Sarutobi Hiruzen was getting too old for his job. He knew it, his friends knew it, maybe even his enemies knew it. It was true when he retired and it was true now that he was back. A year of retirement had done little to help the exhaustion that had settled into his bones. More and more, the problems he faced as Hokage was making him feel every one of his 68 years.

One of those was the recent conflicts between the Uchiha clan and the rest of the village. In his youth, politics had been another battlefield for him to navigate. He studied the parties' strengths and weaknesses, manipulating their arguments like a chessboard. A nudge here, a wall there, and his enemies were outmaneuvered with minimal expense of his own power.

Now, it only exhausted him.

Hiruzen had a village to run. He did not have time for Fugaku's misconceptions on the idea of honor.

Minako and Naruto's insistence on speaking to Fugaku was amusing, if not painfully naïve. Hiruzen wanted the situation with the Uchiha to resolve peacefully. But he was juggling dozens of shinobi clans, even more civilian clans, Konoha's military force, and the merchant clans. One step to humor the Uchiha would ripple across the entire village and affect everything else.

Still, the children's idea gave Hiruzen the opening he needed. Danzo had been hounding him for weeks now, accusing him of being too lax with the Uchiha. This would at least shut his old friend up, and remind Fugaku who was in charge at the same time.

So he cleared his calendar for the afternoon and headed downstairs to the Academy. And just in time—Uchiha Sasuke dashed out the entrance, the peals of the school bell echoing behind him.

"Ah, Sasuke-kun, isn't it?" Hiruzen called out.

Little Sasuke stumbled to a stop. "Hokage-sama," he stammered.

At least he knew better than to pretend he hadn't heard Hiruzen.

"Minako-kun and Naruto-kun invited me to your training session today." Hiruzen smiled around his unlit pipe, kind and unthreatening. "Why don't you walk with us?"

Sasuke shuffled in place. "I, uh, have to tell okaa-san, so she can... prepare…"

"Nonsense." Hiruzen huffed. "I'm sure your okaa-san will be fine. We're headed in the same direction, so why not walk together?"

"I—" Sasuke darted a look towards the school, then sagged. "Okay."

As if on cue, Minako and Naruto slunk towards them, Shino trailing after the former. Hiruzen tucked away his pipe, ignoring the light hum of a kikaichu flying back to its owner. Using the insect to watch for his approach was a smart plan, if clumsily executed. Had the twins doubted he would push through? Or were they looking for a warning before Sasuke dashed off?

"Thanks, Shino," Minako whispered. Shino nodded.

"Is Shino-kun coming as well?" Hiruzen asked.

Shino tensed. Naruto opened his mouth. Minako shoulder-checked him, and said, "Shino-kun has to go home early, so he doesn't train with us."

There was a moment's hesitation before Shino nodded confirmation. "Why? Because—because I need the time to train my control over my kikaichu."

Hiruzen dismissed the children's excuses on principle. So did that mean Shino was not invited, or did Shibi refuse to let him go?

Interesting.

"I see. Very well then. Take care, Shino-kun. Greet your parents for me."

Shino bobbed his head. He exchanged goodbyes with the other three, before running off.

Naruto crossed his arms behind his head, frowning in thought. Minako wrung her hands—something her teachers will have to train out of her. Sasuke simply slouched, sullen.

"Shall we?" Hiruzen said.

An Uchiha, the Hokage, and the children the village called the Demon Twins made for quite a parade down Konoha's streets. Eyes trailed after them as they walked. Whispers erupted in their wake, especially when their destination became obvious as well.

At least Hiruzen had opted out of a visible ANBU guard. There was threatening, then there was displaying a blatant lack of trust for all and sundry to see.

He made eye contact with an Uchiha MP. The woman took in the sullen Sasuke, anxious Minako, and excited Naruto. She slipped into the crowd.

Satisfied, Hiruzen focused on entertaining Naruto's determined chatter. If the policewoman hurried, Fugaku should have plenty of time to get home, and Mikoto to prepare for their arrival.

Minako stayed silent, clinging to her brother's hand. Wide blue eyes watched the people watching them.

This is our village, Hiruzen wanted to say, as he acknowledged a civilian's greeting. These are the people we protect. He wanted to show her how the people relaxed in his presence, reassured of his strength, and the strength his shinobi provided to the village.

He knew it was his presence that made people feel safe. He knew how they avoided the twins otherwise, fearing Minako's red hair and eyes, and Naruto's blond, shaggy hair and whisker-marks.

But time would heal those wounds. As the children grew, and their comrades grew to trust them, so would those who saw how their shinobi guardians treated these children they feared. And the Hokage casually walking with them down the street was the first step.

It always satisfied him when he accomplished several goals through a single action.

Soon enough, they arrived at the compound. The gate guards stood to attention at his approach. "Hokage-sama," they greeted him in unison.

Naruto dashed from his side, dragging his sister along with him. "Ryoji-san! Kiku-san!" Naruto jumped up and down, grabbing their attention. "This is jiji," he declared, waving at Hiruzen. "He's coming to visit with us!"

Dark eyes darted in his direction; Hiruzen kept his face impassive. He was in no denial about his age, unlike his student.

(Oh, Tsunade…)

The one Naruto called Ryoji managed a strained smile. "So I see. Well, it's good to have you back, Naruto-san, Minako-san." Minako twitched, then hunched closer to her brother. Naruto tilted his head, eyes wide.

"Sasuke-sama," Kiku spoke up, cutting off the exclamation Naruto was about to make. "Your brother is home."

Sasuke perked up. "Nii-san's back?"

"Itachi's back?" Minako said at the same time, slumping with relief. "Itachi-senpai," she corrected, flushing at Kiku's raised eyebrows.

"He mentioned going home to rest. It's likely he'll still be there," Ryoji said, saving her from further mortification.

"Thank you!" Sasuke said, dashing into the compound.

The change in Sasuke was startling in its contrast. He all but vibrated at the leisurely pace the Hokage set. He did manage to restrain himself from tugging Hiruzen forward, like Naruto was doing.

"Let's go, let's go!" It seemed even Naruto could be energized by the mention of Uchiha Itachi.

Hiruzen hummed agreeably, reviewing what he knew about the Uchiha prodigy. Young Itachi had been quiet even in his genin years. Brilliant and obedient, he never questioned the orders given him. Hound had nothing but good things to say about him. However, he didn't seem to be very popular with his teammates, which was why it was so surprising to see him this popular with children.

"How long have you known Itachi-kun?" Hiruzen asked, trying to draw Minako into the conversation.

"Oh." She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She scrunched up her nose. "A few weeks? He's helped me train a few times." Color stayed in her cheeks, as an embarrassed smile played on her lips.

"You two must be very close," Hiruzen said. "On a first name basis already, aren't you?"
he clarified at her confused blink.

"What—no! Oh no, nonono, we're not. It's my fault, I just keep forgetting, I'm really bad at addressing people properly, dattebana!" She flailed, turning even redder at his insinuation.

"My mistake then." Hiruzen curled his lips into a teasing grin. "I assumed differently from how you spoke of him."

Minako squawked, embarrassment and childish disgust blocking any words she might have said in reply.

"She always forgets," Sasuke scoffed. "Okaa-san says it's rude to just call people by name."

"I can't help it if I forget!"

"Forget what?" Naruto butted in.

Hiruzen left them to it, as Minako took out her mortification on Sasuke.

Too young? Still, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of Itachi spoke of some level of admiration, if not idolization. Hiruzen knew the young Crow. He had the beautiful Uchiha features that attracted their fellow students in the Academy. His proficiency in the ninja arts was definitely something an underclassman could aspire to.

Had that been the intention? Forbidden from bringing in the children, had Mikoto sent her sons to lure them in? For all intents and purposes, the Academy instructors had reported Naruto and Sasuke's friendship blooming from a spectacular fight on their first day of class. Meanwhile, Itachi was good at many things, but emotional manipulation was not his forte.

Either way, the bonds had been struck. Hiruzen had been willing to overlook Mikoto's subtle efforts at reaching out to the children. But now the twins were all but living in the Uchihas' pocket. It could not be allowed to continue.

Foot traffic didn't pause as their little group walked through the Uchiha compound. People bowed respectfully as he passed, but didn't linger. Still, he could feel the hidden stares following him and the children as they approached the clan head's home.

Mikoto greeted them at the door. "Hokage-sama," she said, bowing. "Forgive us for the lackluster welcome. We were not informed of your arrival."

Perfectly respectful, with the easy implication that if he wanted a warmer welcome, he could inform them in advance. It almost made Hiruzen smile.

"No need to apologize," he said. "I was merely accompanying the children."

Mikoto always had a subtlety that Fugaku lacked. She had been a brilliant kunoichi in her own time, manipulating her targets with genjutsu and words both. Her retreat into her family in recent years was regretful. If the Uchiha learned how to value their kunoichi, they would be even more devastating than their reputation already had them out to be.

"Mikoto-baa-san!" Naruto ran up and hugged her knees. Mikoto brushed his hair back, her smile wan. Minako followed at a more sedate pace, but leaned into her hand when Mikoto repeated the motion for her.

"—tried to tell us not to come, but I told him talking to people is important, dattebayo! And he agreed, so now I brought him, and you guys can talk about it and make up, like me and Minako, and me and Sasuke did!"

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," Mikoto said firmly, cutting off any follow-ups. Behind her, their front door slid open, revealing Itachi, still in the clothes he would wear under his ANBU uniform.

"Nii-san! Welcome back!" This time, it was Sasuke's turn to run. Hiruzen was surprised to see him carefully hug his brother around the waist.

A pleased smile tugged on Itachi's lips. "It's good to be back," he replied, resting his hand on his brother's head. He looked at Minako, who ducked her head and squirmed.

A sheepish Uchiha Shisui skirted around the family reunion. He greeted Hiruzen with a quick bow. "Hokage-sama."

"Shisui-kun," Hiruzen returned.

"Why don't you children go train with Itachi and Shisui-kun?" Mikoto continued, unwrapping Naruto from around her legs. "I'll take Hokage-sama to the receiving room for some tea."

"Okay!" Mission accomplished, Naruto jumped down from the house's raised floor. He ran ahead to the yard around the corner.

"Wow, so excited!" Shisui's longer strides let him catch up with ease. "When I was your age, I was happy to get out of training."

"Liar," Itachi said, keeping pace with his calmer little brother. He greeted the Hokage with a quick, graceful bow, dark eyes flicking towards him, then away. "Your jounin-sensei had to drag you out of the training grounds for shunshin-related injuries."

Minako tugged on Mikoto's sleeve.

"That was one time!" Shisui protested.

A simple twist of chakra let Hiruzen hear her whisper:

"I hope you guys work things out."

Some of the frigid lines on Mikoto's face eased. "Thank you, Minako-chan." Gently, she pushed the child away.

With one last worried look, Minako hurried after Itachi and Sasuke, who waited for her at the corner.

With the children gone, Mikoto settled back into rigid formality. "Please, come in." She gestured towards the door. She waited for Hiruzen to remove his shoes at the genkan before closing the door behind them.

"I'll have to apologize for the short notice," Hiruzen said, making no move to do so.

"No need for your concern. A mother learns to adapt."

Hiruzen hummed. The sound from outdoors faded as she led him further into their home. The house was simple in construction, if not in expanse. But the Uchiha knew how to display their wealth without the ostentation of a palace.

"They seem fond of you," Hiruzen commented, as they passed an intricate bonsai. Stones and moss structured tastefully allowed the miniature tree to mimic a mountainside within its deep stone pot.

Her dark gaze flickered at him from the side. "The twins are very affectionate," she replied. "I don't believe anyone has taught them to be wary of others' physical boundaries."

They reached a shoji door. The shadow of its occupant was hazy against the paper. Mikoto stepped to the side and slid it open for him.

Their receiving room followed the rest of the house—wide, but simple. The tatami mats were fine, and newly replaced. A scroll hung from the north end of the room, displaying calligraphy that could only be appreciated by those with an eye for it. The second set of doors, ones that should allow a view of their garden, were closed. Only the curling flames carved into the roof beams served as a reminder that the simplicity was a choice.

Fugaku rose from his seat at the low table, set in the center of the room. He dipped his head. "Hokage-sama," he said. "This is unexpected." There's an undercurrent of a growl in his voie. His face, however, stayed impassive.

"The children insisted I come," Hiruzen said, taking his position opposite him. The cushions were placed parallel to the shoji doors, allowing both occupants to see anyone entering and leaving. He settled into seiza, Fugaku following a beat after. "They wanted me to meet their Mikoto-baa-san."

Mikoto had already slipped away, sliding the doors closed behind her. Fugaku scoffed, waving his hand in dismissal. "A nickname, nothing more."

"I see. Then they must call you Fugaku-jii-san as well?"

The line between Fugaku's eyebrows deepened. From him, it might as well have been a twitch. "No. I've only met them once before. They take no such liberties with me."

"So they spend their time with their baa-san," Hiruzen said.

"They spend their time with Sasuke and Itachi," Fugaku corrected. "Mikoto feeds them after they've trained, and answers questions when they ask her. She is their friends' mother, nothing more."

Shadows danced on the western side of the room, followed by a familiar yell. Ah. That would explain why those doors stayed closed. The room was most likely sealed against eavesdropping, then, if they were willing to let the children play so close by.

Hiruzen kept his pleasant, grandfatherly smile in place. If the doors led to their backyard and not to a garden, then this had to be their informal receiving room. How bold of them to house Hiruzen here. Not that he could complain—he'd started it, after all. He had treated this like an informal visit, so they responded as such. No one would be able to fault them for it.

Now, had that been Fugaku or Mikoto's idea?

"For someone who's only met them once, you seem to know what they get up to very well."

Fugaku no longer bothered to hide his scowl. "I know what goes on in my own household."

"Then you knew your wife was deliberately disobeying my orders?" Hiruzen asked.

Blood flooded Fugaku's face. His clenched fists wrinkled his dark blue pants where they covered his knees. His chakra snapped and crackled; a bonfire of restrained fury.

The silence stretched between them. Sasuke's voice rose outside, only to be soothed by Shisui's encouraging tone.

"My wife is not a traitor," Fugaku said. "The twins approached Sasuke and Itachi of their own initiative. In fact, from what Sasuke has told me, training here was Minako's idea."

"Children have foolhardy ideas all the time. It is the adult's job to discourage them."

"From what?" Fugaku demanded. "They are aspiring shinobi, seeking a way to train their skills through the connections they have. How is that foolhardy?"

"It is foolhardy, because your continued patronage has implications they do not see!" Hiruzen thundered. "Your clan is on a precarious position as it is, and yet you allow incidents such as this to further endanger you!"

"My clan is one of the four noble founding clans of this village, and the first who joined with the Senju." Fugaku's voice rose. "We have served Konoha faithfully since her birth. We turned our clan head away, for her sake. So why are we being interrogated like criminals for befriending children who should have been in our care in the first place?"

"Because you disobeyed a direct order!" Hiruzen let his own chakra leak, a focused wave more effective than a fist against the table. Fugaku stiffened in his seat.

Bitter satisfaction curdled in the back of Hiruzen's mouth. It seemed Fugaku needed a reminder—while he preferred to be a benevolent leader, Hiruzen did not get to where he was now by being soft.

"You are pushing the limits of my patience, Fugaku-san. Both here and in the Council. Your clan may have helped found Konoha, but it is equal to all the others under her laws."

"Are we truly?" Fugaku challenged. The only sign of his discomfort was the drop of sweat sliding down his neck. "What other clan has its members restricted to their compound? We are feared by the civilians and rejected by our comrades, and Konoha does nothing."

Almost as if on cue, the door slid open. "Excuse me." Mikoto kept her gaze low as she entered, a small tray balanced in her hands. She placed the tea set on the table and began to pour.

Hiruzen sat back, his lips sinking into a frown. The problem was, Fugaku was right. Only the Uchiha were forced into their own little corner of Konoha, which then subtly affected how everyone else interacted with them.

"Thank you," Fugaku said, dismissing his wife. She bowed, leaving the teapot on the table between them.

"I hope it's to your satisfaction," she murmured, before shuffling back. But instead of leaving the room, as she should have, she settled into a seiza in the corner. From where Hiruzen sat, he could see her just behind Fugaku, head bowed and expression serene.

He had to consciously suppress a bitter smile.

Fugaku took a sip of his tea, allowing Hiruzen to do so as well. He took a moment to appreciate the gentle taste of the sencha on his tongue, before speaking.

"The restriction is to keep your people safe. You know this." He put down his cup, piercing Fugaku with his hard gaze. "Every one of us lost something to the Kyuubi's attack. And we all had to sacrifice more, for Konoha's sake."

Mikoto shifted, her lips thinning. Fugaku's scowl deepened. Hiruzen allowed himself a small sigh, at the memory of nine monstrous tails piercing the flaming sky.

It all came down to the Kyuubi attack. In one night, Hiruzen had lost his wife, his successor, many good shinobi, and the release of retirement. The first months alone left him buried in the village's recovery, while pulling on every political and military clout he had to keep potential invaders away. Of all the clans, the Uchiha had proved themselves invaluable then, pulling double duty to police the streets and help organize the rehousing projects.

It was the rumors that ruined everything. Somehow, somewhere, a fool had remembered a story even Hiruzen had forgotten, and begun spreading it throughout Konoha.

The Sharingan can control a biju.

Fear and suspicion against the Uchiha began. If a member hadn't caused the attack, the clan had failed to eliminate a rogue. Or worse, the clan had known, and refused to help during the attack for clout.

This was the reason Hiruzen had the clan centralized in their compound. It appeased the civilians that the powerful Uchiha were kept under some modicum of a watch, while leaving no individual clan member vulnerable to misplaced revenge.

"The Uchiha are loyal to Konoha," Fugaku said, breaking the silence. His voice was an ominous rumble. "But even we have our limits. My clansmen are growing dissatisfied, and their flame can only be restrained for long."

Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "Is that a threat?"

Fugaku's obsidian glare was his only reply.

Hiruzen lowered his cup, letting no sign of his fury show. It had been a long, long time since someone openly defied him. And the fact that it was the Uchiha, hackles raised and backed into the corner, did not bode well for the village at large.

He had been a child when Uchiha Madara betrayed the village. Afterwards, Senju Hashirama had kept Konoha together through tape, spit, and sheer determination. Hiruzen did not have the strength to do that now. Part of him was afraid of what he'd have to do if the Uchiha clan forced his hand.

Did Fugaku know what he was saying? What a civil war would do to Konoha? Hiruzen searched his face, but the man didn't falter. Neither did his wife, who never looked up from the floor.

Hiruzen took a deep breath, then released it. He gathered his wrath, forging it into an iron core. "You are playing a dangerous—"

A piercing scream rent the air.

Anger flashed across Fugaku's face, before his expression was Uchiha-blank once more. Hiruzen leapt to his feet. The appalled Mikoto was only a step behind, as Fugaku threw open the shoji doors.

"Don't sneak up on me like that, dattebana!"

Minako sat on the wooden floor of the house, a sizeable book held over her head. She twisted around, feet dangling from the edge, in order to hit the teenager behind her.

Shisui raised his hands in an exaggerated wince, keeping Minako's sizeable book from doing more than bounce off his forearms. He was all but doubled over, just so the redhead half his size could take out her shock on him. "Sorry, sorry!" he cried, not sounding sorry at all.

Itachi rose from his seat across the two. "Otou-san," he began.

Naruto, who had been creeping behind Itachi in the most unsubtle way possible, saw his chance. He leapt for Itachi's back.

"Gotcha!" Naruto howled.

"No!" Sasuke, already dashing towards him, put on speed.

Itachi shifted, ready to dodge, only for Shisui to stick his foot out and trip Sasuke right into his brother. Itachi had to bend over to catch him, twitching as Shisui slipped a genjutsu on him as another distraction. In the moment it took to break the illusion of numb feet, Hurricane Naruto hit. Down all three children went.

Itachi sat on the dusty ground, face blank but eyes wide with bemusement. His arms were bent, carefully supporting himself and the yelling children clambering over him.

"Don't hit nii-san, you bastard!" Sasuke cried, crawling over his own brother to chase Naruto down. Naruto stuck his tongue out at him, and blew.

Off to the side, Minako put her hands on her knees and laughed so hard she cried. Shisui wasn't doing much better.

"Forgive me, Hokage-sama," Fugaku said mildly. "I will have to reprimand Sasuke for his language later."

Suddenly, Hiruzen felt exhausted. Minako's bright-eyed grin, Naruto's unrestrained laughter, even Itachi's secret little smile. Their joy was weightless, in a way Hiruzen hadn't had the luxury of feeling in a long, long time.

These were the children Konoha had been built for. The children that would lose the safety the village provided, if things with the Uchiha escalated beyond Hiruzen's control.

The shoji slid shut to Mikoto's hushed admonishment. The last thing they heard was the children's "Sorry!" before Mikoto ushered them away, presumably to the kitchen.

Hiruzen followed Fugaku back to the table, weariness in every step. Minako and Naruto had always been solemn, wide-eyed little children, in all the years he's visited them. He had never seen them so relaxed, so free-spirited. Laughing for the sake of it, not from bitterness or mischief. He mourned that it had to come from this, even as he took joy from seeing the children of the man he'd seen as a grandson finally happy.

It was Itachi's bemused smile that hammered it in. Itachi, so young in peacetime yet already with a career to rival the best of his elders. Itachi was a reminder that the clan was more than Fugaku's demands. Fugaku, who had the pride to match the height of the Hokage monument, but always put his clan first and foremost.

"Fugaku-san," Hiruzen said. "Let's drop the formalities and speak plainly."

Fugaku stiffened in surprise. He pressed his lips together, wary. But there was hesitation there, too—hesitant relief. "Very well," he agreed.

"I understand your concerns. I do," Hiruzen repeated, narrowing his eyes at Fugaku's restrained huff. "You are looking out for your clan, and I respect that. I haven't forgotten all that the Uchiha have done for the village. I ask you to bear these temporary measures because I trust in your dedication to Konoha."

He took a deep breath. "What I did forget was the burden such sacrifices can make. And for that, you have my apologies."

Fugaku sat back, gauging the sincerity of Hiruzen's words. Hiruzen let him, pouring more tea for himself.

"Thank you," Fugaku said at last. "But I do need to ask—where does that leave us?" He spread his hands, a bitter gesture. "Words alone cannot assuage my clan's problems."

"Tell me what your clan needs, and I will try to provide it." Hiruzen raised his hand, preempting any exclamations Fugaku might make. "I cannot promise you anything, nor can I grant everything you ask. So, choose one, and I will try."

Fugaku let the silence settle as he thought. Hiruzen took his time as well, sipping his cup as he tucked his bone-deep exhaustion back into the dark spaces he kept it in. He'd just given Fugaku the opportunity he needed. All that was left was to see what the man did with it.

"More high-profile missions," Fugaku decided. "To remind others of the value our clan members bring."

Hiruzen frowned. It was sensible, even. The visibility alone would help their reputation, if only to allow more to see and interact with the Uchiha. But the fact that missions were a serious source of revenue would tread on the toes of many people. "Alright. I'll see what I can do."

"You won't regret this," Fugaku said, rising as Hiruzen did.

Hiruzen stopped. "Don't be mistaken," he said, his smile wry. "Everything I do is for the village. I value the Uchiha too much to risk the clan on petty squabbles. But I, too, have my limits. Don't push them, Fugaku-san."

Fugaku's eyes narrowed. He nodded sharply. Satisfied, Hiruzen opened the door, turning towards the genkan.

"You aren't taking the children?" Fugaku asked.

Hiruzen chuckled, voice low. "No. Let them enjoy playtime a little longer." They'll have to grow up soon enough.

In the absence of Mikoto, it was Fugaku who showed him out. They didn't waste time; as soon as the pleasantries were done, and Hiruzen past their fence, the Uchiha head's door closed.

Hiruzen sighed, allowing himself the luxury of strolling back to his office. Naruto and Minako would be ecstatic, he knew. They might even be smug, believing their advice had fixed everything as they thought it would.

All that had resulted was a bandage for the festering wound between the Uchiha clan and the village. Perhaps the children would be right, and it would be enough. Hiruzen could only hope. Unfortunately, experience told him it would be a long time coming yet. In the meantime, he had work to do, and more ruffled feathers to soothe once he started adjusting things as he had promised.

If it went well, he might treat himself to an early night. The Uchihas' missions could be done tomorrow.

But things were never that easy.

Later that night, once the moon had crested above Konoha's rooftops, a lone ANBU agent appeared, kneeling at the foot of his desk. The red, beak-like paint of the Crow's mask gleamed in the moonlight.

Hiruzen's eyebrows shot up. "Karasu. Report."

Uchiha Itachi pulled off his mask. His face was pale in the faint moonlight. "Hokage-sama," he said, voice wavering. He kept his head bowed, unable to meet his leader's eyes. "There's something I need to tell you."

A/N: I promised clan politics, we are getting clan politics! What do you think? Did Minako and Naruto succeed or not? HMMMM. *eye emojis everywhere*

More random A/Ns on my blog, because this (relatively) shorter chapter is packed full of stuff I wanna talk about. Cheers!