Chapter Text
The gentle breeze wafting the smell of salt and the sea through the night was deceptively peaceful. The full moon cast silver rays on the demolished cluster of buildings, remnants of a once proud shinobi village. Uzushiogakure, despite its decrepit state, had long since become one of the last remaining safe havens within the Elemental Nations, most notably being the, now former, headquarters for the Allied Shinobi Forces.
Naruto, perched on the tallest standing structure in Uzushio, peered down at the near-empty village and sighed deeply. There were only a handful of living allies remaining out of the previous 80,000 strong that had gathered for the Fourth Shinobi War. The results of the council they held earlier that night were clear and even Naruto, with his formerly endless optimism, was forced to acknowledge the truth.
The war was over. They had lost.
The only remaining option was to hide behind the renewed seals of Uzushio and live out the rest of their lives as peacefully as possible. Madara and Obito had a seemingly endless army comprised of White Zetsu clones and Edo Tensei shinobi, even if they still had not succeeded in their attempt to revive the Juubi. That was not even getting started on Black Zetsu, the true instigator of the war and Madara’s plans for the Tsuki no Me.
Naruto, the only remaining Jinchuuriki, was the last barrier to keeping the Juubi from being reborn. Especially since Shikamaru had the idea for Naruto to absorb Kurama’s chakra, previously held by Ginkaku and Kinkaku, from the Benihisago and Kohaku no Jouhei. Obito’s cry of rage and desperation when he had discovered its removal, and as such prevented him from reviving an incomplete Juubi, still haunted Naruto to this day, as that marked the start of a brutal retaliation.
Shikamaru had paid for his clever idea.
The crunching of two sets of footsteps behind him, deliberate in their noisiness, jolted Naruto out of his morbid musings.
“Naruto.”
The flaky, Edo Tensei marked arms of his mother wrapped around Naruto from behind. Where he might have once shied away from the embrace of an Edo Tensei form, these days he was not in a position to refuse any comfort. He placed his hand over Kushina’s.
“Mom,” Naruto said before looking over at the form that sat to his left. “Dad.”
Minato gave a wane smile, his blue eyes warm in spite of the black sclera.
“How are you doing Naruto?”
Naruto looked away, feeling his chest tighten at the well-meaning question. Kushina unwrapped her arms from around him and sat on his other side.
“How do you think, sissy?” Kushina snarked and she reached down to clasp Naruto's hand. “This whole thing sucks.”
Minato sputtered but didn’t protest Kushina’s words. Instead, they sat in silence looking over the ruins of Uzushio. To think, that at one point all Naruto had wanted was his parents beside him, but now he would’ve given this moment up if only for the return of his life before the war.
“There’s no other option right?” Naruto said, his raspy voice breaking the silence of the still night. “It’s over, there’s no recovering from this. The population of all but the Land of Water has been decimated and even for them it’s only a matter of time.”
“Well, for this dimension that’s true,” Minato replied.
Naruto jerked his head up to stare at Minato.
“ This dimension?”
“There you go again, stupid Minato, jumping ahead without any regard for others--” Kushina scolded, causing Minato to sheepishly cringe.
“Well, it’s the truth!”
“Be more tactful!”
“Like you’re one to talk, dear.”
“What?! Why you--”
“Hang on,” Naruto interrupted Kushina and Minato, long used to this dynamic ever since Orochimaru of all people had resurrected them. “Are you saying that there’s a way to go to another dimension?”
Kushina stopped tugging on Minato’s hair and Minato uncurled from his defensive position.
“Not exactly like that but kind of yeah. Maybe,” Minato said.
Kushina snorted.
“What dumb-dumb over there is trying to say is that him and Nidaime-sama got it in their heads that time travel is possible. But that based on the rules of the universe, if you ‘go back in time’ so to speak,” Kushina said with air quotes, “then a new dimension will be created, branching off from the original timeline leaving this one to continue on.”
“So it wouldn’t affect here.” Naruto slumped down, tentative hope draining from his chest.
Minato nudged his shoulder.
“Maybe not,” Minato said with a tight unhappy strain around his mouth. “But think of all the people you could save. They may not be the same as the people you lost here, but isn’t the possibility of saving a version of them worth it?”
Naruto’s eyes burned, remembering all the friends he had lost. Shikamaru, Tsunade, Neji, Sakura, Kakashi, Sasuke…and so many others. Turns out there was a detriment to having the ability to make friends easily.
“Why not just join them in the afterlife? We’d be reunited then.”
The Naruto of a year ago would’ve smacked himself to hear those words escape his mouth. But that was then, and this was now.
“Because,” Kushina said, voice thick with tears that her revived form would never be able to shed. “It would be a fresh start for you. A new beginning, filled with possibilities. Maybe not free of suffering, but one with hope.”
When that failed to move Naruto, Kushina’s grip on his hand tightened almost painfully.
“And by sending you and Kurama to another time, dimension, whatever you want to call it, Madara will never succeed in his plan. Ever.”
Now that was an idea.
“Heh,” Naruto smiled, a baring of teeth more than a true grin. “That would make it worth it.”
Inside of him, Kurama stirred, having been silently paying attention to the conversation.
That would be one solution, Kurama said, voice a low rumble. Even if I die with you here, I will reform in a matter of years, leaving the possibility of me being captured after your death.
Naruto grimaced at the thought of his partner absorbed into the Juubi, mindless and removed of all individuality.
“Kurama agrees that’s a good idea,” Naruto said. “But do we have the means to send me back in time?”
This was directed at Minato who had the most experience with time-space fuuinjutsu besides the Nidaime.
“Not yet, but we have the entire Uzumaki fuuinjutsu library to comb through.” Minato, for some Sage-forsaken reason, looked excited at the prospect.
“And while Tobirama-sama and Minato are doing that, I can continue beating more fuuinjutsu into your head,” Kushina chimed in cheerfully.
Naruto scowled, reflexively rubbing the back of his head.
“Oh don’t be like that.” Kushina let go of Naruto’s hand to punch him in the shoulder. “You have a talent for it, like any respectable Uzumaki.”
“I was thinking of your teaching methods,” Naruto said dryly, but internally he did feel cheered at the prospect.
The past few months, Kushina, Tobirama, and Minato had all been cramming battle-worthy fuuinjutsu into his head to meet the needs of the war, but now that they were safe behind Uzushio’s barriers, Naruto could afford a more well-rounded education. It was a subject he’d found that he enjoyed and was quite good at, which felt like a win when the rest of his skills were a struggle.
Before Kushina could retaliate in response to Naruto’s comment, Minato provided a well-timed redirection.
“Kushina will also contribute to the seal, and maybe you as well Naruto if you continue learning at the pace you have, but because of when we’re aiming to send you too, you’ll need to redefine your fighting style quite a bit. Hashirama and Kushina will take point on training you for that.”
“Wait, just how far back are you sending me? Why would I need to ‘redefine’ my fighting style?” Naruto snapped his head to look at Minato, eyes wide. He could feel Kurama paying close attention to this as well.
Minato rubbed the back of his head, an unmistakable nervous gesture.
“The Warring States Era.”
Apparently, Naruto had an ‘over-reliance’ on Kage Bunshin which would not do considering Tobirama would have not invented it nor shared it in the time they were aiming for. Additionally, Kurama’s chakra was to be used as a last resort (a very last resort). So most of Naruto's biggest attacks were just plain unusable.
So here he was on the outskirts of Uzushio, getting his ass kicked by Hashirama.
“Come now, you can do better than that!” Hashirama grinned widely. “Use all of your available skills and resources.”
Those have been cut in half, old man! Naruto refrained from complaining, knowing that Hashirama, for all his laid-back and cheery demeanor, took complaining to mean Naruto needed a bigger ass-kicking. But at least being trained to death by Kushina and Hashirama meant Naruto didn’t have to think about his grief.
Think Naruto, though I know it’s hard for you, Kurama said, amusement curling around every syllable. What’s been the real thing that’s won you all your fights, particularly your earlier ones?
When Naruto didn’t respond, only cursing internally as he whirled around Hashirama’s attack with his now decent taijutsu, Kurama snickered.
Your unpredictability. If you can weaponize that, you don’t have to win in a straight-up fight.
Something lit up in the back of Naruto’s mind. Go back to his roots, huh?
There was only one thing to do. Naruto dropped a smoke bomb suppressed his chakra as much as he could, and sprinted to the nearby copse of trees. Under the cover of smoke, he left several fuunijustu traps to slow Hashirama down and allow him time to complete his half-assed plan.
“I’m still coming after you, Naruto-chan-- ack!”
There went the first fuuinjutsu trap.
By the time Hashirama had made it to the small forest, Naruto was ensconced deep within, with several modified storage seals spread throughout holding traces of his chakra, each ready to be triggered at hand seal from Naruto. He unsealed the first one, letting a burst of his chakra fill the air.
Naturally, Hashirama followed it. A string of curses rang through the air as Naruto’s first trap was triggered. It was a simple wire trap that would hoist the victim up in the air, just like his previous pranking victims, however, this time instead of paint being flung at the prone target, Naruto rigged a seal to release an explosion.
This would not be enough to take Hashirama down, but leading Hashirama from one trap to the next was the only thing Naruto could think to do. At least, until Hashirama got so fed up he entered sage mode to find the real him.
Which was right about now.
Naruto released the rest of his chakra storage seals to confuse Hashirama for a least a minute, then, having been gathering nature chakra perched in a tree for several minutes to disguise his chakra presence even further, he entered sage mode himself.
When Hashirama entered the small clearing near Naruto, he triggered several traps to go off, sending all manner of explosions, sharp objects, and smoke into the clearing, herding Hashirama to a particular section of the clearing. Once Hashirama stepped on an inconspicuous patch of grass, he froze in place.
Now!
In the split second before Hashirama overloaded the paralysis seal with his chakra (a weakness of this design Naruto would have to fix), Naruto jumped out of the tree and pinned Hashirama to the ground with a wind-sharpened kunai to his neck.
“Yield,” Naruto demanded.
Hashirama tensed as if ready to continue the fight, then he relaxed.
“Okay, I yield!” There was a smile in his voice. “You can get off of me now.”
Naruto stood up and released sage mode while Hashirama did the same thing. They both looked around the clearing in silence, taking in the carnage left behind by Naruto’s traps.
Hashirama whistled.
“I didn’t know you had this in you!”
“Ha.” Naruto rubbed the back of his head. “Kurama suggested I do something more unpredictable. I did a lot of pranks as a kid. Traps aren’t that different.”
“You should cultivate this,” Hashirama said seriously, though his mouth was still quirked up at the side. “Traps combined with some innovative seals? This type of skill will get you farther back in our era more than any flashy jutsu. Maybe with a seal to conceal your chakra more effectively…”
“We’ll still work on my nature jutsu right?” Naruto asked even as he perked up at the praise. “I’ve made progress in the past year with wind jutsus but I few more from other elements couldn’t hurt.”
“Oh kid, by the time I’m done with you, you’ll be a fiend on the battlefield and off.” Hashirama grinned and slapped his hand on Naruto’s back.
Nearly six months after the idea of time travel was proposed, the seal was in its final stages thanks to Tobirama, Minato, and Kushina.
“So this is the section that transports my physical location so I land somewhere in the Land of Fire, right?” Naruto asked, tracing around a particular set of symbols in the upper right quadrant of the massive seal.
“Good eye,” Tobirama acknowledged and nodded in affirmation. “Can you find the section responsible for controlling the amount of time you go back?”
Naruto took his time evaluating the seal in front of him. By this point, he knew that Tobirama would not get impatient at the silence and would instead prefer that Naruto took his time to gather his thoughts. Naruto’s impulsivity and lack of filter at the beginning of the war caused no small amount of irritation in the Nidaime, however, with time they came to an understanding between them. Naruto still preferred Hashirama between the two brothers, their respective personalities meshing rather well, however, he had come to respect Tobirama immensely.
After several minutes of contemplation, Naruto decisively traced his finger around a circular set of interlocking symbols around the center of the seal.
“It’s here, right? It threw me off a bit but since the idea of years or months is made up by humans, you instead tied it to the cycles of the moon.”
Tobirama’s cracked face gave way to a faint smile.
“Kushina-san taught you well.”
“Mom is awesome, dattebayo,” Naruto agreed with a small grin.
Then he registered what he said and his smile slid off his face. How long had it been since he said ‘dattebayo?’ At least since the last time Sakura was alive. As Naruto had become more morose, his carefree way of speaking had fallen away. This line of thinking made him remember what else had changed in the last year and a half. All the losses, the pain, the suffering…and here he was taking pride in his sealing knowledge and enjoying himself while his friends were dead.
The silence between Naruto and Tobirama lingered while Naruto was lost in his thoughts until Tobirama cleared his throat.
“It’s nice to see some of your old self returning.”
“I thought you found my old self annoying,” Naruto murmured, keeping his eyes fixed on the seal in front of him.
“I did,” Tobirama acknowledged. “But you were young still, and you deserved the chance to grow and mature over time, not through loss and war. It’s good that you’re healing during this time before we send you back.”
Naruto absentmindedly traced the section of the seal that would maintain the structure of his body, ensuring he wasn’t torn to pieces by the seal.
“It feels like a betrayal…to feel better that is.”
“That’s only natural. But your friends would want you to heal. You’ll never forget, but it gets less painful over time. Time that you’ll have in the past. Just be wary of losing yourself in your goals and never giving yourself time to process your emotions.”
Tobirama never missed an opportunity to teach, even when he had found Naruto annoying, so nowadays Naruto was quite used to having bits of wisdom and knowledge imparted to him.
“Is that what you did?” Naruto couldn’t help but ask. “Lose yourself in your goals?”
He somewhat nervously glanced over at Tobirama. His face was as impassive as it usually was but he didn’t seem offended by the question.
“I never had a shortage of projects to work on,” Tobirama said finally. “Many things, including my own emotions, got swept to the wayside. But I did get some resolution out of building Konoha and in teaching my students, no matter how that turned out in the end.”
Naruto hadn’t seen all of it, but the confrontation between Edo Tensei Sarutobi and Tobirama had been fraught, to say the least. When prompted, Naruto had elaborated on what exactly Danzo had been doing, what Sarutobi had allowed. The sheer disappointment and fury on Tobirama’s face had sent shivers down his spine and Naruto wasn’t even the recipient of that ire.
It hadn’t helped that with age and time with his parents, Naruto had realized just how badly Sarutobi had handled his childhood. At first, he had resisted, clinging to the idea of his Hokage-jiji, but when faced with the question of how he would feel if it had been Konohamaru who had been treated like he had…it had forced a shift in his perspective.
Naruto still remembered the sheer horror on Minato and Kushina’s faces when he had described the conditions of his childhood…He hadn’t even elaborated on it too much but what little he had shared brought grief and wrath both to his parents’ eyes.
Needless to say, between Naruto’s parents and Tobirama, Sarutobi had elected to move on once the fighting became hopeless.
“Find purpose,” Tobirama concluded. “Not just in the big things, but in the small aspects of life as well. I’m sure Kurama-sama can help you as well.”
Naruto and Kurama snorted at the same time at hearing Tobirama call Kurama “sama”.
“You know he finds it hilarious that you call him that,” Naruto said with a mirthful grin, changing the subject but sending Tobirama a grateful glance as well at the advice. “He started bugging me to call him that too, but when I finally gave in and called him that sarcastically, he said it was ‘too weird’ and that polite behavior made me look constipated.”
I stand by that statement, Kurama said with smugness radiating from Naruto’s seal. But it does well for other hairless monkeys to acknowledge my superiority.
“I am only giving him the respect that is owed to a being that used to be a contemporary of the Sage himself,” Tobirama said mildly, ignoring the other parts of Naruto’s statement except for a quicksilver flash of amusement in his eyes. “Having worked with him since my revival, I can only regret having thought of him as a mindless weapon in the past.”
The apology from both him and his idiot brother several months back was not amiss, Kurama mused nonchalantly, though Naruto could tell he was pleased by both the aforementioned apology and Tobirama’s most recent acknowledgment.
“He forgives you,” Naruto chirped. Then grimaced at the wave of indignation from Kurama that almost caused him indigestion. “Well, he appreciates it at least. Don’t mind his grumpiness, he’s secretly a big softie.”
I’m not a softie you stupid human!
“You forget I can’t actually hear him,” Tobirama said dryly.
“Oh yeah.”
Tobirama shook his head in dismay, but the corner of his mouth quirked up.
“At least you are not responding to him out loud anymore.”
“The sudden voice in my head was a bit disorienting,” Naruto protested half-heartedly.
“But anyway,” Tobirama said, losing his relaxed demeanor. “In spite of Kurama-sama thinking that you look ‘constipated’ when polite, you will need to learn the appropriate way to conduct yourself in the past. Shinobi were not nearly as powerful politically in the eyes of the nobility, and furthermore, you will be a clanless shinobi in a time when clans reigned supreme. You will need to cater to that.”
Naruto grimaced.
“Right, politics.”
This time when Tobirama smiled it was not in amusement or reassurance, instead it promised many hours of pain and suffering for Naruto in the form of “lessons”.
“Now that there are only finishing touches left on the seal, I will instead devote my time to teaching you about the realities of that era,” Tobirama paused, rather dramatically in Naruto’s opinion. “Including politics.”
“Ugh!” Naruto slammed his head into his hands.
But while Kurama was laughing at Naruto’s future suffering, another thought came to mind. He raised his head to look back at Tobirama.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this but…will you also teach me about the, ugh, bureaucracy of Konoha? You know, the stuff you did while founding it and also during your reign?”
Tobirama raised his eyebrows.
“Why?”
Naruto grimaced again.
“It's just...well...if I ever have to tell past you about the future, maybe I can help you by already knowing some of the things you come up with.”
Naruto wilted under Tobirama’s incredulous gaze.
“You know, to make things easier on you? Well, past you I mean--” Naruto said, continuing to nervous ramble until Tobirama raised a hand stopping the tumble of words out of Naruto’s mouth.
“That’s quite…considerate of you,” Tobirama said finally, but he looked evaluating as he assessed Naruto’s sincerity. “It couldn’t hurt. After all, despite the odds you might end up in a prominent position in Konoha even if that's not specifically in the plan. Yes, I will teach you that too.”
“Yipee,” Naruto slumped down in his chair. “You’ll probably regret that when you try to beat all that knowledge into my head. I’m an awful student.”
Tobirama smirked.
“It’s up to the teacher to adapt to each student’s learning style. I’m sure I’ll come up with something…effective.”
Yep, this would be painful.
“Do you have your kunai? Your wires? Enough sealing paper?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Rations for at least a month?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Enough clothes? All your underwear?”
“Yes, Mom!”
In spite of Naruto’s reassurances and the fact that she watched him pack everything, Kushina looked about ready to check his pack herself. Naruto didn’t mind the fussing. It felt weirdly enough like what a mom would do before her child’s first day of school.
“Dear,” Minato intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder. “He’s as ready as he’ll ever be.”
“Maybe we should wait another month and get some more training in,” Kushina fretted, wringing her hands.
“Both you and Hashirama-sama personally trained him for over half a year,” Minato soothed. “He couldn’t have had better teachers.”
“Naruto is indeed a force to be reckoned with!” Hashirama interjected with a wide grin. “He’ll only get better with time and experience.”
“He’s a credit to you both,” Tobirama said, nodding with his arms crossed.
Naruto couldn’t help but grimace at the reminder that the Nidaime had spent the past month batting him around the training field while also shouting facts about politics and Konoha’s founding at him. Apparently, Tobirama’s solution to Naruto’s inability to focus on one thing was to give him many things to focus on at once. Namely, not getting his ass kicked. Scarily enough, It had worked. Naruto would never again doubt Tobirama’s teaching prowess.
“Now, remember Naruto,” Hashirama said, turning back to him with a somber gleam in his eyes. “We’re sending you back several years before the founding of Konoha. As unlikely as it is, if you can prevent Izuna’s death that would be ideal.”
“But that is not the priority,” Tobirama continued. “You will need to establish yourself in the era gradually. It was not easy for clanless shinobi back then but it is still possible to succeed. Hanging around Senju-Uchiha battlefields is neither practical nor efficient. If you see a chance to subtly --” here Tobirama glared at him “influence Izuna’s survival you may take it. But otherwise, do not hinge all your efforts on that one strategy.”
“Instead, when you make your way to Konoha just be your bright and friendly self and try to influence Madara away from abandoning Konoha,” Hashirama said brightly. “If there is anyone who I believe can get through to him, it is you Naruto.”
Naruto tried his best to look confident in the face of Hashirama’s faith in him, but he couldn’t help but slide his gaze toward Tobirama instead. Tobirama nodded at him, and the churning anxiety in his stomach settled. Right, he could do this, despite feeling neither bright nor friendly at the moment.
“Black Zetsu is the root problem,” Minato interjected. “But he might not show himself until after Madara either leaves or chooses to stay.”
“Right. Take care of both Madara and Zetsu.” Naruto nodded.
One of those problems was more immediate than the other, namely Madara, but Black Zetsu, who despite his murky motivations, seemed to act through proxies, making him a longer-term problem.
“And take care of yourself,” Kushina said, coming up to cup Naruto’s cheeks. “I know this started as a way for you to spite Madara and then to save alternate versions of your friends, but this is a fresh start for you too. I want you to be happy.”
Unshed tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. It would be so easy, to spend the rest of his life here with Kurama, his parents, and the Senju brothers. Then he would join his friends in the afterlife and have peace. But hanging around with literal ghosts was no way to live. Plus he couldn’t stomach the thought of Kurama reforming into this world alone, vulnerable to Madara and Black Zetsu’s machinations and without even his siblings to keep him company.
“I’ll try.”
“Promise me,” Kushina insisted. “Try your best to find happiness.”
A promise was weighty, a more serious statement of his intentions. Naruto gulped. No one but Kurama would be around to see him break it, but he would always feel his mom’s disappointment if he didn’t do as she asked.
“I promise I will try my best to be happy,” Naruto conceded.
“There’s my boy.” Kushina yanked him into a tight hug. “We’ll always be with you in here.”
She pulled back and tapped his heart.
“And I’m entrusting Kurama with you as well.”
I’m not leaving any time soon, Kurama said, uncharacteristically reassuring. Naruto repeated his words and Kushina stepped back with a firm nod.
Minato swooped in and replaced her.
“I’m proud of you Naruto, and I believe in you,” Minato murmured before he stepped away.
Hashirama was next, practically crushing Naruto’s spine in his embrace and dangling him in the air.
“We’ll be friends in the past, I just know it. I can’t wait to meet you again!”
“Can’t…breathe…” Naruto wheezed.
“Whoops,” Hashirama said sheepishly and released Naruto, letting his feet touch the ground again.
Tobirama didn’t hug Naruto, but he did clap Naruto on the shoulder, squeezing lightly.
“Have faith in yourself and offer yourself forgiveness when you need it.”
Naruto nodded, taking these words to heart. He had done much healing over the past seven months, thanks to the efforts of his four undead companions. His grief was no longer as overwhelming even if it was still present. It likely would always be there.
There was no more stalling to be had. Naruto stepped back into the center of the seal and prepared to use Kurama’s chakra to activate it.
“Thank you…for everything,” Naruto said, taking one last look at the people who had been with him near constantly for over a year and a half.
“We love you, Naruto!” Kushina shouted one last time. Minato nodded, smiling gently at him.
“Bye Mom, Dad,” Naruto said as a few rogue tears escaped his eyes. “I love you, too.”
Without allowing any more hesitation, he activated the seal. The lines overflowed with orange chakra and Naruto could feel vibrations rattle his body all the way down to his bones.
The last thing he saw was his parents smiling proudly at him before he disappeared in a flash of light.