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Ino even fantasizes about a fully nude and satisfied Naruto waking up

beside her and asking, 'did your earth-shattering prowess as a sex-

goddess make me pass out again? You're just too good Ino-hime.'

Ino takes a deep and calming breath and focuses on the task at hand;

extracting useful information from Sakura, for there's a possibility the

pinkette may have done something she hadn't thought of. But Ino

couldn't know Sakura had been repressing that experience to the best

of her meager ability.

To begin with, forgetting random information is generally hard for

Sakura. Forgetting the first time she had sex—the loss of her precious

virginity—is impossible with her mental acuity. Forgetting all the mind-

numbing, knockout orgasms is infinitely more impossible as it feels like

the experience has been recorded into the DNA of her marrow, muscle,

and mind. She had even lost enough sense that night to ask him to

scratch the itch in her ass, which, to her great surprise, felt wonderfully

thrilling. Throughout her time with Naruto, Sakura passed out five times

from the overwhelming torrential bliss plundering her mind, and the

blush currently on Sakura's face spoke volumes.

Ino couldn't help but ask the silent girl, "were you bad?"

Ripping her out of her memories, Sakura asks, "what?"

"I knew it," Ino huffs with disappointment. "You were bad, weren't you?"

"Shut it Ino-pig," Sakura curses, defending herself with, "I wasn't bad!

And how's that even possible? I'm the girl. It's the boy's job to do

everything."

Wide-eyed and befuddled, Ino cautiously asks, "you… you're joking

right?" Sakura is silent long enough for Ino to assert, "that couldn't be

more wrong! How outdated are you?"

"Without me, he'd still be a virgin," Sakura yells. "He was even lucky I

went along with his crazy demands-"

"Demands? What demands?" Ino gasps, pondering how far her once

friend went with the same boy she's had sex with. It was incredibly odd

for Ino to think about how they've both lost their virginity to the same

boy, and though Ino knows Sakura's night with Naruto wasn't going to

be a reoccurring thing, the platinum-blond found she didn't exactly hate

that it happened. Ino may even conclude it's exciting to think that the

same dick was inside both of them, engorging their sensitive sex organ

until they burst in mind-numbing pleasure. Ino pauses a moment to

close her eyes and calm her breathing to keep from triggering.

Ino also appreciated that this oddly comforting, quasi-sororal

connection between them wasn't because Naruto seduced them

behind their back. He isn't a player or the horn-dog women in the

bathhouse often lament about. If anything, they were the ones to

initiate sex with him and that felt empowering in an odd and

unexpected sort of way. Ino would prefer to be chased by a tall, strong,

and handsome man—as any budding young woman would—but

Naruto wasn't a dog, and despite social convention, taking what she

wanted because she wanted it, wasn't a bad feeling.

"I- I'm not telling," Sakura reiterates. "He- He put it in and things

happened and that's all you need to know… virgin."

Her eye twitching, Ino felt the swelling fire in the pit of her stomach

want to yell she was the one who became a woman first and she's had

way more sex than her rival has, but instead, Ino calmly asks, "so you

didn't like being with him?"

"I wouldn't say…" Thinking better of it, Sakura instead asks defensively,

"why do you want to know?"

"Why not," Ino returns with a shrug. "How long are you going to keep

this to yourself? You had sex, for Kami's sake!"

"Shhhhhh," Sakura shushes hotly with her index finger against her lips.

Looking around the empty room confused, Ino reminds her madly

blushing friend, "it's just us, you loon." Ignoring the glaring hypocrisy,

Ino asks, "wouldn't you want to know everything if I was the one who

had sex?"

"Maybe," Sakura slowly admits. Then adds, "if we were actually

friends."

"…I still care to be," Ino softly admits.

With a long sigh, Sakura answers, "you may have made me realize

Sasuke wouldn't feel anything if he murdered me or my parents but

that doesn't mean I can forgive you for how hurt Naruto ended up.

Every time I think about it, my insides lurch… It shouldn't have

happened like that."

Turning her gaze away, Ino slowly mentions, "maybe I can make it up

to him too."

Skeptical, Sakura asks, "how?"

"…O-one thing at a time," Ino quickly chickens out. "So… did you like

being with him?"

Rolling her eyes, Sakura tries to pronounce, "he was… I uh, had no

real complaints."

Ino bobs her head with the acceptable answer before she asks for

clarity's sake, "and you're sure you don't want to date him?"

"Look, I've taken a few steps back from Sasuke, but it's not like I'm

apathetic toward him now." Ignoring the flashes of memory of nearly

dying at the hands of Orochimaru, she adds, "and honestly, I could use

this time to enhance my current training. If Sasuke and I don't happen

for a long time to come, that's… that's fine, but no, I don't want to date

Naruto."

"This is why I brought up our Death Perspective class," Ino replies.

"They laid out why we should try and balance living in the moment a

little more than planning too far ahead, but we didn't listen. I thought it

was Sasuke or death and spent every day working hard to make him

fall in love with me because that, more than anything, would make life

worth it."

Thinking about her mother's words and Kurenai's admirable character,

however, Ino admits to Sakura, "but as ninjas, the only thing we're sure

of is the present, and if it was the last day we had on this earth, I know

I wouldn't waste an extra second of it on a boy who doesn't want to

spend it with me." With thoughts of Naruto flashing through her mind's

eye, Ino nervously adds, "I just feel like giving… things I hadn't

considered before a try."

"You mean like pottery lessons," Sakura offhandedly asks.

Falling back in bed, Ino smothers her face with a pillow as she

struggles to courageously say, "I mean… like… possibly, maybe,

asking Naruto to be my boyfriend."

With pure embarrassment, Ino gradually tightens the pillow over her

red face after confessing her most delicate secret. At first, Sakura didn't

understand what Ino said, and the exponential silence in the room was

electric for several seconds before a flabbergasted Sakura finally yells,

"INO!"

Chapter 191:

SAKURA

It took nearly half-an-hour before Sakura could settle her monumental

shock and ask an ungodly hail of probing questions, not that the blond

answered any of them. Ino simply held a pillow over her head out of

utter embarrassment. Sometimes Ino would murmur an answer in her

pillow but Sakura could never decipher and Ino wouldn't repeat it.

Though Sakura could've left after hour two, she simply could not let this

go. To get her answers, she would sleep there if she had to.

Tentatively, Sakura simply asks, "Naruto?"

"…Yeah," Ino finally responds raising the pillow from her flustered

head.

Sakura rapid fires, "how? Why? Since when? Who knows? What about

Sasuke?"

Putting up five fingers, Ino counts down with each weepy answer. "I

don't know. I really don't know. At some point in the last month. Just

you. And you said it yourself, Sasuke needs a steady relationship with

a counselor, not a girlfriend."

"It sounds like you've given up on him," Sakura thinks aloud before

quickly adding, "not that I mind."

"I'm not planning on marrying Naruto here," Ino asserts. "It's just…

Kaa-san's told me a bunch of times how Tou-san is both the love of her

life and her best friend, and lately, I'm realizing that those are not the

same things, you know? Like a boy could be the love of your life, but

he may not be a good friend, or he can be a great friend and not the

love of your life. Kaa-san has both and truthfully, I'm sort of envious. A

lover who's also your best friend sounds perfect and impossible, but, I

look at my parents and I know it can happen."

"But you and Naruto aren't even friends," Sakura voices.

"Shows how much you know about your teammate. Believe it or not,

we've actually hung out several times," Ino confesses with a smirk,

though she won't admit many of those meetups ended with mind-

blowing sex.

"Why didn't you tell me," Sakura demands to know, before realizing,

"wait, why didn't he tell me!"

Ino simply asks, "you mean, why didn't he tell you between all the

times you hit him or flaunt all over Sasuke that he's hanging out with

your ex-best friend?"

"I haven't done either of those for weeks now," Sakura asserts

pridefully. "I thought we were in a good place… well, before that night, I

mean."

"What do you actually know about his life," Ino curiously asks. "Have

you ever bothered to ask him his likes, his dislikes, who he knows,

where he's been? I got to learn a lot about him when I was helping

Kurenai-sensei and I talk with him. He loves stories with happy

endings, he hates ghosts, he enjoys watering his plants and feeding

Tori-chan. He's strong, and not just physically either, but mentally. He's

funny, like mischievous funny—which I like. He's cute, he's smart, he

has such a wonderful heart, and you don't seem to have complaints

about his performance in bed… even though, apparently, you just lie

there like a dead fish."

Feeling a little convinced herself, Sakura is happy to huff, "I do not," to

feel anger rather than confusion. "We did a bunch of stuff-" Sakura cuts

herself off, and as Ino expected, she won't say more.

Moving on, Ino admits, "I just can't stop thinking about him, and every

day, I catch myself asking, 'why not? Why couldn't we?'" Hugging her

pillow with a slyly growing grin, Ino adds, "so, yeah, I think I'd really like

it if Naruto were my boyfriend."

The pair fall into silence as the young women process the deep

implications behind their entire conversation and sift for every morsel of

reflection. Aligned with the fact that Sakura had sex with Naruto, it was

hard for the pinkette to believe Ino wants to be Naruto's girlfriend and

takes the rest of the morning to mull it over. 'Ino wants to be the

girlfriend of a boy I had sex with.' It just seems so odd to Sakura that

Ino would be okay with the fact that, no matter what, she took Naruto's

first time. It just seems less pure that way. 'How does that not bother

you? It has to,' she wonders.

Sakura realizes if Naruto and Ino get married, then Ino and herself

would have both slept with the same man. Sakura doesn't know why

but she can't decide how she feels about this. A sequence of motion

pictures play in vivid detail how shockingly overwhelming Naruto

commands over her pleasure center and to know Ino is going to

experience the same thing… it's so illicit, her entire body simply reacts.

As she quickly walks to her assigned room for some self relief, she

simply tells herself, 'it's biology and thrilling and nothing more.'

He was the first boy she'd ever been with and he was better than she

ever thought the act of sex could possibly be. Sakura believes a

healthy sex drive is part of a healthy lifestyle and since her night with

Naruto, she won't deny her body's completely natural needs. Her

arousing fantasies staring her blond-haired blue-eyed teammate were

frequent and not of her control, but Ino was right.

'I'm a woman now,' she tells herself as she enters her room. Removing

her shorts before hopping into her bed and under her covers, her mind

always yields to the other extreme experience in her young life. The

other reason why she won't deny herself this pleasure is that, 'I almost

died… easily.'

The current bedrock of her world is made of unstoppable, legendary,

missing-nin, Orochimaru, targeting her teammates, her once bright

love dampened with sanity and patience, and her teammates are

growing stronger than her at an unprecedented rate, Sakura easily

allows her body's urges and her awakened mind to run toward much-

needed relief every available opportunity.

By lunch when the three teams of genin—Team 7, Team 10, and

Suna's team—were joined by a slightly worn Team Guy. Though Ino

acted normally, Sakura noticed the Yamanaka making subtle glances

between Naruto and Sasuke and couldn't help thinking, 'Kami, she's

really looking at him…'

Chapter 192:

Ino liking Naruto was blowing her mind and Sakura is grateful for the

distraction as Sasuke has been silently fuming all day. The self-

proclaimed avenger has been ignoring, as well as, not ignoring, Naruto

and it would've made lunch a very tense experience had it not been for

Naruto insisting Konoha teams eat together. Ino was the first to lead

Shikamaru, Chōji into joining Team 7. Rock Lee followed by Tenten had

joined the group after, and though Neji sat with his teammates, it

became clear he only cared to ask Sasuke one thing. "How is it your

team manage to make it here before ours?"

That seemed to annoy Sasuke further; a deeper hole in his psyche that

Sakura imagines has to do with his hate and his rivalry with Naruto.

She's really seeing him now and though it doesn't feel good to witness

that darkness and be powerless to help him, she is thankful that it's

clear to her now. Though she won't thank Ino any time in the

foreseeable future, she wouldn't be surprised if she thanked the blond

heiress at some point.

Sakura knows the handsome Hyūga was Rookie of the Year before

Sasuke, but that didn't matter to Naruto as he brashly responds,

"obviously because our team is way stronger than yours!"

Neji turned as stoic as Sasuke but Sakura found it funny to watch Rock

Lee and Naruto comically rage against who had the stronger team,

escalating their bets with every assertion before Ino's indignantly

declares that her team was the strongest and Shikamaru mumbles how

troublesome it all is.

As Tenten was calming Lee down, Naruto looks from Sakura to Ino and

back, drawing their attention before he makes up his mind and asks

Ino, "could I ask you for a favor, Ino-chan?"

Though momentarily feeling slighted by her teammate not asking her

instead of Ino, Sakura's analytical and diagnostic eyes immediately

identifies the slight blush on the Yamanaka's cheeks, unconscious

wetting of her lips, focus in her eyes, a quicker intake of air and a slight

increase in her respiratory rate. Again, Sakura's mind marvels at the

thought, 'I can't believe it's true!'

"If it's helping you get a new wardrobe, the answer is a hundred times

yes," Ino plays but most assuredly means.

Chuckling, Naruto effortlessly tells her, "I'll switch outfits when the

dress code is the Hokage's uniform."

Shaking her head, Ino asks, "what is it?"

"I'm going to be stuck in my room for the next four days, maybe even

up to when the task finishes," Naruto tells her, furrowing Ino and

Sakura's brows in confusion as he finishes, "can you bring my meals

for me, please?"

Blushing at the erotic possibilities, Ino startles as she answers, "well, I-

yeah, sure. Yeah, I can do… that." After a brief moment, however, Ino

isn't sure why he'd go to such lengths. She has a hard time lasting

more than thirty minutes under his sexual stimulation. Four days is just

overkill. Tightening her crossed legs, a blushing Ino ignores Sakura's

perceptive eyes as she asks, "why are you staying in your room for

four days?"

Sakura notices Sasuke also pay attention to the question, but if Naruto

noticed he didn't seem to care as he earnestly answers, "Kakashi-

sensei said we're not allowed to train but I can still work on my

Fūinjutsu."

Rock Lee merrily asks, "you study Fūinjutsu, Naruto-kun?"

"Sure do," Naruto answers him with a smile, adding, "and it's wicked

awesome stuff!"

Sakura notices Tenten-chan also pay more attention as Ino comments,

"I still don't understand why that would keep you in your room for four

straight days."

Surprisingly, Naruto's usually happy expression yields to one of solemn

heartfelt contentment and his small smile of serenity calmly claims,

"sorry, Ino-chan. It's a clan secret."

Shikamaru and Chōji doubt Naruto capable of learning Fūinjutsu and

Lee wants to know, "what clan?" Tenten, Ino, and Sakura want to know

why he refuses to reveal more. Neji and Sasuke simply leave once

they've finished their lunch.

NARUTO

'So that's everything that happened,' Naru-nii voices.

After saying bye to his cousin, Karin, Naruto finished eating his

breakfast when Naru-nii contacted him. Naruto was too busy the

previous day to talk, and though he was glum after parting with Karin

and eating alone, he was happy to relay everything that happened to

his future-counter part.

'Well, awesome job holding your own against Orochimaru until

backup arrived. It's actually embarrassing to admit, but I was

knocked out, like, in no time at all after coming up against that

slithering ass.'

'Embarrassed? Are you kidding? Didn't you only have Kage Bunshin to

fight with,' Naruto scoffs, easily adding, 'I mean, you didn't have the

best sensei like I do,' Naruto happily replies.

Naru-nii chuckles a bit before responding, 'thanks. And since you did

pull off one Rasenshuriken, I finally get to tell you who our

father… … … hmm…'

Naruto leaps from his seated position in his room as he asks, "hello?

Naru-nii, the suspense is killing me here," he concludes as he passes

the moderate-sized room. After barely a moment of silence, Naruto's

energy couldn't contain his voice, quickly calling, "Naru-nii, speak to

me!"

'Ow, calm down, will ya,' Naru-nii calls. 'I just got a better idea, is

all.'

'What? What is it?'

Naruto can hear the glee in Naru-nii's voice when he asks, 'how would

you like to meet tou-san instead?'

'WHAT!' Naruto mentally yells so loud, Kurama yells back, 'I'm

napping!' Lowering his mental voice, Naruto asks, 'how? You said he

was-'

'He is,' Naru-nii immediately clarifies. 'But he sealed a bit of his

chakra in you before he died. It's how I got to talk to him once and

it's how you can talk to him too.'

'Wow,' Naruto gasps, growing more nervous by the second. 'I- I'm so

blown away, I don't even know what to think. This is next level! I mean,

I definitely want to. I just never thought it was possible…'

'Then, let's make it a little easier for you,' Naru-nii tells his younger

counter-part. 'Our father's name is Namikaze Minato, but you

probably know him best as the Fourth Hokage.'

'…You're shittin' me,' Naruto loudly heaves.

'Nope,' Naru-nii yips happily. 'You never noticed how alike you both

look?'

'I… I guess, yeah, but I just thought if that was really the case, I'd be

treated a lot better. I mean, at least as good as Asuma-nii or

Konohamaru are treated. Plus, all the Academy sensei said he had no

children, so it couldn't be true-'

'No matter how much you wanted it to be,' Naru-nii interjects with

complete understand and empathy. 'Yeah, I know. But it's definitely

true, Chibi-Me. You- well, we are the son of the fourth Hokage.'

'How do I meet him,' Naruto eagerly asks. 'I really want to meet him!'

Naru-nii slowly questions, '…so you can punch him?'

'You know it,' Naruto returns to which Naru-nii laughs.

'Yeah, I kinda did the same,' Naru-nii sheepishly admits. 'But you

know, I want you to do something I never did.'

'What's that?'

'Tou-chan and I didn't have a lot of time together, but since you

already know everything he's going to tell you, you can ask him a

question I've been dying to know.'

Chapter 193:

KURAMA

"I don't want to see him," Kurama huffs to an eye-rolling Naruto as

soon as the blond enters the large chamber. "I will never forgive him for

sealing my power."

"Aww, come on," Naruto contends. "Naru-nii said if it's possible to learn

it, then this would totally help us against a lot of really strong bad

guys."

"I know what the future brat said," Kurama growls. Getting up, he

prowls in a circle as he adds, "I still hate the yondaime."

"Are you going to give me eight tales or not," Naruto plainly puts. "I

only need it for a second," the blond adds, however, Kurama isn't

convinced. It isn't until Naruto mentions, "this could also help me

possibly get a girlfriend," blushing a bit at the thought. Though Naruto

may not blush quite so easily when it comes to physical intimacy with a

girl, talk of girlfriends and matters of the heart can still rush the blood to

his cheeks easily. "I mean, the Fourth is still like, really really popular;

what with the way he took out entire armies by himself and such. And I

look a lot like him. It would only make sense if I were to become just as

popular with the same technique-"

"Get two girlfriends," Kurama counters demandingly.

"What! Two?" Naruto questions incredulously before sternly arguing,

"you know this isn't like ordering at a restaurant, right? You can't just

say 'I'll take two of those.'"

"Why not," Kurama argues, moving closer to the gate. "If the Yondaime

is as popular as you claim, that would mean multiple females are

willing to be his mate. Just accept all of them."

"That's not how love works!" Naruto contends. "It's supposed to be

between two people."

Kurama tilts his large head with a measure of confusion before he

asks, "and you're an expert on how this love works?"

Pulling up short with halting thoughts of Sakura, Naruto fumbles as he

responds, "well, no… I guess not." Shaking his head he hotly contests,

"but neither are you!"

"I'm not human," Kurama plainly states. "Also, my father never spoke of

this subject…"

Kurama fell silent and Naruto wonders if he's thinking about his father,

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo; especially since Naruto is moments away from

meeting his own. Naruto reasons all this talk about fathers might make

anyone miss their own. Naru-nii often mentions the more they got

along, the better it'll be and Naruto really wants to be Kurama's friend,

so, with a long exhale, he tells the giant tailed beast, "I'll ask." When

Kurama focuses on Naruto again, Naruto elaborates, "I'll ask Nai-chan

if multiple, uh, people relationships is possible. But I swear to Kami if

she ends our sessions because of this, that's on you!"

Kurama smiles before he cautiously amends his demand. "Ask

someone else then. No need to risk the willing mates we already own."

'We? Own?' a wide-eyed Naruto curiously notes when Kurama

continues, "I demand you dress in his style as well," Kurama asserts.

"If that miserable pest's reputation can attract more females, we must

take advantage of that and look the part."

"I don't necessarily mind dressing like a badass," Naruto asserts. "But

would it kill you to ask for things normally?"

"Yes," Kurama easily answers before asking, "have you secured the

room?"

"Yeah," Naruto states, recalling twenty separate memories of his

clones completely sealing his assigned room within the tower. It was

Naru-nii's idea since the output of so much of Kurama's power will be

felt tens of miles away. Still, Naruto thoughtfully claims, "I don't think it'll

be enough to hide your chakra from being sensed."

"It'll only be for a couple of seconds," Kurama declares. "That won't be

enough time for them to do anything more than question it."

"Or lose my mind in the process," Naruto mutters in humorless jest.

"Since I'm cooperating, that shouldn't be an issue. Ready brat,"

Kurama calls, raising himself on all fours while his many tails whisk and

sweep excitedly behind him. Naruto lowers his center of gravity and

stands ready before nodding to his partner.

Kurama's red chakra quickly seeps under the tall gates and surrounds

Naruto, building and rising so as to give him immediate access to the

raw mind-deforming power behind eight tails. With a nod from Kurama,

Naruto's hand touches the violently fluctuating energy and instantly his

mind burns, his vision darkens and his stomach is replaced by agony.

NARUTO

A pat on the shoulder snaps Naruto out of his painful daze, allowing

him to witness Kurama's sinister chakra receding from his weary body

and into the room behind the large golden gate. Naruto feels like he's

been running all day with a sword through his stomach but his mental

senses are shoved into clearer awareness after a growling Kurama

angrily retorts, "you!"

Naruto focuses on the other, taller, blue-eyed blond in the room,

wearing a standard Jōnin's uniform with a high-collard white cloak with

red flames at the hem. A shocked Naruto into stating like a question,

"you…you're really the fourth."

Minato smiles at his son as he begins to explain, "the seal is set so if

eight tails are released, I'll appear within youUMPH!" Minato grunts

when Naruto punches him in the stomach.

"HAHAHAHAHA," Kurama laughs loudly snapping his head back

happily. "Serves you right, Yondaime," Kurama happily asserts,

eventually adding, "hit him again, hit him again," as Naruto wipes the

tears beginning to trail down his cheeks.

Though his tearing eyes are covered by his forearm, Naruto tearfully

bemoans to the chakra image of his father, "I already know all that! I

know I'm your son, so, so, you don't have to say it. And before you ask,

I'm sixteen… Nnn-nnmmh," his crying voice murmurs sadly.

"Wow, sixteen," Minato empathizes with quiet comfort. "You must've

gone through a lot."

Clearing his cheeks of moisture, Naruto shrugs, adding, "whatever. I'm

an Uzumaki and a Namikaze. I can take it."

"I'm so sorry, son," Minato solemnly apologizes.

"I know," Naruto says with a sniff. "I know you are, but we don't have

time for all that. Listen, I already know about the masked man who

controlled Kurama-"

"Kurama?" Minato asked, tilting his head a bit confused.

Chapter 194:

Naruto thumbs in the direction behind him toward the very large and

snarling Kurama glaring at the fourth Hokage, asking, "you didn't think

his name was actually Demon Fox did you?"

Blinking wide eyes between Naruto and the now widely grinning

Kurama above his son, Minato starts, "he… well… I see. You seem to

have the situation well in hand."

"Not really," Naruto responds, shaking his head. "Tobi, the masked guy,

is still out there, so I was hoping there was enough time for you to

teach me the Flying Thunder God technique."

Blinking wide eyes again, Minato doesn't need long to think as he

replies, "I… no, of course. Of course I will, son, but, it'll have to be fast,

and, I won't be able to write it all out. I can already feel my chakra

begin to deplete, so I'll only write out the segments you can't find in

scrolls."

"I may as well bear witness just in case the brat forgets something,"

Kurama adds from behind Naruto.

Eyes flickering from Kurama to his son, Minato seems skeptical until

Naruto adds, "I doubt I'll forget, but, it's okay, tou-chan. Me and

Kurama are teammates."

Minato nods toward Kurama before he turns about and begins scribing

Fūin characters the air. "The Thunder God tech is actually a

combination of Ninjutsu and Fūinjutsu. In order to perform the seal-less

ninjutsu of, quote-unquote, teleporting, you must first create a seal

contract that stipulates the mechanics behind it."

Naruto's blue eyes light up as he instantly shifts into his familial

specialty, quickly asking, "how many metric character arrays?"

"A massive amount. It'll take days to properly write out," Minato happily

answers, recognizing the curiosity in the Uzumaki's eyes. As Minato

continues to align character after characters, he informs his son, "the

Fūin contract utilizes Space/Time jutsu coupled with directional

signatures that allows the user to create a dynamic conversion. Now,

I'll write out the Fūin contract's centralized arrays in detail and explain

all correlating functions, but you'll need to study and understand it

before you create your own scroll."

An energetic Naruto hums appreciatively as his father continues to

rapidly illustrating characters in the air. "There are three necessary

pillars to the entire contract. We'll start with the Space/Time array,

which is written like this…" Naruto marvels at the speed by which

Minato writes out the characters. "This seal was gifted to me by your

mother upon our marriage. She made me swear we'd only pass it

along to our children when they were wise enough to wield it."

"Can't imagine Naruto fits that criteria," Kurama chuckles. "You're a

hundred years too early for that," he adds with laughter.

"Tch!" Naruto grunts, whirling on his red giant partner. "Not being the

wisest worked out great for you though, didn't it?" Naruto calls out

before mockingly adding, "since you finally managed to make friends

with a human!"

"You take that back!" a wounded Kurama snarls, raising on his legs

and eying Naruto like prey. "As if the greatest Tailed Beast would ever

be friends with a brat!"

"Settle down you two," a mildly amused Minato tells the bickering

teammates, adding, "this is a very complex contract to arrange, so

focus up."

Smirking, Naruto closely examines the pillars design style of the

contract his father is forming and recognizes it, voicing as much,

"you're using a borate chain to hexangularly link and group each array

like each leg of a tripod atop another tripod; simple, elegant, and

strong. Uwwaahh, this really is going to take a massive amount of logic

arrays, isn't it?"

"…You truly are an Uzumaki," Minato laughs and Naruto smiles

sheepishly. "Yes, it is; a very intricately structured pyramid of many

tripods. Each of the three components will require many arrays which

can always be added to a borate chain and remain stable."

Carefully analyzes the section of the contract designated for the

Space/Time array, Naruto asks, "the first leg is the contract, the second

is the Space/Time Jutsu, and the third?"

"The third is the dynamic link in the form of a personal signature, which

you can put on an object, like a kunai for instance," Minato answers at

the same time he flawlessly writes. "As the Space/Time jutsu is the

only array passed on from word of mouth, I'll write that out in its

entirety. Most of the other arrays can be found in scrolls or books, so I'll

only note what you need and you can write out those subsets on your

own."

Naruto's eyes widen as his father continues writing the details of the

Space/Time jutsu, offhandedly commenting, "the mechanics behind

this Space/Time array looks crazy complicated. I don't even get the

theory behind it."

As he writes, Minato voices, "the thing you have to understand about

Space—as in an area or expanse—and Time—as in the passing from

moment to moment—is that the two are intimately connected to one

another. You cannot affect one without affecting the other, which is why

it's written out together as Space/Time. The theory goes, the faster you

move through physical space—let's say the distance from Konoha to

Kumo—the slower time actually is. Simply put, time can, in fact, be

slowed down."

Eyes squinted and confused, Naruto isn't sure about something he's

never noticed or was told about and asks, "uh, okay, but how?"

"Because the natural laws that govern our universe saw fit to make

Time relative to the observer," Minato happily answer. "For example,

imagine you're running away from a large clock tower at the speed of

light, which is about three hundred thousand kilometers per second.

From your perspective, the clock's hands would look frozen. Time will

have, effectively, stopped for you. But just because time has stopped

from your perspective doesn't mean it has stopped. No matter how fast

you're running, from the clock's stationary perspective, time continues

normally."

"Seriously," Naruto skeptically asks.

"Most serious, son," Minato answers as he continues writing the

infinitesimal numerical assignments of the Space/Time function. "The

Uzumaki clan calls this phenomenon Time Dilation and this array

simply states that time is a rubbery thing that stretches and contracts

relative to the position being observed, whether that something is as

small as a fly or as large as the sun."

"The math in this formula looks a hell of a lot bigger than the sun,"

Naruto wonders aloud, turning to his father for confirmation.

Chapter 195:

Minato nods, relaying, "your mother explained to me how, long ago, an

Uzumaki by the name of Amaterasu, an expert in the study of the sun,

light, and our universe, discovered mass also plays a part in Time

Dilation. Amaterasu theorized the larger the mass of an object, the

faster it pulls everything around its space to it. Since space is

interwoven with time, that means time dramatically slows down around

large spinning masses as well. The important point here is that time

can, in fact, be altered, and if it can be altered-"

"Fūin seals can utilizing it in jutsu," Naruto says within an astonished

exhale of air. "Extreme chakra programming," Naruto recalls Naru-nii

saying.

"Correct," Minato states. "However, this Space/Time equation isn't

enough to create and utilize the Thunder God Technique. It's just the

seal scheme your chakra maneuvers to perform the ninjutsu," Minato

states, flawlessly continuing to write out character after character while

Naruto absorbs it all.

"The directional signatures," Naruto recalls from the earliest writing on

the long wall of seal schemes. "They're linked to the Space/Time jutsu,

which means something like a kunai is the focal point of the time

Dilation, and since it's contracted to you, you're the only one the

slowing of time affects."

"Nearly there son," Minato states with a prideful grin. "The setback to

activating the Space/Time array is the calculated mass of influence

stipulated within the contract creates a very strong gravitational pull."

"And that's how you move inside," Naruto hums as he reads. It's

jarringly amazing how new and old this information feels in his mind.

"Mnn, but how do you stop?" he asks himself, carefully analyzing his

father's script before quickly answering as if recalling himself, "with

chakra!"

Shaking his head at how proud he feels, Minato states, "using your

muscles to orient yourself to land properly or attack immediately is

nearly impossible under such a strong force. The human body isn't

meant to move at such speed around such mass. I mean the force

relative to my perspective even allows my body to pass through matter;

a home, a tree, or person for example. That's fine for long-distance

travel, but it's much too fast for close quarter combat, so, the

directional seals—which I wrote on a special kunai I made—also

double as a way to fight the gravitational pull thereby slowing your

velocity or re-orient yourself for attack or landing."

"So these special kunai not only anchor the stretching of time but also

the speed of travel between you and the kunai."

"Or a network of chakra pathways; just in case you have multiple kunai

in use," Minato adds. "So, within the pathway, you expel your chakra

just like you do in chakra training, and that's how you slow down or

turn, or do anything really. Imagine being deep in the ocean and

swimming as fast as a fish without your arms or legs; just your chakra."

"That sounds way harder than walking on water," Naruto fearfully

comments.

"Practice a great deal, son," Minato advises. "I first practiced expelling

chakra from my tenketsu deep underwater. The Hyūga are experts at

releasing chakra from their tenketsu so if you know anyone that can

give you tips, that'll help quite a bit."

"One of my friends is a Hyūga," Naruto remarks with thoughts of the

sweet Hinata. "Maybe she can give me some pointers," Naruto affirms

with an amused hum as Minato continues to explain.

Naruto observes carefully, then widens his eyes before he calls out,

"holy crap… Since the Space/Time jutsu is linked to the chakra

pathways—er, you and the kunai, I mean—that's where the pull on

space, time, and gravity is the strongest, but, that's still only from your

perspective… which means, from your perspective, you're not moving

fast at all! Anything outside the link only thinks you're moving fast

because the speed of time relative to their perspective isn't anywhere

near as fast as yours!"

Minato laughs happily as his son reads excitedly over his shoulder.

"Everyone likes to think the technique is instantaneous teleportation,

and to protect the jutsu, I let them think that, but technically, I'm not

physically moving any faster or slower than they are. At its simplest

form, Space/Time jutsu just enables us to experience the passing of

time differently. As long as I use my chakra to control the velocity

toward the signature, I see everything—the animals, the terrain, my

enemies—as if time has stopped."

"And outside the pathway," Naruto wonders aloud

Smiling fondly, he answers, "outside the pathway, all they see is a

yellow flash."

Naruto laughs mischievously as he comments, "I can't believe you're

not moving fast at all! That's hilarious!" Minato laughs along with his

son, both enjoying the ultra precious moment for how painfully finite it

is. Clearing his throat, Naruto strains to move on and ask his father,

"the Space/Time jutsu is infinitesimal, so how much can you push the

conversion rate?"

"Even though it's instantaneous from their perspective, "Minato starts

to answer. "Depending on how much chakra I use to slow myself down,

I can make it last a second or hours."

Finally understanding, Naruto reiterates, "because the mechanics of

Space/Time is stipulated to be relative to your chakra and contract, you

experience however long you need, let's say minutes, in the observer's

fraction of a second."

"Correct," Minato happily voices. "In heavy combat situations, it affords

me ample time to read the terrain and strategize. However, if you use it

in long-distance travel, it can be taxing to use so much chakra to

prevent terminal velocity. It's why I use it sparingly. The dynamic

signature and the Space/Time array are two of the legs," Minato

lectures, filling out more segments of the Fūin contract.

"Connecting it all together is the third leg which is the Fūin contract

itself," Naruto answers.

"Correct, son," Minato answers happily. "It's due to the Fūin contract,

that the signature—which can be any phrase or word you like—is

attached to the function of the Space/Time array. The Fūin contract

converts any form connected to the signature into a dynamic link

between matching patterns, activating that pathway like a conduit."

Chapter 196:

"The three legs," Naruto views aloud. "Space/Time to alter time

experience and distance traveled in a microsecond, the signature for

dynamically linking destinations, and the Seal Contract of bond

between the signature and Space/Time jutsu that carefully stipulates

the manner of conversion."

"Correct again, however, there's still much more that's needed," Minato

claims, writing so close to the grand chamber's wall that the Yondaime

begins curving the paper-thin wall of glowing characters. "As you

noted, this contract from your mother's clan is expressed using a

borate chain to dynamically add logic, but-"

"That function can technically work with two arrays of direction, but it

needs way more logic than that if you want it to work properly in any

condition," Naruto finishes, adding, "I totally get it."

"I suppose it's impossible for the apple to fall far from the center of the

orchard," Minato huffs happily. "That's exactly right. The Fūin contract

bonds not only your signature with the Space/Time, but your self as

well. We'll need to postulate all the pattern matching as well as all the

variables we want the technique to be able to deal with. So, between

the Ha characters of each array, you'll write your signature, and as you

said, we still have to apply a lot more logic to make sure it all works

right," his father says as he continues writing line after line of

characters.

"I've seen some versions of this array studying Fūinjutsu contracts, but

nowhere near this good," Naruto admits. "Let me guess, with three

logic arrays: the signature, the Space/Time array, and the chakra

pattern, then you close, it'll work, but only work on the signature; not

whatever it's attached to. That's why it'll take days to write out. You

have to link more logic arrays to the chain to allow more variables. That

way if you draw your signature on any surface and it'll work."

"Or if you use your chakra to mark chakra, it'll still work," Minato states

with a grin, accepting he's simply going to continue smiling proudly.

"We have to add more logic arrays to encapsulate an almost infinite

amount of possibilities because the last thing you want to happen is the

jutsu malfunctioning in a pinch. So, you have to add all letters, all

numbers—use infinity just in case—all chemical elements, all

elemental releases, yin and yang release, sage arrays, proximity alerts,

trauma alerts, orientation logic, spatial awareness array, and the echo

array so you can navigate between multiple signatures. Please practice

a great deal before you use it in battle."

Naruto smirks, feeling fairly confident if chakra control is key, then his

clones can help him speed up the training process. He continues

reading the squiggly characters like a picture in his mind before voicing

in awe, "you can even match individual people, or animals to the logic

within the expression, couldn't you?"

Minato can't help his smile before answer, "that you can, son. You'll

also need to sanitize the seal to make it impossible for anyone you

don't want to hop on the link, for example, if they grab you while you

'teleport.'"

"Sweet," Naruto states looking over the simplified seal.

"Lastly, and this is quite an extraordinary measure," Minato states,

finally stepping away from the very long curved wall of characters to

admire it with his son. "The entirety of this contract will need to be

inscribed with your blood and chakra."

Naruto's eyes widen and he nearly chokes as he looks past his father

and over the very long wall of glowing seal arrays, many of which are

not even written out to save time. He can't help but yell, "you're

kidding!"

Minato shakes his head. "Just like the Space/Time array, this

stipulation isn't written down to safeguard this amazing power. As you

no doubt noticed, there are many measures in place to prevent the

wrong sort from abusing this technique. One of the properties of this

contract-based seal design is the blood and chakra necessary to

create it, so even if someone stole the contract, and could actually

understand it, they wouldn't be able to alter or activate the technique."

"But it's going to take days to completely write all this out perfectly,"

Naruto gasps. "I don't have that much blood!"

"That's part of the reason why the Uzumaki were a clan to be feared,

son," Minato states, patting his son comfortably on his shoulder. Naruto

doesn't notice his father's hand beginning to fade as Minato continues,

"they have strong bodies, special chakra, and techniques that can

mitigate the loss of chakra and blood. If it wasn't for your mother

helping me, it would've been impossible for me to survive composing

the contract. It was the most taxing technique I ever learned, but it

served me and my loved ones greatly."

"And you think I can," Naruto asks.

"I do," Minato answers. "You may look like me but you are Uzumaki

strong. The clan I married into, your clan, has the greatest anthology of

Fūinjutsu seals and they all required a strong life-force and chakra to

function, making it nearly impossible for their work to be stolen without

an Uzumaki to facilitate the task." When Minato's arm disappears to the

elbow, Naruto frantically examines the rest of his father's state before

fearfully realizing the only time in his sixteen years of life that he's ever

spent with his father is moments away from coming to an end.

"From the very first moment I saw you, I knew you were your mother's

son, Naruto," Minato softly professes. "And she was the strongest

person I knew."

For the first and final time, matching blue eyes of father and son gaze

respectfully, affectionately, and pridefully at one other, and when

Naruto tries to voice all the things he's always wanted to say to his

father, his quaking voice struggles to be heard. "Tou-chan…"

"When you're done, you should place the Fūin scroll somewhere where

no one will get to it," Minato says. "I buried mine on Mount Myōboku.

Don't worry if you don't get to go there."

Chapter 197:

"Tou-chan, I…" Naruto tries but his throat closes as his clear blue eyes

begin to water.

"Remember, I utilize attacks that don't require performing seals, for

even if it takes you less than a second to create all the necessary

hand-seals for a jutsu, a faster shinobi will stop it, and possibly kill you.

So, please, son… please be careful… Live a full life, find love, and

have many children."

Naruto can't say it all—a solid decade of questions and confessions—

but with his father nearly gone, Naruto declares the most important

sentiment he's always wanted to say. Letting the tears fall where they

may, he confesses, "I love you, tou-chan!"

Smiling, Minato says, just as he disappears, "I love you more."

And when Minato fully evaporates, an emotional Naruto allows the

unheard, "thank you, tou-chan," escape his lips.

KURAMA

Kurama witnessed his jailer heartfelt farewell and couldn't help drawing

unwanted parallels by recalling thoroughly recycled memories of his

own father and feeling that exact loss. As Kurama silently watches

Naruto exit his room to collect a few books and triple-sized scroll for

comprehensive Fūinjutsu designs, he loathes feeling empathy for the

blond. He may hate humans, hate being controlled by them, and

disapprove of his current container, but that doesn't mean they don't

share similarities.

Kurama can always recall cherished memories of his father; talking to

him, learning from him, being blessed with a gift of so much peaceful

land to live on. He loved his father more than anything, but, his father

died. This brat never experienced that joy, and for him to try as hard as

he can for as long as he can… Kurama couldn't help but believe with

near certainty that his father would like and approve of Naruto.

'If my own father may look favorably on the brat, shouldn't I?"

SASUKE

"Who are you," Sasuke yells from his defensive kneel. "How did you

get in here?"

"I am one of the greatest shinobi ever," Orochimaru touts. "A mere door

cannot keep me from what I desire, no matter the security."

"Who are you," Sasuke demands to know.

"Oh, how you wound me, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru's scratchy voice

playfully vocalizes. "How could you forget me after I bestowed upon

you such a beautiful gift," he asks, baring his wicked smile.

"Orochimaru," Sasuke deduces. "What do you want from me?"

"Like a windmill that isn't turning, the world is still, my boy," Orochimaru

begins. "Nothing is changed; nothing moves, and living feels very much

like choking. You feel it too, don't you? There are some who may find

this lifeless tranquility beautiful, but they are complacent, easily

pleased, and often end up prey to predators."

"You haven't answered my question," Sasuke sternly states.

"And you haven't alerted your sensei, as I have no doubt Kakashi-kun

would've set up such an alarm," Orochimaru states looking at the wall

very near Sasuke's hand. Looking around the dark room, Orochimaru

happily notes, "I find it fitting we first meet in the Forest of Death and

then again in pure darkness; but we see the best in death and

darkness, do we not. It's where mankind create their finest

accomplishments. When everything that you know and love is taken

away from you so harshly, all you can think about is anger, hatred,

revenge—the darkness—and no one can save you."

"No one but you, is that it?"

"Only you can save yourself," the legendary snake nin answers. "To

achieve your revenge, you must become the wind of change strong

enough to move the world and that will not happen without power."

"And I'm just supposed to trust you will give me power without

something in return," Sasuke skeptically reasons. "I'll ask you one last

time, what do you want?"

"But I've already told you, my dear boy," the smiling missing-nin

asserts. "The world is still and I but want it to move. Bringing about

your own gain will bring about my gain as well."

"Then tell me everything you know about Itachi," Sasuke commands.

Orochimaru laughs greatly. "Ku ku ku, has your hate made you

delusional? Do you truly believe you stand any chance of defeating

Itachi as you are? Your teammate would fair better, I would imagine,"

Orochimaru expresses with clear glee, angering Sasuke near to the

point of recklessly attacking the legendary ninja, however, clenching

his fists, Sasuke manages to restrain himself. "I'll ask you this one time,

Sasuke-kun. Do you desire to remain as you are; attain friends, find

love, create a family, like the complacent dead… perfectly still?"

Orochimaru takes out a vial of small medicine pills and outstretches it

toward Sasuke as he continues to ask, "or do you crave the power to

remodel the world as you see fit?"

And Sasuke looks from the amused and confident eyes of a legendary

nin, to the small vial of pills and removes his hand from the alarm

switch Kakashi had installed by his bed.

Chapter 198:

HAKU

Despite the restrictions placed on him, Haku had been planning for the

past three days to severely attack a well-established citizen and retired

shinobi of Konoha. Since the initial warning alert from Naruto's

Fūinjutsu security during their lunch after the first test of the Chūnin

exam, the beautiful former hunter-nin has been playing possum

throughout his day, acting as gentle bait to draw out the would-be thief.

Haku's strategy was simple, carry Kubikiribōchō in the open and

practice with the great executioner's blade before sealing it in a flashy

orange and blue sealing scroll. Haku will then visit Iruka-san in the

hospital and end his day by picking herbs in the vast fields and forests

of Konoha before mixing medicine alone in the Umino residence.

On the fourth day of subtly surveilling his surroundings for the thief,

Haku is pleasantly surprised to find Kakashi-san waiting by Iruka-san's

front door. Leaning heavily against the house wall is an exhausted red-

haired girl with glasses. While a lovely and vibrant color, the girl's hair

is haggard, her shoulders sag, and she looks like she hasn't slept in

days. It all makes sense when Kakashi explains about the girl's time

with the Torture and Interrogation department, but what's deeply

shocking about her emigration to Konoha, is her relation to Naruto-kun.

"Pleasure to meet you," Karin states with an exhausted bow. "I'm

Uzumaki Karin."

Haku bows as well, returning the greeting and introducing himself

before inviting them in and taking a seat at the dining table. While Haku

prepares an herbal remedy to help Karin with the dehydration,

malnutrition, and accumulated anxiety, Kakashi explains how this state

of affairs came to happen. As Naruto is the only person Karin-chan

knows and feels safe with, she naturally wanted to stay with her

cousin, and it doesn't surprise Haku one bit Naruto offered Karin a

home.

Haku serves them both as Kakashi-san further explains to them, "as I

told you, Haku-kun, this village is not without its black-ops. I still believe

they wouldn't attempt to recruit you until you've established your

allegiance to Konoha to their satisfaction, but Karin, with your unique

chakra, they might make an exception. So, be careful," he warns her.

Rubbing her throbbing temple, Karin nods lazily, informing them, "I

have no intention of joining any shadow organizations. I'm going to

help Naruto restart our clan in Konoha and that's it."

Kakashi simply nods before stating, "you may want to look into the

requirements. From my understanding, Uzushio and Konoha were

close allies, much like Suna and Konoha are allies, only closer, but I

don't know if Uzumaki can simply apply for clan status in the same way

other clans already residing within Konoha can. For example, a clan

from Suna wouldn't simply be able to restart their clan in Konoha, but,

Suna is still around. It'll be tricky, to say the least."

"Since Naruto-kun is a member of this village," Haku points out before

asking, "can you say if it'll be easier or harder for him to establish his

clan in Konoha?"

"Will you be assisting the Uzumaki," Kakashi first asks Haku, who

answers, "of course. I am Naruto's tool to bring about the world he

wishes."

Though her face is set to perpetual exhaustion, Karin curiously asks,

"his tool?"

Though Haku answers the redhead with a clear nod, Kakashi clarifies,

"Naruto would use the word friend rather than tool. I can't imagine you

will experience too much difficulty, but you'll want to consult with an

expert. From my knowledge, I know you need to meet certain

requirements as well as the seal of approval from our Hokage, our

Daimyō, the civilian council, and endorsement from an honored or

major clan; for example, the Hyūga, the Aburame, the Akimichi, the

Nara, and the Yamanaka."

"Would they dislike the idea of more clans within the village," Haku

asks, wondering what the political landscape my look like, and if his

plan to catch, maim, or kill Dānyī-san would hurt Naruto.

"The Hyūga are the only clan I can think of who would disapprove of

your application," Kakashi answers.

"Something to think about, at least," Karin says as her head wobbles

and drops a bit, sliding her red-rimmed glasses down the bridge of her

nose. "I think the tea is kicking in."

Standing from the table, Haku tells Karin, "I'll prepare a futon for you."

Haku gives Karin his room and mentally plans to sleep in Naruto's until

he returns. Dressed for bed, Karin asks Haku to tell her about Naruto,

not only to learn some more about her cousin, but to hear a comforting

voice to ease her torture-provoked anxiety, however, Haku didn't finish

his first sentence before peaceful sleep finally takes Karin.

Recalling his night after being release, Haku stays with Karin. It was a

great help to hear Naruto and Kurenai-san after many days of torture.

Their conversations, their lovemaking, and even cleaning after them,

greatly grounded Haku when his mind felt scattered and in constant

turmoil. Haku was able to focus and return to normal because

something of comfort was nearby, and he wants to be of comfort to

Karin-chan.

Chapter 199:

His thoughts then hovered around the possible obstacles Naruto may

face reinstating his clan within Konoha. The most pressing issue

Kakashi-san stated was the civilian council's approval because Haku

can't imagine that going over very well. From the very beginning of his

life in Konoha, he was constantly introduced to the extent of the

village's hatred toward Naruto-kun. In addition to civilian approval, the

Hyūga feel like another obstacle. Any further thought is interrupted

when he finally senses it.

With Karin sleeping ill at ease in the futon before Haku, it's the worst

possible time for Iruka's home to be broken into. As the villain searches

the living room, Haku abhors the idea of leaving Karin alone when

she's so fretful. Judging ten minutes to be more than enough time to

deal with the would-be thief, Haku utilizes a variant of the seals Naruto

taught him and creates an ice clone of himself to watch over Karin

before exiting the room through the ceiling. Haku creates enough noise

to draw the intruder outside to the large forested backyard.

Removing a senbon from his sleeve, Haku calmly waits as the larger

man opens the backyard door. But for the man's eyes, his entire body

is completely covered in dated black and gray armor, yet, brandishes

brand new twin long blades in each hand, Haku recalls is generally

referred to as a butterfly sword. Haku is happy the man came prepared

for battle, as it would be much easier to prove to the authorities that

Haku isn't, in any way, at fault. Tenten's father is clearly here for

Kubikiribōchō and Haku pulls out the blue and orange scroll from within

his yukata, displaying it.

"You made a grave mistake coming here," Haku tells him.

"The mistake is a magnificent weapon like Kubikiribōchō being in the

hands of children," Dānyī-san retorts. "Hand it over and I promise not

to kill you."

"Not only is it not mine to give," Haku simply begins, "but you are far

too weak to wield it. It would wither under your ownership."

"I tried to be civil about this," Dānyī-san claims with an aggravated huff.

"I even offered that demon ryo, but I'm out of time and you're in the

way. If you don't hand it over now, your death will be on that boy's

conscious," Dānyī-san declares, however, before he can even take a

step, a completely silent long sword effortlessly moves from behind

Dānyī-san's and around the man's neck in nearly an instant.

The man suddenly behind Dānyī-san is unrecognizable to the

unsuspecting eye; wearing a black hospital face mask, his black hair is

longer, slick back and under a monk's hat, larger eyebrows over pale-

blue eyes and wearing a traveling monk's disguise with many beads

around his neck, but Haku saw through it all in an instant. By the man's

height, his shoulder to hip ratio, skin tone, and even fingernails, Haku

can recognize the Demon of Hidden Mist, Momochi Zabuza anywhere.

"Causing trouble, Haku," Zabuza casually asks in his deep voice.

Zabuza's large hand grips Dānyī's shoulder and squeezes painfully

hard until Dānyī drops his swords. "You know that's always been my

job."

"Wh-wh-who are you," Dānyī-san asks before Haku sends two high-

velocity senbons into the man's throat, temporarily paralyzing him and

knocking him unconscious.

"Still haven't crossed that line, I see," Zabuza claims. "Not that there's

any opportunity too in such a boring country."

"I would prefer to question him, Zabuza-sama," Haku claims, stepping

up to the unconscious body on the grass. "He mentioned being out of

time and I'd like to know what that meant."

"He's probably referring to the group I traveled with," Zabuza tells his

long-time companion. Kicking the body on the floor, Zabuza informs

Haku, "apparently this trash reached out to a friend of his; told him he

was in possession of Kubikiribōchō and wanted to sell. Mei heard

about it through little Chōjūrō and considering the war she's waging

against Karatachi, she thought having another of the seven swords in

her forces would give her an extra boost."

"Mei-san is here," Haku repeats with clear surprise in his lovely voice.

"Along with three from Kumo," Zabuza adds," a concerned Haku realizes

aloud. Recalling the open challenge between Naruto and Zabuza,

Haku cautiously asks his seemingly recovered special person, "should

Naruto-kun be worried?" However, what he meant to ask is, 'should I

be worried?'

Understanding the question in Haku's heart, the Demon of Hidden Mist

smiles sinisterly before he asks, "I'm here, aren't I? Of course he

should."