Asuma.

When Shikamaru told Asuma that he was from the future and that he knew Naruto was the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki, there was a part of him that still did not believe the alleged time traveller. After all, how could anyone believe such a story of coming back to the past and inhibiting a younger body, or about a war that would supposedly start five years in the future; especially when they were already living in a time of unprecedented peace. As for the knowledge that Naruto was holding the Kyuubi, Asuma thought to himself that Shikamaru must have heard some of the Shinobi who were present during the Kyuubi attack whispering about Naruto.

After Shikamaru told him about the future, Asuma wanted to head back to Konoha… he really did, but instead he decided to allow his genius student this one flight of fancy.

Despite seeing a change in the way Shikamaru held himself while on the way to the Land of Waves, Asuma still had his doubts. Asuma mentally told himself that it was Shikamaru's responsibility to convince him of his version of the truth. The conviction on the Nara's face settled very little of Asuma's doubts... but they still lingered. Asuma had heard tales of how it is the geniuses who are able to embrace insanity and mental corruption much easily than anyone else.

However, once they stepped inside Tazuna's home and then into the guest room, Asuma found himself staring at the older Sakura and Naruto lying on the floor and pointing at a grey skinned man floating a few inches off the floor. Stunned, his eyes then shifted towards the younger Naruto and Sakura who were also surprised at the presence of the grey-skinned person. Asuma's eyes then shifted towards Shikamaru, whose back was to him, before turning his sights on the confused expressions on Choji and Ino. Asuma figured that the same thoughts going through his head were also going through their heads, 'they're probably wondering what's going on.' He then shifted his eyes towards Shikamaru once again, 'you were telling the truth, Shika.' Asuma took in a deep breath before saying, "Kakashi's right, Choji, Ino… wait outside with Team Seven."

"Sensei," Ino turned towards him before turning her head towards the older Naruto and Sakura, and then back to him while her arms were pointed toward the older Naruto and Sakura, "there are two… I mean…come on, they look like doubles of Naruto and Sakura, and…"

"Outside, now," Asuma sternly said looking at Ino and Choji before nodding at the door where Tazuna and his family were standing. They were still staring with a surprised look on their faces in the direction of the spot where the greyish skinned figure vanished a few seconds ago. Asuma then glanced at Shikamaru, "stay here, Shika."

Shikamaru looked over his shoulder and nodded his head.

"Sensei…"

"Ino," Choji said, a look of confusion still on his face when he spoke before his female teammate could continue, "I think they'll tell us what's going on later." Asuma saw Ino turning towards Choji with a look of exasperation and was about to say something when Tsunade turned towards the group.

"What we have to say will be heard by both your Sensei," she said, her eyes moving from the Young Naruto to Choji and Ino, "then most of what I have to say will go through the Sandaime, and then… if he approves, the other Shinobi will know what's going on." Before the Genin could say anything, Tsunade turned to the older Sakura and Naruto before saying, "but what I would like to know… what Shikamaru and I would like to know… is what happened after we were knocked unconscious."

Asuma was about to tell Choji and Ino to wait outside – just as Kakashi was about to tell his Genin to do the same – when Sasuke spoke up. Asuma couldn't miss the frown on his face while staring at the older Sakura and Naruto; and Asuma could only guess to what he was going to say.

"Where am I?"

Tsunade heard the voice of the Uchiha and turned her head towards him. As did the older Sakura and Naruto. The two teens glanced at each, something that Asuma didn't miss… neither did he miss the momentary look of sadness on their faces… before they shifted their gaze towards Sasuke. He closed his eyes and shook his head; he had seen that expression before on the faces of many who lost loved ones in the Third Shinobi War and after missions went bad. He remembered that look on Kakashi's face the day Obito's name was etched onto the Memorial Stone, the day Rin was buried, and the day the Yondaime was buried.

Asuma then heard Sasuke demand to know if he managed to kill THAT man.

'Still thinking about killing Itachi,' Asuma thought disappointedly while, at the same time, hearing Ino whisper to Choji, and then to Sakura, who it was that Sasuke wanted to kill. He saw the Genin in Team Seven shrug their shoulders while Naruto said, "the ass wouldn't tell us anything."

"Shut up, loser," Sasuke then hissed looking over at the blonde Jinchuriki before turning his head towards the older Naruto and Sakura, "well?"

"It doesn't matter," Tsunade said as she stared at Sasuke… but the latter wasn't backing off. He demanded to know where he was and what happened to 'THAT man'. Asuma could sense Tsunade was getting angrier when suddenly Sakura… the older Sakura… spoke up.

"You died," Sakura said, her voice low, before she looked away from Sasuke. The latter was stunned, his lips were parted and his eyes were wide open. The younger Sakura had wetness gathering in her eyes while a surprised Naruto stared at his older self who nodded his head before looking away and towards the floor. Asuma glanced at Kakashi and Tsunade, the two of them had passive expressions on their faces before he looked over at Ino and Choji. Ino had an expression of shock, just like the younger Sakura, and was about to cry as she clasped her hands together and pressed them against her chest. He then looked over at Shikamaru who looked up at Naruto and Sakura.. both of whom looked away from him with guilt written on their faces… before shaking his head.

"Kakashi sensei.. I mean the other Kakashi-sensei died too," Naruto said in a whisper. Asuma saw the teen look at Kakashi with guilt etched on his face before continuing, "he sacrificed his life for me."

"If he didn't," the teen Sakura said as she reached out and wrapped her fingers around Teen Naruto's arm, much to the surprise of the younger Sakura and Ino – both of whom gave slight gasps at the sight. It was something that would have made Asuma want to chuckle if it wasn't such a serious situation. He shifted his gaze to the teenagers and listened as Sakura calmly said to the teen Naruto who was looking back at her with sadness, "then the world would have ended. You know it would have, she would have absorbed you and your chakra… and then all that would have remained is me. She would have squashed me like a bug."

"Sakura-chan…"

"You know it's true," Sakura said gently before she looked over at Kakashi, her expression fell for an instant before regaining her composure. A second later, the sides of her lips sloped upwards to form a small smile. Asuma then saw her look away, as did Naruto.

It was then that Kakashi released an audible sigh while rubbing the back of his head. Asuma had a small smile on his lips when the grey haired Jonin chuckled, "of course I'll do all I could for my cute little Genin. And if I had to sacrifice my life for a greater good, well… that's being a Shinobi."

"Kakashi, Asuma," Tsunade said while her hands were pressed against her waist, "there are things that the two of you need to know." Asuma nodded his head; he wondered what else was there that was important. He already knew that he would die before the war, but he didn't know who killed him or why. And there was a part of him that was eager to learn what happened after he passed away. But he also wanted to know who was this 'she' that Teen Sakura had mentioned, and why 'she' would absorb Naruto's chakra.

That seemed to have been going through everyone's minds too since it was Shikamaru who brought it up.

"Who's this 'she' you mentioned? And why would this person want to steal Naruto's chakra…" Asuma saw the boy freeze as he stared at Naruto. 'He must have realized whoever this person is… she must have wanted to steal the Kyuubi away.' It was then that Asuma turned towards Ino and Choji.

"Ino, Choji," Asuma said in a tone of voice that demanded no arguements, "I'm sure that Kakashi could find some use for the two of you to work together with Team Seven."

Kakashi nodded his head before saying that the town needed doctors and that Shizune was about to help set up an infirmary. "I think Choji should accompany Ino and Sakura … the three of them would be escorting Shizune and Tazuna so that they could set up an infirmary."

Asuma nodded his head before Kakashi continued, "and Sasuke and Naruto will patrol the village… Naruto use your clones and station them around the village." Asuma agreed.

"After we're done here, Shizune," Tsunade said looking at her first apprentice, "I'll send Sakura over to you to help."

"Understood," Shizune and the Teen Sakura said while nodding their heads. It would be a few minutes later that the Genin from Team Ten and Seven, and Shizune as well as Tonton, filed out of the room. Young Naruto was the last to leave after a grumbling Ino; he closed the door behind him, but not before locking eyes with his older self who gave a small nod of his head before looking away. After the door clicked shut, Asuma turned back towards the Teen Sakura who sighed before wiping her forehead.

"Where do we begin?" she said shaking her head.

"Do you know about the war?" Teen Naruto asked in a whisper as he looked over at Kakashi and then at Asuma; the latter saw the slightly pained expression on Naruto's face as they locked eyes, before the latter looked away with guilt once again on his face.

Asuma wanted to take out a cigerate from his waist pouch and smoke while thinking, 'all of them know I'm…. or rather I did die in their future. What a drag.'

"I gave Asuma-sensei a heads-up," Shikamaru said as the group moved until they were standing in a circle before taking a seat on the tatami mats, "told him about Naruto and Bee-san being the last two Jinchuriki, and that the war was meant to protect them."

"So, everyone knows about the Kyuubi and your connection to it, Naruto?" Kakashi asked. Naruto nodded his head before saying that the people who were in the dark about the Kyuubi and Naruto discovered the truth about a year ago from his perspective. Kakashi nodded his head and said, "I see." Asuma could see a bit of relief in Kakashi's eye when Naruto said that by the time everyone knew about the Kyuubi, things had started to change for the better.

"Well," Tsunade spoke after letting off a sigh, "before we get bogged down into reminiscing about what could have been, war was declared by Madara… or at least someone we thought was Madara." Asuma and Kakashi glanced at each other, as did Teen Naruto and Sakura, along with Shikamaru who frowned, "like I said, there are somethings that I, Shikamaru, Naruto, and Sakura would have to clear with the Sandaime first. Just know that there are two Madara's that were involved in the war…"

"Don't forget the dead who were raised to fight the living."

"What?" Asuma balked before saying that he thought he heard Naruto wrong, "did you just say that the dead were brought back…."

"Ino, Choji, and I had to fight you, Asuma-sensei," Shikamaru admitted before looking away with a haunting look on his face, "it was the edo-tensei jutsu… it was hard to fight you… but in the end, we sealed your body so that you couldn't hurt anyone."

"I… I guess that was a good thing," Asuma whispered while rubbing the back of his head. 'I died, and was then brought back to life. Damn… the edo-tensei… a forbidden technique was used on me and countless others?'

"Anyway," Tsunade continued while raising her hand, "lets finish before any questions are asked." Everyone nodded their heads. Tsunade continued onto the war – Asuma could sense she was hiding something; it was as if she was choosing her words very carefully and saying the things that she thought they needed to know.

'I guess we'll know everything after she talks with dad,' Asuma thought to himself as Tsunade continued talking.

She said that they were not aware of the identity of the first Madara before saying that he led the Akatsuki, and their plans were to place everyone in the world in a genjutsu using a sharingan reflected off a full-moon. Asuma was surprised at hearing that… he glanced at Kakashi who was also surprised since he was leaning forward to listen closely to what as being said. She told them about the Jyuubi and the devine tree while Asuma and Kakashi listened in stunned silence as Tsunade continued to say that Madara succeeded by absorbing the Jyuubi and becoming its Jinchuriki.

Shikamaru then added, "I remember the sharingan on the moon, and then everything went dark before I found myself in that tunnel and then… well… I saw Naruto and Sakura falling… and here I am."

"Same here," Tsunade said before turning towards Teen Naruto and Sakura, "so, time travel?"

Sakura and Naruto nodded their heads before speaking about what happened after the world-wide genjutsu was activated. Everyone listened on in stunned silence as Naruto and Sakura explained the Sage of Six Paths, who they had already met earlier – Asuma was surprised at that revelation, and he sensed the others were surprised as well; and then they went on to speak about Kaguya and how she wanted to create more White Zetsu through the Shinobi and other humans who were trapped within the branches of the Divine Tree.

Asuma felt sick as both Sakura and Naruto spoke of how Black Zetsu betrayed both Madaras, 'there's only one Madara, so who is the other one… why aren't Sakura and Naruto saying anything about his identity?'

But as agreed, Asuma held his questions while Naruto and Sakura went on to talk about their quest to defeat Kaguya, about how the Sage gave Naruto and Sasuke some of his powers to seal Kaguya away, and then they went on to their battle. Sakura explained they were shifted to different dimensions before pointing out the scar on her arm. Sakura revealed that she was injured on her arm when Kaguya opened a portal to a world of acid… how she was rescued and brought to another dimension but now Sasuke and Naruto were separated. She spoke of how they were returned to another one of Kaguya's dimension together and how the first Madara was killed protecting them.

"And then we were sent to another dimension," Naruto said, "we were supposed to stop her there… you know… to seal her."

"She used these spikes that kill on contact and… and Sasuke-kun and Naruto were so close," Sakura whispered shaking her head, "Sasuke-kun almost hit him with one half of the sear before he was hit with a spike… and that changed his trajectory away from Kaguya. A portal opened next to Naruto and…"

"And you ordered Sasuke to use his Rinnegan to switch your place with me," Naruto said as he looked at Kakashi who was looking back at him, "the spike hit you and… and you were being turned to ash like Sasuke. And then we lost."

"We lost," Sakura whispered before saying they were brought back to the real world. "And now here we are… that's pretty much the gist of what happened. Hagoromo-sama sent us back through time to try and prevent the war from happening. He said we'll be going back… but he never mentioned sending anyone else back with us."

Asuma stared at Naruto and Sakura and tried to imagine how they much have felt while standing alone against Kaguya. But he couldn't… he couldn't imagine the fear of facing a being as powerful as the progenitor of Chakra.

"I see," Tsunade whispered while Shikamaru was staring at the floor with his hands closed off into fists.

"The plan after we arrived here was to find you once Naruto regained consciousness," Sakura said while staring at Tsunade, "I asked Kakashi-sensei not to take us back to Konoha yet… actually I told Naruto to tell Sensei not to include us in his report."

"But you were unconscious," Kakashi reminded her before saying that he hadn't heard the two of them speaking. It was then that all of them, except for Naruto and Sakura, were stunned into silence when Naruto said that Kurama had pulled Sakura into his mindspace after she shared her chakra with him when they were falling through the sky. Asuma and Kakashi were stunned as they listened to Naruto saying that the Kyuubi's name was Kurama and that there was a reason why he attacked the village so many years ago – that it was Madara who had kidnapped the fox's former Jinchuuriki after she gave birth.

"The seal was already weakened," Naruto said as he looked at the surprised expression on Kakashi's face. Asuma looked at the expression too… and he started to wonder if Kakashi knew who Naruto's parents really were. He did suspect the blonde boy was the son of Minato and Kushina since the two of them were nearly always seen together… in fact, he heard rumours that the two were married in secret. But nothing was ever confirmed.

And then Naruto said, "I know the truth, Kakashi-sensei… and I understand why you didn't say anything. I understand why Sandaime-Jiji didn't say anything."

"I see," Kakashi said in a stunned whisper while nodding his head.

"So…." Asuma said, his suspicions were demanding answers, "you really are Kushina-san and Minato-sama's…"

"Yes," Naruto nodded his head; confirming Asuma's suspicions.

"This still has to remain a secret from your younger-self," Kakashi said glancing up at Naruto, "at least until the Hokage comes to a decision."

"But what do we do now?" Shikamaru said as he stood up and stretched his arms over his head, "Sakura, what were your plans after telling Tsunade-sama who you two were?"

"I was going to convince Naruto and shishou that we shouldn't change too many things too fast," Sakura answered. Asuma thought to himself that it was a good idea while he occasionally glanced at Naruto. Now that his suspicions were confirmed, Asuma wondered how the people who bullied him would feel once the truth was revealed. He looked away and thought to his own faults – there were a few times that he had seen Naruto bullied or refused food and service, but he never intervened. What would he say now… would just saying that he was sorry suffice? The truth was that Asuma didn't know what he could do to show that he was truly sorry and that he should have done more for the boy when he was younger.

'Saying that I'm sorry is a start, I suppose,' Asuma thought to himself while Naruto whined that Sakura had a message for Kakashi when he regained consciousness.

"But I can't remember it now!" he whined before Sakura slapped the upside of his head.

"Baka," Sakura sighing, "it was a warning about Root and that we shouldn't be brought back to Konoha in case Danzo managed to get the information in our heads."

"That's a good plan," Tsunade said with a frown when Danzo's name was mentioned. Asuma wondered what happened between her and Danzo when she became Hokage. And then another thought formed in his mind.

'Why did Tsunade-sama become Hokage... what happened to dad?' Asuma made a mental note to ask that question, along with his other questions and his mental note to apologize to Naruto. All those were pushed to one side of his mind as Naruto spoke about the need to warn the other villages about Akatsuki and the on-going threat.

"We need to convince the Sandaime first," said Shikamaru. Everyone looked at him before he continued, "yes, Tsunade-sama and I can back up Naruto and Sakura, but the Sandaime and the Elders will still demand proof."

"We'll need to take care of Danzo before that," Sakura said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"We're conspiring against an Elder of the villager," Asuma reminded them while Kakashi leaned back as he stared at Tsunade. Asuma turned his head towards Shikamaru, and then to Naruto, Sakura, and finally to Tsunade, "this is bordering on treason, Tsunade-sama."

"And whatever he did in the future… or will do in the future cannot be counted against him since he hasn't done those things yet," Kakashi added, "Tsunade-sama, I realize he must have done…"

"He nearly started an international incident when the Shinobi world needed to be united," Shikamaru said shaking his head, "it's true that Madara declared war anyway, but there could have easily been another war that would have destroyed any chance of an alliance between Konoha and the other villages."

"Even so," Kakashi said while Asuma ran his hand through his hair, "Danzo still hasn't done that and.."

"Let's look at his past then," Tsunade said leaning forward while her eyes narrowed, "he and his actions without the permission of the Elders or the Hokage started the Akatsuki down a dark path…."

"What?" Asuma asked while Kakashi's eyes widened.

"The very same Akatsuki that will be a thorn in the side of Konoha and every other village in the near future," Tsunade said, "let's also not forget that Danzo tried to have the Sandaime assassinated." Tsunade was staring at Kakashi while Asuma's eyes went wide in shock; this was something he didn't know about.

'Danzo tried to have dad killed? What the hell?' Asuma turned to Kakashi who had closed his eyes before the latter asked how she knew what happened.

"In the future, you were the one who told me about it," Tsunade said, "Root fell after Danzo died. It was before the war against the Akatsuki started; after his death, I had my Anbu and Shinobi I trusted get into their records and retrieve everything. Every secret… every illegal and unauthorized actions taken… were meticulously recorded down by Danzo himself."

"He thought no one could get to him," Shikamaru said as he stared at Asuma, "we know enough to have him hanged for betraying the village."

"Let's stop," Kakashi said shaking his head, "we'll talk to the Sandaime when we get back." Kakashi turned to Sakura and said sternly, "and we are going back to Konoha."

"I still think that would be a bad idea," Sakura said shaking her head before turning towards Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama, if we get back now, then everything that happened during the Chuunin exams would change. I mean could change… and then the changes could go out of control and… and I just think we… well… we should keep a low profile." Sakura bit her lower lip before turning towards Naruto who was looking back at her. Asuma heard her tell the blond, "you know why right?"

'Umm… the Chuunin exams haven't even been announced yet,' Asuma thought to himself as he listened.

Asuma turned to Shikamaru who was deep in thought before he watched Sakura turn towards Kakashi who asked why she felt they shouldn't return to Konoha yet. There must be a very good reason for them not to accompany them back home after they were finished with the mission in the Land of Waves.

"If we go back to Konoha," Sakura said glancing at Naruto, "then people who…" Sakura stopped as Naruto shook his head before saying that there had to be another way. Sakura shook her head and repeated her claim that going back to Konoha immediately was too risky. Asuma asked what she was talking about, and both he and Kakashi didn't miss the looks on Tsunade and Shikamaru's faces when they glanced at each other. It was as if they were having their own little conversation without actually verbalizing their speech.

"Sakura," Kakashi said in a stern voice once again, "what is the reason you feel you and Naruto should not return to Konoha?"

It was Sakura who then said, "If we go back with you, there would be three very powerful Shinobi walking through those gates."

"I understand," Tsunade said as she nodded her head. Asuma saw the woman smile slightly at Sakura as she then continued before turning her head towards Kakashi and Asuma, "the Chuunin exams will be announced… and for the first time, there will be three Rookie teams taking part."

"Team Seven," Sakura said.

"Team Ten," Shikamaru said as Asuma looked towards him with an eyebrow raised, "we did kinda decent."

"Hinata's team – Team Eight - and bushy-brow's team." Naruto added.

"Shikamaru becomes the first of us to be promoted to Chuunin," Sakura said while Shikamaru rolled his eyes. Asuma smirked at the young Nara while thinking that become a Chuunin would have helped in dealing with his chronic laziness.

'At least I hope so.'

"Anyway, the exams would lead to changes," Shikamaru said.

"Good and bad changes," Tsunade added while looking at Asuma, "there were a lot of good changes, Asuma, Kakashi." Asuma saw Tsunade looking over at Naruto, "I understand why Sakura wants us to wait until the Chuunin exams before we return to Konoha. Naruto… well, Naruto changes a lot of people for the better during the exam."

"Baa-chan," Naruto whined while rubbing the back of his head as his face reddened in embarrassment.

"He does change people's perception of him," Shikamaru said before yawning and then continuing, "what happened in our future may not happen in this timeline if they return to Konoha. And… and I cannot think of another way to create the alliances and the changes made to the village in the future if they return to Konoha with us now."

"Make no mistake, there are things we intend to change though," Tsunade said nodding her head, "deaths I intend to prevent."

Kakashi and Asuma looked at each other before turning back towards Tsunade.

"Things could very well change once they return to Konoha now," Shikamaru said, "I know I'll follow whatever plan we come up with, and I know that Asuma and Kakashi-sensei will follow a plan too."

"Within reason," Kakashi said, "but the four of you are being deliberately vague. What happens to Konoha during the Chuunin exam?"

Asuma could see hesitation in the four time-travellers. They glanced at each other while seemingly having their own silent conversation once again. It would be a few seconds later that Sakura and Shikamaru nodded their heads before they turned towards Naruto. Asuma could see Naruto was even more hesitant than the others… Asuma saw Sakura place a hand on his shoulder before they looked at each other.

"This is about the younger version of you too, Naruto," Sakura said, "the younger version of me, Sasuke-kun, Ino, Choji, and all the others. We have to give them the same chances we had in our timeline for the Chuunin exams."

Asuma could see Naruto's hesitation falling into pieces. He glanced at Kakashi before watching Naruto once again as the latter nodded his head.

"You need to swear secrecy Asuma, Kakashi," Tsunade said with a stern voice as she turned her head towards the two Jonin, "in order to create the alliances that would serve use best in the future, I need to two of you to keep what we are about to say to yourselves for the duration of the exams… at least until the second phase is over."

"Tsunade-sama…"

"The Chuunin exams, if there are no interruptions, will help heal the rift in the Hyuuga," Sakura said, "it will heal the rift between me and Ino, and… and I know I sound selfish to you Asuma-sensei and Kakashi-sensei, but the Chuunin exams is when Naruto starts being accepted by the villagers."

"Our alliance with Sunagakure vastly improves, sensei," Shikamaru said as he nodded his head, "there are many other good things that'll happen."

"But there is something horrible that will happen as well," Tsunade said. Asuma saw her looking at him, and before he could ask what she was thinking, Tsunade said, "there will be an attack on Konoha."

"And you are…"

"Kakashi," Tsunade barked before pressing her lips together as she glared at Kakashi. She then sighed before speaking, "Orochimaru will make his move, alongside Suna, against Konoha."

"Then we have to warn the Hokage," Asuma said with eyes wide open. How could Tsunade be so nonchalant about this attack. It was her home after all… she knew about an attack but she and the others wanted to wait… they wanted to not tell the Hokage.

"The Kazakage is probably dead already," Shikamaru said to the shock of Kakashi and Asuma, "Orochimaru killed him and took his place using one of his jutsus. But we have no proof of it now."

"We…"

"If we make a move now, then Orochimaru will come up with another plan and we'll lose this one chance we have at getting him and his apprentice," Tsunade said before her face twisted in anger, "and I swear to you that we will get his apprentice… that bastard is the one who raised the dead… the one who gave Madara even more fodder for his war." Asuma saw her calm down before saying, "in our future, I became Hokage after Sarutobi-sensei died." Asuma felt his heart stop as Tsunade continued while her eyes were fixed on him, "Naruto was the one who brought me back to Konoha to become the Godaime Hokage."

"We must tell dad," Asuma insisted.

"We will," Tsunade said, "but if we're too soon, then Orochimaru could scuttle back to the village he created, Otogakure, and plan another attack we will not know about. And I can tell you that he will find out about it. We know he and Danzo have collaborated before, and we always suspected collaboration between the two for the invasion. In fact, we had evidence."

"What?" Asuma and Kakashi exclaimed.

"I told you I know his secrets," Tsunade said darkly as she stared at Kakashi and Asuma.

"If we change things too soon, Orochimaru could kill the Hokage like how he killed the Kazekage," Shikamaru said shaking his head before looking at Asuma, "Sensei, we have to come up with a plan over the next two months. Then once we have something, we'll tell the Sandaime."

"Naruto," Kakashi said as he looked at the young man who was looking at the floor, "what do you think?"

"I want to tell Hokage-Jiji," Naruto said while rubbing the back of his head, "but I… I also think that Baa-chan, Shikamaru, and Sakura-chan are right, 'ttebayo. If we do anything too soon, then Orochi-bastard will know something's up and he'll change his plans."

"Asuma," Tsunade stared at him with determination, "I have no intension of letting Sensei fall. We need our strongest Shinobi to prepare for a possible Great War that could involve the Akatsuki and Zetsu." She then looked at Sakura, Shikamaru, and then to Naruto, "at the same time, we work to prevent that war from happening in the first place."

"But first," Shikamaru said as he looked at Tsunade, Asuma, and Kakashi, "once we're done here… before we head back home… we need a way to wipe the memories of Ino, Choji, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto."

"Wait, what?" Naruto, Sakura, and Tsunade said as they turned towards Shikamaru while Asuma and Kakashi looked at the boy with confusion on their faces.

TBC