit in silence for a while. Mourning, most call it. Reminscing, some say instead.

But these two do none of that. They come here, every week since Naruto died 3 months ago and they're not grieving. They're hoping. Because even though they're adults in the eyes of their village, they're just teenagers in reality. And wishful thinking is something they're prone to do. 

"He'll break through the ground and come out like a zombie. He'll eat our brains and chew our eyes. But he'll be back," sometimes, Sakura says. 

Sasuke disagrees, "He'll get a second life from Kami himself and he'll come out of his coffin shouting something like 'I'll become the Hokage!' "

They don't laugh at it. They don't think they're being childish.They actually believe it. They do because that's what Naruto would tell them to do. Believe it. Yeah. 

The sun sets below the horizon and Sakura relishes the momentary lightshow in the sky. It calms her. It soothes her. Sasuke's necklace is complete and he sets it next to the grave as an offering. He hopes Naruto gets a laugh out of it. 

"We've got to go," Sasuke says, sighing. "Kakashi said I have the 3 am patrol for tomorrow. Will have to go to bed soon."

Sakura simply stands up, "I'll join you. It's my free day tomorrow. I won't be able to sleep anyway."

Sasuke doesn't tell her no. He wants her there with him anyway. He always wants her by his side these days. He thinks that if she's not with him, something might happen to her. Like it did to him. 

"I'll get some tea." He offers.

She smiles at him, "And I'll get a salad. Tomatoes included."

He kicks some dirt, "Naruto would've gotten his horrible riceballs. Dry and spicy and already falling apart in his small bento."

Sakura chokes down a sob, "Yeah. That fool never learned how to cook properly. Kushina-san and I were going to teach him this summer-" 

She doesn't get to complete her sentence because something heavy and orange lands on her coaxing an oomph from her mouth. She falls on her back, breath pushed out of her body. 

"What in the world-" Sasuke says, eyes wide as he sees some kid who is definitely a shinobi with all the kunai pouches. The kid is clutching his arm that took the impact of the fall, head turned towards the ground with half his body still lying on Sakura's. 

Sakura easily pushes him away and stands up, dusting herself.

The two young jounins stand awkwardly as they wait for the kid, who apparently has blond hair which they notice now that the shock has worn off. 

"Ow, ow, sensei, what happ-" the kid turns around and stops his question midway when he sees Sakura and Sasuke. 

He immediately tenses and looks around (he means to be subtle about it but fails horribly) for an escape route. 

Sakura steps back raising her hands in a placating manner, "Calm down. Alright? We're Konoha shinobi too, just like you," she glances at the boy's forehead protector, "you're safe, okay?" 

The boy with blond hair and....three whisker marks is now visibly relaxed though Sasuke can see that he's still gripping a kunai in his hand.

"Where's sensei? And my teammates?" He asks, standing up. 

Sakura's breath hitches involuntarily because if not for the boy's shorter height, scrawny appearance and different hairstyle, the blond kid would be a carbon copy of her late friend Naruto. 

Sasuke realises this too because his jaw tightens and he starts fidgeting with the sword on his back, something he only does when he's distressed. 

"I don't know-" Sakura forces out, "were y'all on a mission?" 

The presumed genin nods his head, "Yes, but this is-" he looks to the right where Konoha stretches in its entirety, visible from the hilltop, "This is Konoha. We were- I was somewhere near the border of Suna." 

Before Sasuke could reply through, the boy looks at the two squinting very hard. 

"Are you two...are you Sakura and Sasuke's elder siblings?"

Sakura looks slightly offended, "I'm sorry kid but you've got it wrong. I am Sakura and this is Sasuke. We don't have any younger siblings." 

Sasuke agrees easily, but the kid scoffs. 

"Please. Those two are my teammates. I know them well. And Sasuke is only an inch or two taller than me. Sakura is my height. Are y'all their aged-up rips offs?"

Sasuke is getting annoyed by the chatty kid so he looks towards Sakura because he's sure he'll end up kicking this genin's ass to hell if he doesn't leave them alone. Though he thinks it's odd that the kid knows their names. He supposes that they are village heroes so the blond has heard of them. 

"If anything you little pipsqueak, you are the rip off of our friend Naruto. Is this the transformation technique you're using?" Sakura moves to touch the genin but he swats off her hand angrily. 

"I'm not your friend."

Sakura snorts, "Ofcourse you aren't."

"Then why did you say I'm your friend?" 

Sakura crosses her arms, "I said Naruto is- was my friend."

The kid copies her movement, "And I am Naruto, tall Sakura-san. And I'm not your friend."

Sasuke's face shows his confusion about this whole farce of situation and he nods slowly, "So your name is Naruto. You look like mini version our friend Naruto. You sound like him too. And you know us somehow. Huh. Weird."

The newly introduced Naruto (2.0) stomps his foot, "I don't know you two! I know Sasuke and Sakura and y'all are not them! Tell me, did the Akatsuki send y'all? That stupid Itachi did this, didn't he?" 

Sasuke growls, "Don't you dare call my brother stupid you dwarfruto!" 

Sakura steps in before Sasuke can pummel Naruto to the ground. She looks at him intensely, 

"Something's not right. The kid shouldn't know about the Akatsuki." She whispers. 

"Uh lady! Stop leaving me out of the conversation. What did you say to him?"

Sakura turns towards him with a nice smile on her face. "Nothing. Why don't we take you to the Hokage? So you can report about your mission and find out what happened huh?" 

Naruto eyes the two suspiciously before sighing, "Fine. But I'm going to tell the old man about you two. Y'all are weird."

Sasuke hits him on his head, "Don't call the Hokage old. The guy's in his thirties."

Naruto looks at him and laughs, "Sure your eyes are working?" 

Sakura tugs on the Uchiha's sleeve, "Let's just get moving huh?" 

And so the three start towards the Kage Tower. 

Chapter Text

Minato Namikaze is a man of many talents. Some might say that his talents are otherworldly, countless and impressive in the way that will leave your jaw hanging and eyes blown wide. But Minato Namikaze is also a shinobi who has seen wars, who has both wiped blood off of his allies and shed blood of his enemies. 

So, he has flaws too. Maybe he was born inherently good and with an insane amount of talent for shinobi arts but life has a way of knocking people down who have always soared high. 

That fall for Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, was his son's death. It was as if the leader of the village had lost all his shine. His eyes used to be full of happiness, cheer always a part of his relaxed yet alert steps. He used to be a beacon of hope- something that his son had forced into him- and a whole support network for the weary civilians and the scared yet determined shinobi. 

This is not to to say that Minato Namikaze has given up on his duties. Far from it actually. He spends most of the time in his office, sitting behind his chair, and signing and preparing documents after documents. He doesn't leave till he's satisfied that no loophole in a treaty can cause a war or some unforeseen detail can cause food shortage in that one small village on the border of the land he rules in tandem with the Daimyo. 

His friends say he's escaping the reality, burying himself in work. That he's grieving but hasn't received closure. He always smiles at their worried faces, though it's tight and forced, and he tells them that he's okay, because Naruto would hate seeing him upset. He tells them he's fine and then wonders, at silent nights in his room why he can't cry over his son.

So, it's not surprising that taking care of this adult who refuses to look after himself falls onto the shoulders of his wife, Kushina, who loves him so so much that it hurts to see him go into this metaphorical shell. 

It's baffling at times, that Kushina always seems so light and playful and happy despite having lost her beloved son just like Minato did. But her friends, those who know her inside out, can tell that's she hurting. That she's just as affected as her husband. 

But she's a walking fountain of optimism. Always has been. So she mourns and tears up over Naruto's memories, over the photos she's safely tucked in albums that she hides under her bed now (too afraid to keep them on display in shelves). But she doesn't let it keep her down, she gets up each day, saddened to see Minato always so stressed and overworked but she makes it her mission to always keep him company, to get him out of his slump. 

She's still a mother even though her child isn't around her anymore. She tells herself this everyday.

~

A gentle knock sounds in his room cramped with piles of mundane paperwork and he looks up, sighing. He knows who has come yet again, and though he may not admit it, he's grateful for it. 

"Come in." He says, going back to his outline for the agenda to be discussed in some meeting this week. 

Light yet loud footsteps reach his ears and the door shuts with a thud. 

"Minato!" The voice of his wife chirps, full of life and enthusiasm, "You've got to try these dumplings I made! They're so good. Remember I told you I got new recipes from Yoshino and Mikoto?" she chatters while sliding into the chair opposite him, already opening up a large bento. 

Minato smiles as he writes, it's soft and he hums letting Kushina know that he's listening. 

"Yeah, so we three met earlier today and they helped me make these. I sent small portions in our neighborhood too, Hinata and Tenten, they're such darlings, they did the distributions." She picks up two chopsticks and gently carries a stuffed dumpling towards Minato's mouth who rolls his eyes. Seriously, the woman doesn't need to treat him like a child. He opens up his mouth, nonetheless. 

"Mmm-" he chews, "this is delicious."

Kushina claps her hands in excitement, "I know right! I mean ofcourse it's amazing, I'm a great chef but they turned out so perfect Minato!" 

Minato nods his head and starts eating more of the the soft, tender and tasty dumplings, savoring the momentary delight he feels when he eats them. He knows why Kushina is doing this and knows that had such a thing happened three months ago, Kushina wouldn't have shared her kitchen success with him, but rather their son. He wouldn't be informed about it until he would go home and Naruto would recount the events of the day while Kushina would sit with that bright smile curled up next to him on the sofa. 

He shakes his head. He's got to work to do. No time to ponder over the past. 

"I'm planning on getting Sasuke and Sakura a genin team to train." Words leave his mouth before he can stop them. 

Kushina looks at him oddly, "They're hardly 18 yet. I know they're Jounin, but it's too early for them."

Minato nods, agreeing with her assessment but continues with his points nonetheless, "That's true. But those two don't fit the case of what's usual and normal. They're taking high risk missions, demanding them actually. Always looking for a way to go away from village." He sighs and turns his chair so he's facing the window, "I'm afraid those two might end up burnt out soon if they don't stop. Getting green genins will force them to take a break. Becoming a teacher always brings progress for us ninjas, helps us in ways missions and training can't. Those two will be heavily relied upon by the genins and they need that. They're becoming too reliant on each other, in their small bubble. I'm not separating the two, I know they won't stand for it." He turns again, "Being senseis together is what I'll let them do. So, thoughts?" 

Kushina stays silent as she watches Minato eat again. She can tell he's worried for the two he sees as his own children now. She feels the same way about young jounins. And Minato's worries aren't unfounded, she's seen how Sakura and Sasuke act nowadays. It troubles her too so she huffs a laugh, 

"Leave it to you to find solutions to a problem most don't even notice." Why don't you do the same for yourself huh? The question goes unasked. 

Minato smirks, it's lazy and only half-assed but he replies, "I'm not the Hokage for nothing."

Kushina rolls her eyes at him but her lips curl upwards regardless. She'd just too fond of this stupid blond, love is just that way. 

Suddenly, there's a commotion outside and they hear heated voices, of Sakura and Sasuke and another person who sounds younger, more agitated and the door flies open revealing the aforementioned jounins and a  kid with bright blond hair and whisker marks. He's looking at Minato in awe and disbelief. But Kushina doesn't see any of that, instead only one thought runs in her mind:

Did Minato cheat on me?

Sasuke smirks and looks at the kid, "So what was that about the Hokage having a goatee and grey hair that you were just telling us about?" 

The kid sputters, "but- but he's the fourth Hokage- he's um." That's all the blond manages to get out before he gets tense and glares at Minato. 

"You!" He points accusingly at the taller blond, who looks just as bewildered as Kushina, "You are a fake! Genjustu huh?" He makes a handsign, "Kai!" He opens his eyes and looks a little unsettled when he sees Minato still seated there, blond hair, blue eyes still intact. 

The kid laughs nervously, "Okay okay. So it's the transformation technique." he murmurs but Sakura catches it anyway. 

"No, you idiot! He is Minato Namikaze, in flesh and there's no balding old man smoking a pipe in this office."

Minato chokes on a dumpling a bit because that description sounded suspiciously like his predecessor. 

The boy looks utterly lost and confused and idly walks upto Kushina, taking a seat beside her. He looks up then, his blue eyes meeting Minato's own similar ones and he whispers, "You should be dead."

Minato laughs, "Sure kid, seems like you don't like me much-" he leans forward unaware of why he feels at ease with this strange teenager whom he's never met before, "Did you send those assasins last weekend? Poor bunch. Ended up having a session with Ibiki." Kushina winces in sympathy forgetting the fact that those men had tried murdering her husband. 

The kid goes stiff and his eyes shine with a frantic fear, "No! I've never- I didn't even know you were alive. You- I've been to your grave okay. This is confusing."

Kushina frowns and places a gentle hand on the kid's shoulder, "Relax alright. We're not accusing you of anything." She looks pointedly at Minato who nods in return. 

Minato waves at Sasuke and Sakura who shut the door and drag two chairs upto his desk. 

Once seated, Kushina asks, "What happened?"

And so Sasuke retells the happenings of the last hour, of the kid who says his name is Naruto, falling from nowhere, of his separation from his team, and his claim that Sasuke and Sakura are his teammates, only younger. Once he's done Minato immediately speaks up, 

"There is no one beside my late son going by the name Naruto who is registered as a shinobi of Konoha."

Sakura glances at Naruto, ready to seize him if he's an enemy who thinks his cover is blown but the kid makes no move to run. 

"That's not possible! I'm a genin of Konoha, have been for over a year. Hell, if it wasn't for those bastards from Akatsuki I would be in Suna, giving my chunin exams!" 

Kushina squeezes his shoulder, "Listen, kid- Naruto, there are no chunin exams going on right now. Not here, not in Suna, not in any village."

Naruto frowns and bites his lip. Minato, though, is concerned about another matter entirely. "Naruto, how do you know about the Akatsuki?"

Naruto looks up, happy that he has atleast this answer, "Oh that. Well they've been targeting me for months now. After the chunin exams in Konoha last year, old man was injured right? So remember the old hag- uhhh- Tsunade-sama had shown up out of nowhere? Well, I had been the one to drag her here. With that pervert, Jiraiya. I met the Akatsuki on the trip to search for her." He looks at them then, deciding whether he should carry on. Sakura and Kushina give him gentle smiles and the two men nod at him, even though they all can't bring themselves to believe Naruto, who seems to be spewing tales made out of his own delusion. 

Naruto sighs, "This is all confidential. But well, you are- you were the Hokage at one point, and y'all seem old enough to know this already so anyway. I am the nine-tails jinchuuriki and these Akatsuki people are collecting the bijuus power. Naturally, I'm one of their targets." He doesn't get to complete his rambling because Minato is standing now, perplexed by Naruto's statement. He would dismiss this unknown kid so like his own son, tell him he's dreaming but this Naruto seems sincere and sure of what he says. Like he's recollecting parts of his own life, there seems no hint of hesitation or lies. 

In the corner of his mind, he wonders why he's not on edge, not thinking why this Naruto isn't some of his most dedicated enemy's latest scheme. Would be perfect, sending a small clone of his son, to reopen the wound that Minato had sown shut himself. 

"Hold him!" He barks out instead and the three are already onto Naruto, pinning his arms and legs before he can even move a muscle. 

"Hey! This isn't fair! I've done nothing wrong!" 

Minato's face softens somewhat, he hadn't meant to startle the genin. He just had to check something. 

"Relax. I'm just going to do something and see if you're telling the truth or not. Alright?" 

Naruto remains tense but he nods, not knowing how else to get out of this situation. 

Minato walks around his desk to Naruto's chair where he's being held tightly and slowly bends down. He starts lifting Naruto's orange jacket but the boy starts moving uncontrollably, "You- you pervert! What are you doing?!" 

Despite the severity of the situation, Sasuke snorts and Minato's ears go red at the implications of what Naruto thinks he's doing. 

"I'm not! I'm not doing anything. I'm just checking for the seal dammit!" He says, less composed that Sakura and Sasuke have ever seen him before. 

"Oh." Naruto says, smile sheepish now as he stops his struggling. "Look then, that stupid fox is in me. Whether you like it or not."

Minato nods and turns serious again, lifting the jacket. "Channel chakra to your stomach." He asks and Naruto does so instantly. A complicated seal full of commas, swirls and dots forming arrays shows itself on his tan skin. A language only understood by masters of the art, someone Minato admittedly is. 

Kushina peeks and stills because hailing from the clan of seal masters, she knows that piece of art all too well. She's had the same on herself once and then on her son and seeing it on this genin now shocks her.

Minato let's go of his jacket and slowly walks upto his seat. Kushina leaves her grip on Naruto's hand, the other two follow suit throwing looks of concern at each other. 

Finally, Minato says, "He's a jinchuuriki. He's not lying about that."

Sakura takes in a sharp breath, realising the power this Naruto holds. Same as her friend did. 

Sasuke looks thoughtful, "It shoudn't be possible. The kyuubi has years before it reforms. This all doesn't add up."

Minato continues, "Yes. This Naruto is too alike our Naruto. Doesn't make sense. Considering the fact that he actually has the nine tails, the option of this being an enemy's spy goes out the window. They would never hand us the power of a bijuu so openly."

Sakura folds her arms, "That's true. He doesn't even seem to have any tact or training in information gathering. So far, he's been saying stuff that's never happened which makes his backstory unbelievable, something a spy or infiltrator would never do."

Kushina looks at Minato, "Not to mention, he has the Konoha hitaite, and I checked, it's an original. He also has the seal, our seal Minato, only we know how to make it. There's no chance in hell that some seal master from Kumo or Iwa could've recreated it."

Naruto looks between the four as they converse about his situation and grits his teeth in frustration, "Oi! Don't talk about me like I'm not I'm the room!" Sasuke gives him a blank stare, "Shut up will you? We're one step away from throwing you in an interrogation cell. You're clear for one truth, the rest are still lies."

Naruto gets up, the force sending his chair tumbling down, "I'm not lying! I never do-" and maybe in another story, he would've stopped there and the other four in the room would've overlooked his outburst but in this story, two words make a difference. Two words make Naruto more reliable, make him something the four can't ignore. 

So Naruto clenches his hands in tight fists, looks into their eyes and says, "Believe it!"

All of them go still as they stare in the familiar blue eyes, entranced by the words they've heard innumerable times by someone they'd care so deeply for. Naruto is shaking, silent fury oozing off of him but his gaze is determined and full of honesty and Kushina doesn't question her sanity when she thinks this boy before him is her son, that this Naruto is her Naruto. 

Minato feels the same way but he's the Hokage and he can't just take the kid's words for truth no matter how much Minato wants to think that this is his son, some miracle bringing him back from the dead. 

Sakura calls out, voice uncertain and full of fearful hope, "Naruto?" and everyone knows there's something different when she says that name. Something familiar in the tone, that was not there before. 

Naruto looks at her, "Yes. I am Naruto, tall Sakura-san." He sits down again, seemingly done with his declarations for now. 

Kushina chews on the inside of her cheek and then places her hand on his shoulder again, more gentle, more grounding, more reassuring than last time. 

"We'll listen." She says, "Tell us your story."

Chapter Text

Naruto looks at them skeptically, shinobi paranoia seeping into him for once. But he doesn't hold his breath for long. If they want to know about him, he'll tell them. But kami forbid, if they're his enemies and will use the information against him then he'll kick their asses till they're all black and blue. 

"Fine. Here goes nothing." He says, already at ease with the soft look the red haired lady is shooting at him, "I am an orphan. My parents died the day I was born, it was the day the kyuubi attacked Konoha. I don't know who they were but old man Hokage said they died fighting for the village. So I lived alone, well, still do. I became genin at 12, after failing the graduation exams 2 times. I was still with genin my age though because I entered the academy early on. I got to know about my jinchuuriki status on the day I graduated. Was a shock to be honest." He rubs his head, trying to collect his thoughts while the other four occupants of the room can't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the boy. 

"The villagers hate me you know? I'm sure you all do too. They've never done anything to me, not much anyway. They're nice folks..erm..just not for me. Oh wait, this is sad!" He claps his hands and then grins, "Onto the good stuff! So I got a team then, a sensei too who actually taught me stuff. In the beginning, I despised that arrogant Sasuke though I had no problems with Sakura. But slowly, we started working together, more like, were forced to work together. Sasuke risked his life for me on a mission and that made me realize that he cares but is horrible at showing it."

A soft smile  breaks out on his face and clear happiness radiates from him. Sakura and Sasuke don't know what to say, or do or think. So don't do any of that. They sit and wait for Naruto to continue his tale. 

"Chunin exams were next but sensei didn't send us in. Turned out, that Orochimaru attacked during the second round of the exams, placing some creepy seal mark on Neji. We didn't know any of that until the Suna-Oto invasion during the finals. No worries though! Old man totally beat that snake guy up. That pervert helped him too. But the Hokage was severely injured. So like I said before I went to find...Tsunade-sama so she could heal the old man. She's a right riot of a woman." He shuddered, remembering something none of the others could hope to imagine.  

Kushina speaks up, "Go on." And Minato quirks an eyebrow at her because she seems as if she was enjoying the story. Like she was immersed in his tale. 

Naruto nods, "Well then, we trained for the year. Missions and all. Took plenty C-ranks. Sakura and I managed to get Sasuke talking too. Share stuff with us. By that point, we knew it was Itachi that Sasuke wanted to kill so-" 

"What the fuck?" Sasuke exclaims.

Sakura looks at him, "Language!" But smiles anyway, knowing that she herself isn't much better in keeping the colorful choice of words out of her vocabulary. 

"What the heck?" Sasuke corrects. 

Naruto asks in return, "Well, why is it surprising? Itachi killed all the Uchihas. He was behind the clan massacre. Sasuke wanted, still wants, revenge. He's toned it down though-"

No one is listening to him, not anymore. Minato's pursed lips and Kushina's furrowed brows can tell anyone how distressed they are by this piece of knowledge. Sakura isn't faring any better. To think the Uchihas were all murdered by Itachi no less. Even though she'd decided to keep an open mind towards this Naruto's story, she couldn't help but doubt him. Itachi isn't- he would never. 

Sasuke, though, is taking it like a blow to his head. Anger simmers underneath his skin and an urge to throw Naruto out of the window makes itself known to him. 

"-ey! Hey! Are y'all even listening to me anymore?" Naruto huffs, folding his arms. 

Minato coughs, trying but failing to dissipate the tension in the room, "Yeah sorry. Uh...continue."

Naruto unfolds his arms, gripping the desk now, "Okay so we were going to Suna for this year's chunin exams...erm...well that's what was happening atleast. On the border of Suna, Itachi and Kisame show up along with this weird mask guy. We fought them ofcourse." 

He looks away, towards a bookshelf to his right.

"But, we were losing. Those assholes were too strong and even though sensei held Kisame away, and tried to keep Itachi occupied, he came for me anyway with the mask dude. Last thing I remember before I fell on tall Sakura-san is Itachi pressing a scroll in my hand and the weird guy doing some Jutsu with his eye. Kamu- kamilo something." He sags in his chair, now waiting for them to somehow solve this mystery, this puzzle. 

Minato nods, trying to process all the information given to him. He knows he can get to the end of this but it seems as if they're missing a crucial piece, a part of this jigsaw puzzle that can make it a coherent picture. 

Sasuke turns to Naruto, forgetting everything else and focuses on a part he has an inkling that is behind this mess. "Naruto, did that mask guy have a sharingan?"

Naruto hums, "Yeah, he definitely did. Though it was different to the one Sasuke- the one I know- has."

Sasuke nods and closes his eyes. Sakura looks in anticipation, not knowing what her friend is upto. Sasuke opens them, eyes morphed into Mangekyou Sharingan, "Did it look like this?" 

Naruto grins and claps his hands enthusiastically, "Yes! That's it!" 

Sasuke doesn't seem all that happy though, "He meant Kamui. Kamui-" he looks straight at the Hokage, "A space time ninjutsu."

Minato's eyes widen, his brain already turning gears to come to the right conclusions about Naruto, and what happened. Kushina, on the other hand, can't think right. She is just staring at Naruto taking in his features, letting herself remember her own son. Her hand is still placed on his shoulder. 

Minato gasps suddenly, looking terrified, awestruck, and disbelieving altogether. 

"I know who he is." He says, forcing a calmness to his tone, "He's Naruto. A Naruto from a different dimension and a different time."

Sakura starts laughing, "What- what even?" 

Sasuke turns her face towards himself, hand gentle on her chin, "It's true. The scroll had some seals mostly, messed with Kamui somehow."

Sakura stills, then shakes her head nervously, "Wow." She manages to say. 

Kushina thinks that she might be the luckiest person in all of the elemental nations. Shinobi parents often have face the death of their children, and it's always a tough truth to swallow. But here she is, months after her own son's demise, sitting in the presence on her son again. She doesn't care if he's not from this world. She doesn't care that he might not consider her his mother. And she believes this inter-dimensional travel story. She can see how it's possible. Seals have always been a pit of unbelievable power, achieving feats that are truly considered impossible. 

So before she can talk herself out of it, she bends forward, engulfing Naruto in a hug with all the motherly love she feels. Naruto goes rigid, eyes wide in mild panic. He's never experienced such pure affection before. Kushina sighs, melting into the lean body of her son and doesn't stop the few tears that flow out, "Naruto." She whispers, "Naruto, you're back."

Naruto awkwardly pulls away, and looks at Minato, for no other reason than to avoid Kushina's gaze. He doesn't know how to deal with such blatant love Kushina has shown towards him. 

"Eh...not back- erm." He doesn't know what to say because looking at Minato isn't any better. There's a single tear going down his face, which he hastily wipes and then smiles at Naruto, almost beams at him as if Naruto was a cause of joy for him. 

Looking at Sasuke and Sakura, he asks, "So, this is- this isn't my world? I'm somewhere else? Y'all are actually Sasuke and Sakura? And there is- um was a Naruto too?" 

Sakura nods, still digesting this far fetched truth, "Yeah. Yes. Exactly."

Naruto has only one thing to say, 

"Well, shit."

Chapter Text

The evening turns to night as the revelations keep piling up. 

There's a hesitant sort of acceptance on Sakura's part. She believes it, or is trying her best to. How can she not? This is exactly what she's been hoping for since Naruto passed away and now that's what's she is getting. So what if this Naruto is shorter, dumber, younger than the one she knew? She'll love him all the same. 

Sasuke places his hand gingerly on Naruto's head and realises that his hair is softer than his former best friend's. Naruto looks up at him, titling his head in question. 

"What? You're admiring my hair now?" He shakes his head, trying to get Sasuke's hand off of him. Sasuke doesn't resist and takes his hand back, scoffing. 

"Idiot, I was just trying to..uh nothing..." 

Naruto huffs, and looks at Minato, "So. Um. What happens now? How do I get back?" 

Minato sighs, "I'm not entirely sure that you can. I'm not familiar with any seals that can permit inter-dimensional travel. If you still had that scroll from...the other Itachi, things would've been alot easier.  Besides, if two parallel worlds coexist, what's to say that there aren't more than that? A thousand, million, billion more worlds? The fact that you landed in our world is pure coincidence. Sending you back will be a gamble, if we don't know what's the factor that decides which world you're sent to."

Naruto looks at Minato blankly, "Yeah. Didn't understand any of that."

Sakura whispers to Sasuke, "Well, he's definitely different. Our Naruto would've gone off on a tangent discussing theories with the Hokage."

Sasuke nods his head in silent agreement. 

Minato waves a hand at Naruto, "Doesn't matter. Let's just get you settled here, why don't we? You'll be staying here for an indefinite amount of time."

Naruto looks uncertain but agrees after seeing their expectant gazes. 

"Perfect!" Kushina cheers, "You'll stay with us, ofcourse. We'll talk about your past and the details of our world later. It's getting too late."

Naruto raises a hand, "Hold up. Why would I stay with you two? Back in my world, I lived alone. I'd prefer that." 

Minato stills, remembering what Naruto had said. That he doesn't know who his parent are. 

He chews on the inside of his cheek, hovering a hand across his desk and grabbing Naruto's in a gentle grip. 

"Naruto." He says, "Do you want to know who your parents are?"

Naruto chuckles and looks in his eyes, "I already do."

Minato stares at him in shock, "So- erm...you know? I mean, ofcourse you do. It's obvious, isn't it?"

Naruto rubs the back of his neck, "To be honest, I hadn't really noticed our similarities before. I don't know, never struck me that I could be the son of a Hokage. But here the signs are really obvious. Y'all- y'all look at me as if y'all are trying to fine your own son in me." He sighs, "But, y'all aren't my parents."

Kushina takes in a breath, "We are." She insists, "it's of no consequence that you're of a different world. We still are your parents, there, here and everywhere."

Naruto shifts in his seat uncomfortably, not ready for the change. He was an orphan, self-sufficienct, independent, and underneath all his cheerful attitude, ultimately a loner. 

Sakura looks troubled and she speaks up, "Naruto. Hey, um, you don't have to decide right now. Just stay a night at their home alright? You can decide later on. If you want an apartment-" she looks at Minato, "-even that can be arranged, right?" 

"Definitely. But, give this a chance okay?" He chimes in. 

Naruto drops his hands by his side and gets up, grinning, "Alright! I'll give a shot." 

And really, the whole room brightens up with Naruto's enthusiasm. Kushina beams with joy, Minato smiles softly, happy to know he might just get his son back. Sakura squeezes Sasuke's hand, an upward curl of her lips making Sasuke smirk at her. 

This Naruto or the other, or any Naruto in existence, Kushina thinks, they all can light up the world. 

This Naruto is a sun too, Minato muses, just like he had once been. 

Just then, the door creaks open slowly, and a man walks in lazily, one hand in a pocket, and the other carrying a book with an explicit covering. 

"Yo!" He says in a flat voice, peeping above his book, "Who is this kid?" 

Naruto looks back and his eyes go wide, "SENSEI!" He shouts before moving towards the man. Unfortunately, he doesn't get far, not with Kushina stopping him by the jacket. 

"Remember," she begins, "he's not exactly your sensei."

Kakashi quirks an eyebrow, "What does that mean? And why in the seven hells does this short fellow look like Naruto?"

For what feels like the thousandth time that day, Naruto looks sharply at Kakashi, 

"Well that's because I am Naruto!" 

Kakashi looks at Minato and the blond sags in his chair. 

"This is going to be one long night."

..

It didn't last as long though. Because Naruto was hungry and his stomach growled making that fact known to everyone in the room. Kushina immediately started fussing and took Naruto by the arm, shouting at Minato to come home quickly and that if he doesn't, she will eat away all his food. 

And so a slightly disgruntled Kakashi sat across Minato as the Hokage explained everything to his student. 

"You know," Kakashi says by end of the story, "if I hadn't seen it for myself, I would've called you delusional and laughed in your face."

Minato chuckles, "Yeah, well for a minute, I was sure that that was exactly the case."

Kakashi gently places the book on Minato's desk that he had been holding throughout the conversation. 

"Naruto is here again." He says, almost as a whisper. Finally letting himself get rid of the disbelief and come to terms with the fact. 

Sakura and Sasuke who had retreated to the couch at the far end of the room stand up. 

"We'll leave now." Sakura calls out. 

Minato looks at them, "Go on. And keep things confidential at the moment. I'll see how to get others aware of all of this later."

They nod and walk towards the door. Sasuke stops and the entryway and turns towards the two seated men. 

"Minato-san, we'll be at your place tomorrow for breakfast." He declares and closes the door behind him. 

Minato laughs, "They just want to spend time with Naruto I guess."

Kakashi hums, "Yeah. They're idiots."

Minato gives him a look, "So you'll be there too?" 

Kakashi picks up his book again, "Oh ofcourse."

Minato goes back to signing the unfinished paperwork, "Kushina is going to make me chop the vegetables tomorrow morning. I hope y'all appreciate the hardwork I have to do for y'all."

Kakashi smiles behind his mask, "What hardwork sensei? Chopping stuff helps maintain your wrist strength. It's all training."

Minato throws a brush at him. 

Chapter Text

"It is a cockroach." 

"Are you su--" 

"Yes, it is not Deidera's spider clay thingy." 

"But what if--" 

"Sakura," Sasuke says calmly, way too calmly, "if you want me to pick up the cockroach and show it to you, I will."

Sakura sobers up at that, giving one final suspicious look to the insect and turns away. 

"How much more of this boring patrolling?" she asks, walking on the thin path of concrete atop the barrier wall. 

"It's hardly 6. Another two hours before my shift's over."

Sakura withholds a sigh and they walk in contemplative silence for sometime. 

"Do you," Sasuke breaks the temporary lull in conversation first, "think that Naruto-- he'll want to stay here?" 

Sakura isn't surprised by the sudden line of questioning. This topic has been weighing on both their minds since they left the kage tower last night and she knows this. Hopping towards a rooftop, she turns slightly towards Sasuke, allowing her voice to carry behind her.

"Honestly? I don't think so. He spoke fondly of Sasuke and Sakura and I'm saying the names because his Sasuke and Sakura aren't you and I. I'm pretty sure he has a family in Konoha, in his dimension. I don't know, if, if we can replace them? If he'll even want us to interact with us."

Sasuke doesn't reply immediately. He darts his gaze left and right, trying to be alert while thoughts race in his head. 

"He seems like a good kid," he says quietly, "atleast my counterpart will enjoy his company, I guess." 

Sakura chuckles, "I wonder how his version of you is like? Bratty, for sure."

Sasuke rolls his eyes, "Look," he says, "there's a cockroach on your battle dress."

The shriek of horror that follows is worth the brutal fistfight Sasuke has to endure against Sakura.

~

Naruto wakes up to a soothing stream of sunlight falling on his face. He blinks and just like that, he's alert again. The first thing he notices is how full he feels. The usual morning hunger is absent. 

Then, he remembers the events of the previous day and all he can feel about it is...indifferent. Sure, it had been a crazy day with even crazier revelations but he's not sure if he should be sad that he's not with his friends anymore or happy that he's got to meet his parents finally, albeit different versions of them. 

He gets up from the futon he'd settled into last night after the delicious meal Kushina-san had made for him (calling her mom doesn't feel right). He shuffles into the kitchen and stares blankly at the fridge full of groceries. His own refrigerator lies bare in his apartment, two eggs and a half-empty milk carton its only occupants. 

He takes out a juice box after a brief dilemma and silently sits onto the dining table, making sure to not scrape the chair across the wooden floor. 

He looks around the house. It feels..homey. And warm. There's signs of life everywhere with picture frames and odd decorations littered around. It's decidedly weird to see his own face, smiling and laughing in all these photos. Memories of himself that he's never experienced. He thinks the Naruto who'd been alive here was a lucky one. He seems to have lived a fulfilling life though the thought of him being dead does sadden him a bit. 

"Thinking about something?" a voice asks, as someone slides into the chair opposite Naruto. He turns to look at the sleepy face of the Fourth Hokage. 

Here, out of his robes and with seriously messed up bed hair, Minato looks so much more real, approachable. Even his sleepy mumble somehow comforts Naruto rather than upset him due to the unwanted intrusion.

"Yeah," Naruto admits, "just regular deep-mature-thinking stuff."

Minato chuckles and it looks like he's restraining his hand from ruffling Naruto's hair. Naruto kind of appreciates it, he isn't sure how to deal with all the physical affection yet. 

"I got you something," Minato says idly, "couldn't give it to you last night since you were already asleep by the time I arrived."

Sheepish, Naruto says, "I usually don't sleep that early, was just too tired yesterday."

"That's fine," Minato replies kindly, and gets up. Pulling something out of the cabinet, he places it on the table. It's a package wrapped in leaves and paper. 

"Go on, open it. I got you your favourite set."

Naruto furrows his brows at that. Favourite set, huh? He opens the wrapping and there's a pointy brush set inside, the kind he's seen Kakashi sensei use for making seals. Oh.

"Ah, thank you," he says, smiling at the man. 

Ever perceptive, Minato looks at Naruto carefully, 

"You don't look too happy though."

Naruto doesn't wince at being called out, instead just nods. 

"I don't really know sealing arts, Minato-san. My speciality's ninjutsu, actually."

And that's when it hits Minato. Square in the face. That this Naruto isn't the same person as his son. That this Naruto has his own likes, dislikes. Is his own person. That sharing a face and name doesn't make two people the very same. 

"Sorry," he says quickly, "I shouldn't have assumed-- I thought that. I was being silly. I apologise for-" 

Naruto's startled laugh halts Minato's embarassed rambling. This time the shorter blond apologizes, 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make fun of your heartfelt apology--" he ignores Minato's cough, "-- it's just I find it funny that the legendary fourth Hokage would get so flustered at getting someone's speciality wrong." 

Naruto shrugs, "Just didn't think you'd be so...friendly, I think."

Minato understands this. He's been told many times that his personality doesn't match the stories of the cold, ruthless yellow flash that are told everywhere. That the laughing blond man doesn't resonate with the shinobi who'd single handedly slaughtered a thousand men in war. 

"I guess we've both got alot to learn about one another then, don't we?" he asks. 

Naruto takes a loud slurp of his juice and nods, grinning. 

"So far, you seem quite decent," the genin says, nodding to himself as if it's a truth of utmost importance. 

Minato lets out a fond chuckle, "Coming from you, oh master of criticisms, I'll take it as a compliment."

Naruto lets out a sound that might've sounded like a whine, "Criticisms? I'm the master of only one thing. And that's of eating ramen. Believe it!" 

Minato gets up, "Sure, sure. As you say. Now, want to help me make breakfast?" 

Naruto springs up from his seat, energised and ready to take atleast a hundred laps around Konoha. 

"Definitely!" 

~

When Kushina awakes, she isn't expecting the heavenly smells of onigiri and miso soup to invade her senses. But that's exactly what happens and she almost drags herself to the kitchen. Hiding her surprise at Minato wearing her pink apron, her eyes land on Naruto who's setting the table, completely engrossed in his task. 

"Aw man, couldn't even wait for me to wake up? I could've helped, y'know?" she says when Minato notices her arrival. 

Her husband rubs the back of neck, "Just wanted to let you rest after--" a vague hand gesture, "everything, I guess. And Naruto helped, he did half the work actually. Quite the chef, this little guy."

Naruto turns away at that, mortified that the compliment had sent blood rushing to his cheeks. It isn't his fault that no one had actually trusted him enough to taste the meals he made. Couldn't blame them really, till the end of his first year as genin, his cooking had been horrible. 

"Oh really?" Kushina questions as she sniffs some more, "can't wait to eat now! It smells so good Naruto." 

The blond in question sets the last plate and looks at Kushina, grinning openly. 

"Well, what's the wait then? Let's start dattebayo!" 

Minato is about to protest when the doorbell goes off and Kushina rushes to welcome their guests. Good, everyone's here then, they can start eating. 

Sakura and Sasuke greet everyone amicably, acting a bit strange and tense while talking to Naruto. Naruto doesn't notice though, not knowing them well enough to spot anomalies in their behaviours. Kakashi picks it up though he has enough tact to not confront the two about it there. 

"Wow," Sakura is the first to comment as she chews on the riceball, "this is by far, the best riceball I've ever eaten Kushina-san. I need the recipe."

Sasuke nods in agreement, "Bless you for putting tomatoes in there."

Kushina raises her chopsticks, "Children, please, I did not make these delicacies-- Kami knows I've always sucked at making onigiri. No," she points them at Naruto, "this little gentleman did the cooking today. Ask him for the recipe."

Naruto, once again, feels elation at the positive comments but thankfully doesn't blush. 

Sakura looks at him with unveiled awe, "so you're some culinary genius then..?" 

Naruto shakes his head furiously, "No! I can't even make a proper omelette. I've just always been good at making onigiri. That's it."

"Fine then," Sasuke says, shoving an even larger pieces of the food inside his mouth, "You're on riceball duty henceforth. Think you can manage a bento every Thursday night for us?" 

Naruto glares at the Uchiha, "Why would I cook for you? What do I get out of it?"

Sasuke opens his mouth to say that Naruto will get to eat out of his and Sakura's bento before realising that this Naruto is just a genin and won't accompany them on patrols.

"Money?" he tries instead. 

"700 ryo or we don't have a deal." Naruto says, swallowing a mouthful of his own.

"Per month right?"

"Per week."

Sasuke chokes on his food but tries to subtly overcome it. It really doesn't work out though and Sakura ends up slapping his back. 

"Oh," he says, finally having composed himself, "you drive a tough bargain."

Naruto shrugs, "You pick up certain skills while living alone."

The conversation dies down at that and they realise that Naruto's orphancy isn't a sore subject for him. Naruto is at terms with his circumstances, it's them that are so uncomfortable thinking about Naruto growing up without his loving parents. 

They're almost done with breakfast when Minato speaks up. 

"By the way, I think I should've mentioned earlier that Sasuke and Sakura will be becoming jounin instructors."

Sasuke, for the second time that morning, chokes on his food. 

Chapter Text

Naruto eyes them all warily. They're his group of friends -- but not. They're older, weirder, and more mature than he remembers them being. 

For one, Kiba's grin is subdued and he doesn't run up to him to give him a friendly pat. To contrast that calmness, Neji, of all people, seems incredibly enthusiastic. Well, enthusiastic in the Hyuga sense of the word. 

Rid of the cursed seal and over his obsession with destiny, this Neji gives Naruto an actual grin which reaches his eyes. The blond doesn't know how to interact with a happy Neji so he just gives a tiny wave to the jounin. 

Next to Kiba, with his hand in hers, stands Ino. Her hair is significantly shorter than the long ponytail Naruto's Ino had sported. Her eyes zero in on the genin with scrutiny before deciding that he's not a threat and they return to their usual blankness. 

Tenten -- well, Tenten's hair is free of her twin buns and she carries a fan on her back much like Temari from Naruto's dimension and his head is already spinning with all these changes. 

Sasuke has already informed Naruto that Shikamaru and Shino are out on a mission so the boy isn't surprised at their absence. 

Under the trees sits Hinata, her jacket folded neatly beside her and she appears to be mediating. Her posture is self-assured and Naruto wonders if the Hinata he knew would ever grow up into this confident kunoichi. 

Thankfully, he receives an abundance of normalcy in the form of an enthusiastic Lee who's first to approach him with an extended hand, 

"Welcome, Naruto-kun! It's an honour of mine to meet an actual dimension-traveller! You're an inspiration to all experimenters, do you realise that?" 

Naruto's smile comes out of its own volition and he shakes Lee's hand with a familiar fondness pooling inside him. 

"It's nothing that great," he scratches at his cheek, "It was all luck and chance. I wasn't even the one to perform the jutsu. But yes, it's good to meet you too!" 

Someone nudges Lee out of the way and it's Chouji -- clad in metal armour and a mane like Jiraiya's going down his back -- who smiles at Naruto. 

"Hello, Naruto. Did you sleep well?" 

"I did," Naruto returns the smile, always touched by Chouji's inherent kindness that seems to be a consistent trait in his counterpart, "How was your night?" 

"It was--" 

"Cut the idle chit-chat," it's Ino who interrupts their conversation, "The shorty's not the friend we lost, so don't act like it."

Naruto frowns at her but doesn't protest. It's the truth afterall...but he can still befriend them if they want him to. They don't seem all that bad. 

"Fuck off, Ino," Sasuke says. It's easy for him to be hostile towards her anyway -- they've never really gotten along much. The only reason he'd been civil to her before was because of Naruto. He had been close to Ino, even dated her for a year and half before they'd mutually decided to break it off. 

Ino snorts and moves out of their little huddle to exit the grounds, "Suit yourself." 

Kiba throws Sasuke a sheepish look before turning towards Naruto.  

"Guess I'll talk to you later, okay?" 

Naruto nods his head uncertainly and doesn't get offended when Kiba follows after Ino. He's got a question though, 

"Those two are dating?" 

His genuine confusion and bewilderment amuses Sakura who confirms that Kiba and Ino are infact, a couple. 

"You people are wild," the blond mutters, shaking his head, "Anyway, where's the rest of our team? Surely, you won't be mentoring only a sole genin together?" 

Sasuke had been shocked when Minato-san had assigned him and Sakura a genin team all of their own. But the shock had worn off into indignation and then anger. Unfortunately, none of his tantrums were taken seriously by the Kage and as retaliation for his insubordination, Minato had decided that one of the genin in their team would most definitely be Naruto. 

This is the reason they're here in the training grounds in the first place. To meet the rest of their team.  The jounins had just been summoned by Minato that morning and informed about the latest developments. The group had then decided that confirmation was an absolute must and proceeded to the grounds - aware of Sasuke and Sakura's appointment as jounin instructors. 

"They'll be her-" Sakura cuts herself off. "Ah, there they are!" 

A trio of genin enters the area, and they quickly make their way towards them.  

"Good afternoon, Sakura-san, Sasuke-san!" the orange-haired girl greets politely. 

The boy next to her is less reserved and he grins widely at the two jounin, "Finally! Some good teachers!" 

Sakura chuckles, "Brat. Already disrespecting Ebisu like that?" 

It's then that a realisation hits Naruto square in the face and he gasps, looking rapidly between the three faces of the trio. He takes a step towards the brown-haired boy and asks in a whisper, 

"Konohamaru?" 

The boy blinks at Naruto. 

"Yes. Do I know you?" 

Naruto shuts his eyes close. This is fucking insane. That pipsqueak is all grown up - no blue cape, no comical helmet, no cute broken front teeth. Konohamaru is Naruto's age and the blond's brain is going to burst out of his skull. 

"No," he shakes his head rapidly, "You don't know me."

Konohamaru raises a confused brow at Sasuke who gives him a reassuring nod. The third's grandson and his teammates aren't informed about Naruto's true circumstances but it won't be long before they'll be filled in on the blond's actual identity. 

"Okay then," Konohamaru is quick to recover, "This is Moegi, that's Udon and I'm, well, you already know me. What's your name?" 

Naruto opens his eyes and glances at Sakura and Sasuke who aren't exactly sure how they're supposed to handle this situation. But they know one thing - that damn Minato-san did this purposefully. He planned this confrontation so Sasuke and Sakura would have to handle the aftermath of it and somehow improve their leadership skills. Complete bullshit, basically. 

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki."

All three frown at him, scrutiny in their eyes despite lacking experience as shinobi. The trio had also been close to this world's Naruto. Hell, they were practically his younger siblings. His death had shocked them, and Konohamaru hadn't come out of his room for an entire week. 

"Oh," Konohamaru says, lost and put-off by the fact that his big bro's name was shared by this guy that looked disconcertingly similar to him. 

The jounin gathered there watch the little show with poorly concealed curiosity but Sakura's withering glare sends them running away lest the kunoichi dare them to spar with her then and there. 

"Uh," Sasuke says once they're the only occupants left in the space, "Let's start with introductions, maybe?" 

Naruto consoles himself by thinking how this Sasuke is just as socially awkward as his best friend. 

Chapter Text

Sasuke fixes his eyes onto the four genin before him, aware of each individual movement they make as if monitoring a bomb about to detonate. Which they might as well be - given the extreme tension he can clearly sense in the air, the tautness around Konohamaru's usually effortless smiles, and the stiff posture that Naruto sits with. 

"Relax," Sakura mutters beside him, speaking through a gentle smile which she directs at their students. "We'll be fine."

Sasuke inclines his head - not so much an agreement as it is a simple acknowledgment. 

"I'll begin then?" It's Udon who volunteers to introduce himself first. 

"Go on!" Sakura encourages with a cheerful wave of her hand and the perpetually snot-nosed shinobi begins. 

"I'm Udon Ise, and I'm twelve years old. I like training with my older sister, sparring with Moegi, helping Konohamaru with clever pranks. I also enjoy reading alot - tend to hoard my bookshelves. I'm most into fantasy, actually. I'm also fond of...technicalities. I mean I like understanding details and my mom usually says I have an uncanny appreciation for intricacies." The brat stops finally, a frown marring his forehead and he thinks some more of what to share with his new teammates. "Oh, and I like Udon too."

Naruto chuckles softly, glancing at the bespectacled boy with a fondness Sakura is quickly realising that the blond associates most of them with. 

"Dreams?" Naruto asks, genuinely curious. "What are your dreams?" 

Udon looks at Naruto for a few seconds, before shrugging and inhaling loudly through his nose. 

"Still figurin' out that part, I guess."

Konohamaru pats his friend on the back, grinning openly at the introduction he already knows like the back of his hand before excitement runs its course on him and he shakes and bubbles like a fizzy drink. 

"My turn now!" 

Sasuke rolls his eyes at the characteristic enthusiasm of the brat he's come to see as a little brother - vicariously through his friendship with his Naruto. 

"Go on," he says. 

"I'm Konohamaru Sarutobi, and I'm twelve too! I like alot of things -- too many infact. Let's see...I like steamed dumplings, I like taijutsu, I like tying Moegi's hair into buns, I like studying with Udon, I like you two, I like...Naruto bro," he pauses, collecting himself before continuing on with as much cheer as before, "I like ramen too! I also love, absolutely love kenjutsu - but Ebisu never allowed me to get a katana or even a tanto. So I hope y'all can teach me how to yield one properly. What else?" he ponders for a moment before jumping right back into his elaborate rant. 

"I kind of like trees too. I mean, they're fun to climb on and I can see the sunset on that old oak atop the Kage monument. I can also kick the trunk and they never wear off easy, so that's a plus too. I dislike...insincerity, I suppose. Never liked people who fake their emotions or trick people, really. My dream is to...become Hokage." He smiles up at Sakura and she knows what the kid's thinking - probably of the same thing she is. Of another tall blond exclaiming that he'd become the Hokage, that he'd surpass his old man with so much certainty that anyone listening couldn't help but agree. 

Sasuke recovers the fastest and jerks his head towards Moegi, 

"You're next," he informs. "Begin, then."

The orange-haired girl shoots a wary glance at Naruto who continues to look at her, inquisitiveness etched into his face, before beginning. 

"I'm Moegi Kazamatsuri. Twelve years old. I like...fishing, a bit of singing, history - I like reading up about the past alot. It's quite fascinating. I do enjoy having silly debates with Udon too - he says it's in fantasy that the best stories lie, while I think it's the past from which legendary tales emerge. We've yet to reach a conclusion on that topic." She hums, biting her lips as she thinks about herself, 

"I don't like tomatoes, or peanuts. The latter is mostly because I'm allergic to them. I also don't especially enjoy swimming - it's just so damn annoying. Cold water, and then having to dry my clothes. Ugh, these two idiots like it loads for some reason though," she points at the two brown-haired genin seated at either side of her. "I want to become a ninjutsu specialist," she declares with feeling, dark violet eyes zeroing in on Sasuke, who she knows has the biggest repertoire of ninjutsus amongst them. 

Sasuke hums, "I'll see what I can do about that." He ignores the way in which a pleased flush overtakes Moegi's features and turns his attention to the short blond, still observing the trio of genin with interest. 

"Naruto," the name rolls on his tongue with a familiarity that aches less as each day passes, "Your turn."

The blond nods decidedly, before he starts with the surest tone Sakura has heard him speak in so far. 

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm twelve, almost thirteen years old. I like ramen - first and foremost. And old man Teuchi, Ayame, meeting new people, spending time with those I like, training myself in taijutsu and ninjutsu. I don't really dislike genjutsu...just annoyed by it because I can't get it right, ever. I like relaxing on that hilltop at the edge of Konoha and visiting the creatures in the Forest of Death. I also like making fruit juices, it's kind of therapeutic, I guess," Naruto shrugs, deciding whether he should keep on rambling - because he definitely can, no doubt - or cut it short. 

"My dream's to be a good, and accomplished shinobi," he decides for middle-ground, "to make those who believe in me proud. I also want to be an...all-rounder. Jack of all trades. Whatever you wanna call it. Just learn as much of the shinobi arts that I can, even if my talents are more inclined towards ninjutsu only."

Sakura smiles at Naruto, not surprised by the contrast in this one's answer with the one his friend had once given. She thinks she's adjusting to this new reality, however absurd it may be - that another Naruto, so similar to a ghost yet so different than him can also become someone she cares about, for reasons wholly independent of the body that now lies beneath a grave. 

"I'll start then," she says, humming in thought. "Sakura Haruno. Soon to be eighteen. I'm a jounin and a damn good one at that. I specialise in medical ninjutsu and taijutsu. I've been trained by several people. Kakashi Hatake, Tsunade Senju, Might Guy and even Jiraiya of the Sannin for a few brief months. I like learning about medicine, as is obvious. I also like taking idle strolls in the forests surrounding Konoha. I kind of despise any kind of patrolling. Hate dango and pickles. I think that's all for now, you four can learn more about me through my actions rather than words, 'kay?"

"Okay," Udon said, to join the head nods of the other three genin. 

"It's your turn now, mister," Moegi tells Sasuke who looks about ready to get up and shunshin his way out of the grounds. "You're not getting a raincheck for this one."

Sasuke throws Sakura a scathing look when she subtly clutches his wrist in her hand, a vice grip to prevent him from even stepping away. 

"Fine," he says and prays no one can tell how he's actually grumbling, "I'm Sasuke Uchiha. Jounin. I like tai and ninjutsu. I like seeing the night sky and performing target practice on anything that can be embedded."

Konohamaru shoots the Uchiha a wary look, dramatically covering his torso with his two arms, even as Naruto does the same - just more discreetly. 

"I dislike the lot of you," Sasuke says pointedly. "I also loathe loud noises and entitled attitudes. My dream, as of now, is to go home and sleep and be rid of you brats."

Sakura hits him upside the head, and Sasuke lets it happen. He's too used to her glancing violence to oppose it. Besides, it never hurts anyway - maybe because he's acquired that high a pain tolerance but who knows. 

"That was the blandest introduction out of all of us," she says, as if it's particularly shameful a fact. 

Sasuke shrugs, scooting away from her in hopes of escaping this socializing game that's stretching too long. 

"I'm a man of few words."

Sakura shakes her head in fond disappointment before looking at the four students she's now responsible for - five if she counts Sasuke. 

"I think we know each other well enough now to atleast hold conversations that aren't incredibly stilted and formal. Let's hope we can all work well and sort out any and all differences that may arise."

She looks at Moegi particularly then, "If the boys annoy you too much, or become too bothersome, I give you full permission to use any non-lethal means as revenge."

Moegi gives her an amused grin, before the pinkhead looks at Konohamaru. 

"You'll leave training an hour early on Saturdays for the next month."

Konohamaru's eyes widen, and he nods gratefully at her new sensei. Weekends are when he visits Naruto's grave with Kiba - it's becoming a custom of sorts and he'd thought he'd have to back out of it now. But Sakura's giving him the opportunity to slowly say his last goodbyes and let the pain scab over as gently as he can, without the abrupt end. 

"Udon, we'll work on your perpetual cold. Check-ups every Tuesday. I'm trying to figure out what's the medical condition that's causing it."

Udon shrugs, not really caring if that snot disappears through treatment or not. It's more a less a part of him now - which he accepts. 

"And Naruto," instead of looking at the blond, she looks at the other three huddled a few steps away from the blond. "You three treat him well. He's kind of new...to our Konoha. He knows the routes and all, so don't go around bunking on D-ranks on the pretence of taking him for a village tour. Just be accepting and friendly. He's a good lad, y'all. I don't want you three ganging up against him."

Konohamaru bristles, "We won't gang up against anyone! We don't do that sort of crap!" 

Sakura awards him with an indulgent smile while Sasuke rolls his eyes for the umpteenth time. 

"Are we done here? I can't bear any more of this mundane sap."

"Fine, fine," Sakura huffs, "Dismissed for today."

Moegi and Konohamaru immediately spring up, pulling Udon with one hand tug each and then they're sprinting away, laughing and cheering and declaring their friendship to anyone who's willing to watch. 

Sakura sees them leave with a lingering sadness - remembering the trio she herself had been a part of before shaking her thoughts to resemble something less like grief and more like functional Kunoichi. 

"Wanna go to Ichiraku's?" she asks the other two occupants of the grassy space. 

"Nope," Naruto says, dusting his pants. "I'll pass. You two carry on."

"Really?" Sasuke asks, "Didn't you say you absolutely love ramen?" 

"I do," Naruto says defensively. "I just need to do something else right now."

"What's that?" 

Naruto smiles mysteriously at the two, jogging towards the exit. 

"It's a secret!" he shouts. "And I don't plan on revealing it so you're better off just forgetting about it."

"Fine by me," Sasuke calls out, and pulls Sakura by the elbow towards the ramen stand they like best. 

When Naruto reaches the hilltop he'd landed on, the place where he entered this different world from, he's simply there for solace. Sitting by the gravestone of someone with his name, he ponders over his circumstances. He thinks about his world and distantly realises that he misses his friends, his Sasuke and Sakura. Kakashi-sensei and old lady Hokage. He misses all of the Konoha 12, but then his mind goes to the older versions of them in this world. He wonders about them - does this Chouji also like onigiri? Does Ino have a fondness for hairclips? Does Shino specially order his specific pair of glasses from a merchant village in Kumo? 

He doesn't know, but he'd be lying if he said he doesn't want to.  

"Naruto?" 

The familiar voice with an unfamiliar tone catches him unawares. He whirls, kunai in hand and stops in his tracks when he comes face to face with Itachi Uchiha. 

What the fuck?

Chapter Text

Naruto tenses, taking a step back on reflex. His hand grips the kunai till it bruises his skin but his eyes remain fixated on the man before him, who looks a curious mix between confused and horrified. 

“N-Naruto?” Itachi repeats, blinking rapidly as if his eyes aren’t functioning quite as they should. 

Naruto purses his lips and doesn’t reply, wariness dictating his every move. 

The next moment, Itachi sighs, rubbing his eyes and only then does Naruto notice the Uchiha’s exhaustion weighing on his shoulders, highlighted in the black below his eyes. 

“Forgive me... I thought you were... nevermind,” Itachi says quietly, still looking dazed. He swallows, turning around and maybe that is what reassures Naruto. That is what tells him that this Itachi isn’t his enemy. 

Can’t be. A shinobi doesn’t turn his back on the enemy after all. 

“Wait,” he says before he can think things through. Itachi stops easily and looks back at him, but his eyes wander towards the gravestone, as if pulled by an invisible force. 

“I am Naruto,” he says slowly, cautiously. “Naruto Uzumaki.” 

The confusion is back on Itachi’s face but despite the kunai still in Naruto’s hand, he doesn’t see the blond as a threat. So he freely walks towards the grave and stops a step from it, pulling out a coloured rock and placing it on the ground. There are a few more of those littering the space in a vague circle. 

Naruto frowns but stays silent because now he can see it. The grief that’s clinging to Itachi’s stiff form as he stares are Naruto Namikaze etched on the cool grey surface. 

“Are you related to Hokage-sama?” 

The question is so sudden that Naruto takes a moment just repeating it in his head and discerning its meaning. When he does, he bites his lip, debating whether to say something or not. 

“You can say that,” he says finally, going for a casual shrug. 

Itachi hums, eyes still on the grave but at least he’s not crying so that’s a plus. Naruto doesn’t know what he’d do except gawk if his best friend’s very evil brother started shedding tears in front of him. 

“Did you know him–Naruto–er...?” 

Despite himself, Naruto laughs, the sound ripped from his throat owing to the bewildering situations he keeps finding himself in. 

“You mean Naruto The Martyr?” he doesn’t wait for Itachi’s response. “No, I didn’t. But I am learning a lot about him.” 

“You look a lot like him,” Itachi says dully. 

“So I’ve been told.” 

Itachi hums again, sitting comfortably on the dirt. “How old are you?” 

“I dunno,” Naruto says, lowering himself against the bark of a tree. He has to marvel at this conversation–it is surprisingly civil. This Itachi clearly isn’t the one from his world but he still won’t be dropping the kunai anytime soon. 

Itachi chuckles lowly. When he speaks, his voice is oddly fragile, “Are you my imagination, Naruto?”

Naruto observes him closely for a moment before shaking his head, “I am very much real, I assure you Itachi.”

Itachi’s head snaps towards him, all sorrow gone now only to be replaced with suspicion. His eyes rove over his form, taking in the kunai and the guarded eyes. 

“I did not tell you my name,” Itachi says and his world’s or not, this man can kill Naruto if he so wishes. 

“You did not,” Naruto agrees because he needs time to get out of this mess. Time to think. 

“Who are you?” Itachi repeats, on his feet now. He slowly walks towards Naruto–more like stalks towards him from the blond’s perspective and he’ll be crowded against the trunk if he doesn’t move soon. 

“I told you,” he speaks through gritted teeth, annoyed by having to confirm his identity repeatedly. “I am Naruto. Now back off!” 

Itachi doesn’t acknowledge his protest, hand shooting out to twist Naruto’s arm. With a yelp, the blond lets go of the kunai but that does it. His anger is back. Anger against his Itachi Uchiha but this one’s just as big of an asshole and he won’t sit here and bear anyone’s doubts and suspicions any longer. 

He slams his elbow into Itachi’s side viciously, wrenching his hand free and running away. He knows it’s only a momentary delay and Itachi will be onto him soon. He turns his head, spotting the stony look on the Uchiha’s face–so different than the upset that had painted the man’s face moments ago. 

“I am going to the Kage Tower!” he shouts behind him. “If you want to be a paranoid, violent jerk, be so in front of the Hokage!”

With that he sprints with all his might, praying that Itachi simply follows him instead of using sunshin to catch upto him. 

It doesn’t take him long to reach his destination. What surprises him is that Itachi follows after him to Minato’s office unprotested. Perhaps the man’s rationality is still intact. 

Naruto still maintains a good distance between them and knocks at the door. Minato’s permission comes instantly and he opens it up to meet widened blue eyes just like his. 

“Oh,” is all he says when he spots Itachi. 

“Hokage-sama,” Itachi greets with a short bow. Minato waves him off, beckoning both of them to take a seat. He can sense the tension between them and wants to cut through it as soon as he can. 

“I see you’ve met Naruto,” he says, amused to see the ‘I told you so’ look Naruto throws at Itachi. 

“You know him then,” Itachi states, questions clear in his eyes. 

Where did he come from? Who is he? Why does he look like a friend I lost on the field?

“I will explain everything to you later,” Minato says, “but please try not to murder him in the meanwhile.” 

Itachi ducks, a little embarrassed to have acted so aggressively. But the thought of an an enemy wearing his friend’s face was too repulsive... too aggravating. 

“How does he know my name?” he asks. 

“The explanation will cover that, too,” Minato assures, knowing what exactly went down between the two now. It’s all too obvious in their expressions. 

Naruto huffs, “bloody aggressive do-gooders,” he mutters and Minato cracks a smile at his son’s annoyance. It’s good that he’s being a good sport about this. It can’t be easy to constantly field questions and escape prying eyes of people who think they see someone else in him. 

“Oh,” Itachi utters, remembering something. His hand disappears into a pouch but before he takes it out, he glances at Naruto. He aborts the motion, “I came across something peculiar,” he says to Minato. “Once we have more privacy, I’d like to show it to you.” 

Minato raises a brow but doesn’t ask for it right now. Instead, he turns towards Naruto, catching the burning curiosity in his eyes. 

“Naruto, why don’t you head back home? Kushina’s preparing something special tonight. She might like a hand.” 

Itachi frowns again, not understanding why this strange kid would help Kushina-san make dinner but holds his tongue. 

Naruto nods, bouncing to his feet.

“Later, then,” he says, “and you–” he jabs a finger on Itachi’s chest, “control yourself!”

With one last heated look, Naruto walks out the door, shutting it close behind him. 

Minato’s warm and fond chuckle reinforces the notion that he’s missed too much on his time way on a mission. For that kid to have formed an almost... parental relationship with the Kage in such a short time is unbelievable. Then again, the kid looks remarkably like Minato’s son... 

Shaking his head, he waits for the man to initiate the conversation. And he does. 

“So, what did you find on your mission?” 

He feels a little disappointed that Minato didn’t address Naruto’s mystery first but professionalism settles on him in a cool mask. He pulls out the thing from inside his pouch and places it on the table,

“This. I found this. A scroll. Well... found is a relative term. The scroll kind of fell on me.” 

Minato’s surprised face would be almost comical if not for the very real sadness radiating from the man.

Chapter Text

It’s a little before sunrise when Naruto awakes, shaking his head to rid himself of faceless monsters and masked ninjas who seem to have hijacked his dreams since he’s arrived in this new world. 

He slowly makes his way into the kitchen, this time not surprised to find Minato already seated at the dining table. Naruto guesses the Hokage is a natural early-riser, unlike himself – he’d never be awake without a hundred alarms blasting his ears off if it wasn’t for his nightmares doing the job for him. 

“Morning,” he mumbles, going straight for the milk carton placed inside the fridge. 

“Oh, good morning, Naruto,” Minato looks up, placing his glass of juice and waving at him in a decidedly dorky manner. “Did you sleep well?” 

Naruto smiles tiredly at him, taking a seat at the head of the small table. “Do I look like I did?” 

Minato chuckles, one hand carding through his messy bed-hair. It’s always odd to see him this way – domestic, harmless. Naruto’s yet to reconcile the Home Minato with the Hokage Minato. They’re poles apart. 

Or maybe they aren’t and Naruto’s yet to realise that. 

“Bad question on my part,” Minato admits, smiling wryly, “Want to talk about it?” 

Naruto hums absentmindedly, shaking around the carton in his hand. He chugs some cold milk, before wiping his mouth. “Not particularly, no. But I do want to ask you something – if you, like, don’t mind?” 

Minato waves an encouraging hand, finishing the last of his juice before standing up to wash it in the sink. “Go on. I don’t mind one bit.” 

Naruto nods. “Well, then. What did Itachi show you last night?” 

It’s very subtle but Naruto catches the slight tensing of Minato’s shoulders before he opens up the tap. With his back turned towards the genin, he responds, “Nothing of note. It was just some mission-related documents I’d asked him to submit to me.” 

“Oh,” Naruto shrugs. “Boring.” 

“Totally,” Minato turns, grins, and drops the wet glass in the drying rack nearby. “Now let’s get you some breakfast, alright?” 

“Okay. But Kushina-san is going to be so mad at you again.” 

“Exactly,” Minato fucking winks at him. 

Naruto’s smile turns into a full blown grin. “You’re so dead!” 

“What, you think Kushina can take me down? The Hokage of Konoha?” Minato asks in a faux-haughty voice, going around the kitchen and dragging out pans and ladles noisily. 

Naruto snorts, watching him move around, buzzing like a bee. “Oh easily.” 

Minato stops, turns towards him and holds eye-contact for a moment. “You’re right.” 

Naruto laughs and it’s enough for Minato to consider his day made. 

The Uchiha household works in interesting ways. Usually, the members won’t care one wit about what the others are upto as long as no one’s tainting their clan name and are part of the shinobi corps. 

This distance and detachment wasn’t always a part and parcel of living under the same roof as that of Fugaku Uchiha – the current head of their esteemed clan. 

In fact, once, a few years ago, Fugaku was so invested in the lives of his children that he couldn’t help but micromanage every aspect of what they did. It was controlling, invasive and everything a good parenting book warned its readers against. 

Several arguments, threats of divorce, tensions within the clan and a couple wake-up calls later, Fugaku came to the profound realisation that he needed to change or he wouldn’t have a family to call his own anymore. 

Change is abrupt sometimes. It’s a brick that comes hurtling towards you. But in his case, change is a slow-moving vehicle that needs excessive fuel and twenty sets of hands to push it forward. 

Which is why he’s not the loving, considerate parent he wants to be for his children yet. He’s progressing, he’s trying but he’s still stuck in that phase of the in-between. He cares but he doesn’t know how to show it without being too over-bearing, too involved in Sasuke or Itachi’s problems. 

He’s giving them room to breathe by making himself scarce. But in doing so, he’s become more or less an absent father. 

Which is why when Itachi’s head is bombarded of thoughts he’d rather not fixate on, he doesn’t go to his father. He doesn’t go to his mother either (she’s too compliant when it comes to their father, always has been, and that bitterness still festers). He goes to his brother instead. 

He knocks on Sasuke’s bedroom door, hearing a distracted “Come in,” as his cue to move inside. His brother seems busy gearing up for a mission or something – Itachi doesn’t know. He’s yet to catch up on what happened while he was away. 

Itachi clears his throat. “So. Naruto’s back.” 

Sasuke freezes, turns to face him. He drops the glove in his hand, and plops onto his mattress. “Minato-san told you?” 

“Yes,” he sits by the door, on a huge rock that Sasuke had, for some reason, decided to place in his room. His brother’s instincts for interior decor had always been a little off. “I met that Naruto yesterday. Thought he was an enemy playing a cruel trick on me. I could’ve hurt him.” 

“It’s not your fault,” Sasuke says with a knowing look, “I’d thought the very same thing. He’s... he’s a walking, talking, breathing reminder of someone we cared deeply for. I can’t think of anyone who’d react to such a situation with composure.” 

Itachi cracks a small smile. “I’ll never get over my disbelief at how mature you sound nowadays.” 

“Don’t sweat it,” Sasuke says, huffing, putting on the glove he’d dropped before. “As it is, most of the advice I give you? Yeah, it’s just me repeating stuff Sakura tells me.” 

“Well, recognizing good advice and passing it on is also a part of growing up so I stand by my words.” 

“Itachi, you flatter me,” Sasuke responds dryly, standing up and extending a hand towards him. “Walk me to the entrance?” 

“Of course,” Itachi accepts the hand and they start walking through the long, winding corridors of their home. 

“So, you gonna talk about what’s bothering you or am I just supposed to use our non existent brother-telepathy and read your mind?” 

Itachi’s mind flashes back to the conversation he’d had with the Hokage last night. Some of the things said and discussed still bother him but he’s not sure he should be revealing those worries to Sasuke just yet. 

He shakes his head. “It’s nothing. But if you’re curious, I’m open to checking that telepathy thing?” 

“Funny,” Sasuke rolls his eyes. “But suit yourself. Heed my words though – there’s a  mental breakdown oncoming for you.” 

“Noted,” Itachi smiles. “I’ll be sure to come running to you when that happens.” 

“Don’t bother. Chances are I’ll make it worse for you,” Sasuke replies, “Purposely.” 

They’ve reached the gates by now and that’s where they part. Itachi’s got two days for recuperation so he’s going to use them to rest and roam around the district. 

“See you later then,” Itachi says. 

Sasuke nods but doesn’t walk out. He lingers for a bit before saying, “You said Naruto’s back.” 

Frowning in confusion, Itachi nods, “Yeah, I did. What about it?” 

“You said he’s back but he’s not. Our Naruto’s gone forever Itachi. This one, this shorter, younger Naruto’s here for the first time. It’ll help you to remember that.” 

Sasuke sighs, patting his shoulder awkwardly before taking his leave. 

His words stick with Itachi as he spends the rest of the day, adding to his conflicting feelings about this whole affair.

“Is that a dog?” 

“No – that’s definitely a horse!” 

“Don’t be silly Udon! Horses don’t have such proportions.” 

“Will you two shut up?” 

“Then it’s a pony! How in the world are you seeing a dog?” 

“See, that floofy stuff is the fur, that’s the snout, that’s the tail –” 

“That’s describing like a hundred different animals but go on.”

“–and those ears are literally dog-ears. How do you not see my vision?!” 

“Konohamaru! Udon! Shut up!” Moegi huffs, ending her tree-carving with a last curly line made with her kunai. “For your kindest information, this is a goddamn sheep!” 

“Yeah, no. I don’t see it.” Konohamaru says, squinting. 

“Horse,” nods Udon, “Definitely a horse.” 

Moegi throws up her hands in exasperation, stomping away from the duo currently adamant on annoying her. 

However, she walks straight into Naruto – which might be an even worse situation than dealing with her obnoxious friends. 

“Sorry,” she says, wincing and stepping away. 

Naruto shakes his head, “Nah, that was both our faults. Don’t be sorry.” 

Moegi smiles slightly. She doesn’t know what it is about this guy that makes her think he won’t harm her. He feels like a friend. (Maybe because he looks like the ghost of one.)

“Alright then. I’m not sorry for bumping into you. That’s better?” 

“Yes,” Naruto says through a smile, “And for the record, I think your carving looks like a cloud– so you weren’t that off-the-mark.” 

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Moegi says, turning away and walking back towards her two idiot friends. She watches Naruto settle under a tree on the opposite site, knees drawn up, head titled towards the sky. 

“Hey guys,” she says. “Are you two done yet? Because I wanna talk about something.” 

Udon stops the pretend-quarrel immediately and Konohamaru follows. They both wait for her to find her words and initiate whatever discussion she has in mind. 

“I was thinking... we should make more of an effort to befriend Naruto. He’s a good guy, right?” 

Konohamaru’s face loses all cheer and he glances at Naruto. He doesn’t speak. 

Udon shuffles nervously on his feet, “Um, yeah. I, uh, I think so, too, actually. It’s not his fault he reminds us of our bro.” 

They wait, then, because no decision their trio has ever made been complete without Konohamaru’s word, without his agreement.

“Okay,” he says, turning to meet both their gazes. Slowly, his lips curve upwards into a mischievous grin. “But only after I’m done drawing this orangutan!” 

Moegi takes a look at the figure he’s pointing at, etched into the wood. “Konohamaru, I’m sorry but that’s a rat.”