"This isn't over, brat," Tsunade promised as she headed to the door, arriving in time to hear an all too familiar voice greeting a slightly surprised Shizune. As she watched Jiraiya enter, their eyes met and a smile she hadn't seen in years, but one that had been tempered by time and experience, formed on Jiraiya's lips.

"Hime, you're as beautiful as ever," Jiraiya complimented.

Whatever response she was going to make died as she felt Naruto walk beside her and watched the agony in Jiraiya's eyes. Jiraiya approached slowly and she wondered if he didn't quite believe what he was seeing. He placed a hand on each of Naruto's shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze.

"It really is you," he said just above a whisper. He then realized that to his godson, he was a perfect stranger and backed off, apologizing as he did. "I know you don't know me,"

"Jiraiya of the Sannin. The Toad Sage. Sensei of my father and godfather to me. I know more about you than you realize but it is nice to officially meet," he said with a smile.

While Jiraiya was somewhat surprised Naruto knew of his lineage he was more so stunned Naruto didn't seem to hold any ill will toward him.

"Um, Naruto," Tsunade called, getting the blond's attention, "isn't there something you want to do?"

Naruto looked at her until he realized what she meant, "No, not really."

"I think you should," Tsunade said as she crossed her arms.

"I'm fine, besides what would it solve?" Naruto asked.

"Do it or I will," Tsunade barked and Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Hey, this isn't personal," Naruto told Jiraiya but before the man could ask what wasn't personal, he was doubled over Naruto's fist that had found its way into his gut.

Jiraiya coughed as Naruto removed his fist. "You got a strong punch, kid," he complimented.

"Pfft, he didn't even break anything, he held back too much."

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune admonished but Tsunade could see it was for show. She agreed Jiraiya deserved it, which is why her student departed elsewhere without another word.

"Or violence doesn't solve every problem," Naruto remarked.

"It's fine, Naruto, really. I had it coming and Hime doesn't appreciate grievous bodily harm since she can so easily heal it. I know from experience," Jiraiya finished with a shiver at the memory of her nearly killing him. It was Tsunade's turn to roll her eyes.

"You were good as new when I finished," Tsunade scoffed as she ushered Jiraiya into their living room. Taking a seat on the same grey couch he used to crash on after missions, Jiraiya was fighting hard not to feel nostalgic for times past or wistful for opportunities missed. He had to focus on the now. The past was a trap and he couldn't fall into it again

"So, Naruto, how have you been?" he asked but felt it was such an underwhelming question he had to shake off the encroaching embarrassment.

"Good for the most part. I used to be obsessed with what I didn't have when I was little. Leaving taught me I had to search for what I wanted, I couldn't just wait for it to be handed to me."

"Not a bad lesson in the abstract but a terrible one for a child, especially one that went through what you did," Jiraiya said. Kakashi had been merciless in his description of Naruto's life, sparing not one thought for Jiraiya's feelings on the matter. If that hadn't hurt, the Hatake's refusal to tell him where Naruto was almost had the men coming to blows. His sensei and many ANBU prevented it.

"Wanting things to be fair was slowly poisoning me. Right or wrong, I had to find what I needed, fight for it. I wouldn't suggest it but the circumstances were what they were."

"Do… do you hate them?" 'Do you hate me?'

Jiraiya was not expecting Naruto to laugh at the question but it was the initial response he got. "What is hate to a child? Can a little heart even understand such an extreme emotion? In a sense, yes, I hated them but it took years to understand that's how I felt and work through it. Now? I mostly pity them. They use me as a crutch because it's easier than healing."

"Cowards, the lot of them," Tsunade spat. "So glad I'm not one anymore," she added.

Jiraiya looked at Tsunade in mild disbelief. He never thought she'd be so blunt about her exit from ninja life and wondered if this was Naruto's influence or something else entirely.

"Besides, your pity is wasted," she finished. Naruto shrugged.

"I can't grant them sympathy or empathy so pity is all I have. Besides, that wasn't Jiraiya's real question anyway. No, I don't hate you. At times, I was disappointed. But the benefit of perspective allows me to see, if you had found me you would have been expected to bring me back. There are so many things I've gotten to do because I wasn't a ninja tied to a village. Freedom costs and one of those costs was you."

"It shouldn't have had to be like that. I had responsibilities, ones that left me ill-suited to raise you but I should have done better and I am truly sorry I didn't."

"Jeez, Jiraiya, way to bring down the mood," Tsunade mocked.

"Bring down the mood? You were going to hug me to death before he got here," Naruto pointed out.

"Because you can't stay out of mischief."

"Mischief? What, am I stealing pies off window sills? Hatching schemes to get my friend to do my housework? I don't get into mischief. Also, I was minding my business and was caught in a turn of events."

"A turn of events?" Tsunade asked, sarcastically. "Oh, that's a new one. What did you say when you told me about Orochimaru? Oh, 'the universe illuminated the terminus of my path.'"

"It did!"

"You were just supposed to be on a fucking walk! And what about Kakuzu? What was that one?"

"He was being an asshole, 'ttebayo," Naruto defended.

"I could give a shit if he said he fucked your mother bowlegged. Being rude is not a reason to fight an S-class ninja. Not to mention, you were actually there to kill two, A-class ninja to begin with."

"Detain," Naruto corrected.

"Show me one ninja you've ever detained with a Rasengan to the face. Just one."

"It could happen."

"And what was it in Wave? You had no choice as it was an affront to human dignity?"

"You saw the conditions, they were."

"You were supposed to be on a sojourn to Uzushio and even that was… what? Oh, yea, 'I feel the spirit of the ancestors calling me.'"

"I did."

"And I let you go on the understanding you'd stay out of trouble. Did you stay out of trouble?"

"Zabuza was picking on me."

Jiraiya finally stepped in at that name. "Wait, you know the current Mizukage's second-in-command?"

"Oh, is that what happened to him? After she," Naruto pointed to Tsunade, "scared the shit out of him he just took off with his apprentice."

"Do I even want to know what she did?" Jiraiya asked.

"What I remember was she threatening to put his testicles where his eyes were, his eyes where his balls should be while making them fully functional so he could watch her kick him in half. But there was a lot of it I was conscious for." Jiraiya shot Tsunade a look, it conveyed a mix of horror and admiration.

"Well, he and that ice twat of his shouldn't have been messing with you," Tsunade defended.

"Haku was fine, I think we could have been friends given more time."

"Uh-huh, 'friends'", Tsunade said while doing finger quotes.

"I was twelve, yes, friends is about all I could be with a girl. It's still all I can be without risk of killing them so even if your suspicion that every young woman I spend more than ten minutes with wants me, it's really a moot point."

"I heard Shion mention using a sheet, with a strategically placed hole and a condom," Tsunade said neutrally. Naruto went beet red.

"T-that was out of context, dattebayo."

"Oh boy, a sheet? Sounds kinky," Jiraiya added then thanked a higher power Shizune returned with tea. He'd swear he'd just seen smoke come from Tsunade's nose like a cartoon bull.

Kakashi sat at his neat and clear desk watching the approach of his most valuable ANBU agent. He welcomed the distraction as he'd been done with his work for hours. He really didn't understand why the Sandaime never managed to delegate tasks more efficiently as there was no reason the responsibilities of the Hokage required ten to twelve hours of paperwork. If he was concerned about leaked information he could have always slapped a seal on them, his good friend Danzo was adept at such a thing.

The agent continued her approach, removing her infamous mask; without permission, Kakashi noted. And then circled the desk, making Kakashi slide back so she could sit on the edge, right in front of him. Also, decidedly against protocol. She was a naughty ANBU.

"You seem distracted, Hokage-sama."

"Well, when one of my ANBU violates procedure so blatantly what else could I be?"

"At a little rule-breaking? That should hardly faze the Hokage"

"Mah, mah, this ANBU is special and requires special handling."

"Hmm, sounds like a real hard case."

"Can be but with the requisite skill she'll absolutely purr."

"And do you have that skill, Hokage-sama?"

"I doubt you'd have married me if I hadn't, Yugao-chan," ANBU Kakashi replied with an eye smile.

"I only married you to get the cherry assignments and be a shoo-in for commander someday."

"Those couldn't be the only reasons," Kakashi protested.

"Well, I sometimes wear your Hokage robes when you're gone."

"With nothing underneath, I hope."

"Maybe you'll find out one day," Yugao said and grinned at the gleam in Kakashi's eye. She almost felt bad for what she was about to do. "But not today, so down, doggy."

"So mean, so mean," Kakashi complained in mock defeat. "Well, if you didn't come for any office time fun, why did you grace me with your presence?"

"I heard your puppy has returned and has some bite to him."

"Oh, yes," Kakashi nearly gushed. "I'm sure Minato-sensei and Kushina-san would be quite proud."

"Of how he's grown?" Yugao asked.

"Well, that but also, how he handled Kisame. Brutal efficient met righteous overkill. Kinda exemplifies his parents," Kakashi mused. Yugao rolled her eyes. For how proud he was of the boy, someone would think Kakashi sired him himself.

"Does this mean your dastardly plan is underway?"

"Mah, mah," Kakashi said with a dismissive wave. "Nothing dastardly about it. Manipulative? Sure but I'm a ninja so won't apologize for it. Besides, I'm not going to languish in this chair for decades. Maybe it's about time to retire. Have some pups of our own. Take the occasional assassination mission if I'm feeling restless. Sounds like a good life to me."

"It wouldn't be the worst thing. However, word around the campfire is that Naruto iced Orochimaru, if he did the thing then he won't be easy to trick. What happens if he sees through your plan?"

"Oh, that's the beauty. I don't have to do anything until the very end. Mostly, I allow people to be true to their natures. I can't really be blamed for that, now can I?"

"You're playing a dangerous game, I hope you realize that," Yugao warned.

"I'm simply restoring things as they should have been. Had the Sandaime and Jiraiya done their jobs, Naruto would be a Konoha ninja in good standing. It's what Minato-sensei would have wanted."

"What if it isn't what Naruto wants?"

"I've accounted for that. I'm sure there are realities of being a shinobi that wouldn't interest him; most specifically, giving up his autonomy and following orders. Don't worry, I have ways around that. Besides, when he's tested there's no way he wouldn't qualify as a Jounin. I'll forge a mission history with the things he's already done just to really sell it. It'll work out."

"You seem to be forgetting the villagers. The bias against him ebbed right up until it didn't," Yugao pointed out.

"Oh, Yugao-chan," Kakashi said as if she were being silly, "you should know they will either bend to my will or break under it," he finished with an eye smile. To most, that made Kakashi sound like a full-blown sociopath but goddamn if she didn't find it hot. However, she would not be allowed to act upon it as they were alerted to an approaching ANBU. Yugao swiftly slipped on her mask and stood behind Kakashi just in time for Agent Boar to walk in.

Kneeling before his leader, the large special operative spoke in a deep baritone, "Danzo has made contact with Uzumaki Naruto, Godaime-sama." The senior ANBU suppressed the gulp but had to endure the shiver up his spine when he felt the Hokage's reaction to the news. It was but for a second but it was enough to know his leader was not happy.

"Rise, Boar," Kakashi ordered and the man did so, his eyes meeting the lone visible one of Kakashi's. His instincts were on high alert, screaming he was in imminent danger but his years of training and discipline overpowered them.

"It appears our dear Elder Danzo is in need of a visit. You will relay all relevant information while we're in transit, starting with how it was allowed to happen to begin with, yes?"

"Hai"

Naruto, well a shadow clone of Naruto, looked at the clerk in front of him in mild bemusement. The reason he was here was to purchase groceries so they could host Kakashi tonight. Tsunade demanded a clone be sent because she believed the shadow clone would get in less trouble than the real Naruto. To some extent it was true, not that the clones didn't find themselves in similar situations but they had the option to dispel. However, given his task, the clone didn't really have that option now.

"I'm no master mathematician," Naruto stated, "but simple addition isn't beyond me and the price you've quoted me is not the price for the goods I have selected."

"Pay or get out," the clerk said, a man not quite middle aged but also not young. Black hair, brown eyes, Naruto thought it was a shame he never became a ninja as he wouldn't stand out in a crowd of one.

"Oh, I will pay but the regular price, not the nonsense you're asking for," Naruto said.

"Listen," the clerk was interrupted.

"Do you understand why we use currency in our trade, Clerk-san?" Naruto asked.

"I don't care, just get-"

"Now, some believe that currency, fiat or no, but backed by the governing body allows for consistency, predictability and a universalizing affect. One ryo here is one ryo in the capital. All over, makes trade possible. Commodities and exchanges are more easily run, inflation is kept in check. Ok, yes, to some degree. But baked into these arguments are a fetishization of commodities. You following me?"

Resigned to have to deal with that boy the man nodded.

"Good. See, when you get right down to it, all business, be it ninja or civilian from a brothel to a baker is a business of relationships. The money, then, is merely a symbol for these relationships. The farmer's work means you can do something else and so on and so forth and yet all contribute to the community. Community, Clerk-san. A complex web of social relationships. So when we engage in trade, the money is the recognition of your efforts. Your produce looked good, well selected and stored. I choose to shop here because of that. All very simple.

Now, when you try to charge me more for goods, that is suggesting a certain kind of social relationship. You are implying I am somehow a lesser valued member of the community or have somehow earned your ire, thereby you require more symbolic investment on my part. I won't tolerate it."

"What do you mean?" the clerk asked, now slightly afraid. Naruto rolled his eyes.

"Man, you people can't decide if I'm this all dangerous entity or your whipping boy and you somehow contain notions of both even if they are logically inconsistent. I've done nothing to you, I'm only responsible for my actions and as such will only pay the price as listed now and should I return in the future. I am a community member in good standing and will be treated as such, even symbolically. Now, I calculated the correct amount which is what I've laid on the counter."

"I-I can reject your business," the man sputtered, not liking being dictated to by the infamous container before him.

"True, you can but c'mon. You were willing to overcharge me but are now willing to forgo any money? That's illogical. Just accept the exchange."

"Fine but don't come back," the man said. The clone rolled his eyes as he took his bags. Try to lay a little knowledge on people and they can't even appreciate the attempt. As he walked out of the grocery he started speaking even though no one was beside him.

"Enjoy the show?"

"You have sharp senses, Naruto-san," the bandaged and, apparently, crippled man said. The clone knew who this man was, Orochimaru and he had a long standing relationship. "But no, there wasn't much value in watching you talk circles around a half wit." The clone shrugged.

"The only thing truly expended is a little time and wouldn't the world be a better place if we could just make more time for each other?"

"I've never been one for diplomacy," Danzo said.

"A thousand words can accomplish more than a thousand battles," Naruto retorted.

"I find words only have value when backed by action, action tells the truth of a situation."

"That kind of thinking only leaves room for the powerful to be heard while everyone else gets trampled on."

"Is that so bad? We cloak ourselves in artifice but are we so different from any other animal? The strong lead, the weak follow. Lions eat lambs. The question is, which are you?"

"Both? Neither? A shepherd? Dichotomies are too restricting for me, even in my metaphors."

"Hmm. Life's endless complexity tends to get simplified in times of crisis, when we are tested and all the honeyed words and false ideologies fall into a heap. When put to a decision what will you choose, Naruto-san?"

"Danzo-sama, it appears you have strayed from your desired location," the just arrived ANBU said.

"Well, it appears my time for idle chatter has elapsed. It was good meeting you Naruto-san," Danzo said and then departed in a shunshin with the ANBU.

'You'd have likely done a net good if you'd splattered his brains against a wall,' Kurama observed.

'I've had enough killing for a while, Kurama. Besides, Boss would catch hell from Tsunade even if he weren't physically here. Somethings just aren't worth it,' the clone reasoned before a dark look fell upon his face. 'That being said, he has one time to try something and I'll tear his world down around him.'

When Danzo arrived at his two-story home he was not shocked that his security was deactivated. Pushing the heavy wooden door open, he followed the faint sounds to his kitchen, Kakashi sitting down as if he owned the place and his two loyal ANBU flanking him.

"Take a seat, Danzo," Kakashi offered and the elder shinobi bristled.

"I don't need permission to have a seat in my own house, Kakashi, Hokage or not," Danzo said gruffly as he sat at the far end of the table, directly across from the intruders. Kakashi noticed his ANBU, one happening to be his wife, stiffened at Danzo's display of disrespect but Kakashi didn't mind. There was no respect between them. Danzo was mirroring Kakashi's thoughts as he ruminated on how much he loathed the man in front of him.

"This is about the jinchuuriki." Kakashi tapped on the table a few times before answering. It seemed the man was in a mood to test the Godaime.

"Mhmm, is it?" The Copy Ninja asked.

"Just do whatever it is you came to do, Kakashi, I don't have time for your games."

"You'll make time if I desire you to do so, Danzo. But fine, let's get right to it. For the sake of assuring I'm not being ageist, what were my orders concerning Uzumaki Naruto?"

"To never approach him, either in person or via one of my bodyguards- ugh!" As soon as Danzo finished he felt himself flung back and an unpleasant weight on his chest. Above him, standing on him, was a crouched Kakashi, his lone visible eye closer to that of a beast than a man.

"You're not senile, then. Good, that just means you openly disobeyed me. Maybe it's been too long, maybe you've forgotten the rules; or better still, the consequences of crossing me," Kakashi said in his usual drawl. Danzo frowned as Kakashi's weight dueled with the hate resting in his chest.

When Kakashi let the jinchuuriki go, admitted as much to Hiruzen, Danzo called for the boy to either be executed or reconditioned. Hiruzen did neither and slowly lost his village. The day Naruto left changed Kakashi. He returned to his training, doubled down on his dedication to ANBU. Both Hiruzen and he thought it was to make amends, to atone for his mistake. They'd been wrong. Kakashi was gathering strength and allies. In two years time, making him the commander of the ANBU was the obvious choice and no other agent would even consider contending.

That should have been the sign, the warning but both men missed it. Missed in how such little time Kakashi had managed to earn the complete loyalty of the entire ANBU Corp. When Hiruzen requested Kakashi temporarily retire to take on Sasuke Uchiha, Shisui categorically refusing as the two remaining Uchiha had a bitter relationship, Kakashi agreed under one condition; as soon as Sasuke made Chunin Hiruzen was to retire and Kakashi be named Godaime. If Hiruzen refused, he lost the support of every ANBU in the village and Kakashi would lobby the clan heads to deem him unfit.

Even if, legally, that wouldn't have mattered, perceptions still carry weight. Seeing the surrogate son of his first successor having lost all faith and trust in him broke Hiruzen. That Kakashi managed to amass the power he did using similar blindspots Danzo himself exploited enraged the Darkness of Shinobi but Kakashi's game had been too subtle and he was mated before he even knew there was a new opponent.

"I never wanted to be Hokage. If the Sandaime had done his job, if he hadn't let Orochimaru flee or turn a blind eye to you, if he hadn't let those villagers mistreat their very savior I would have contented myself to a life in the ANBU. Maybe retiring to be Naruto's Jounin Sensei. I'd have read my porn, shown up late and lived my life.

The Sandaime's incompetence, your arrogance and Jiraiya's negligence showed me I needed to be a beast of a different kind so when you sit in the dark and think about how things used to be remember your role in this."

"Don't make excuses, boy!"

"Oh, no excuses. I am not a man who argues with himself. I see what needs doing and I do it. You, Danzo, are responsible for much untidiness in this village and I've stained my hands cleaning it up, restoring order," Kakashi responded. Danzo knew it was true as Kakashi's promotion to ANBU commander led to a year's long shadow war between them and his Root. His Root lost. And Danzo? He'd lost his Sharingan implant to Kakashi personally, along with any chance of ever getting any replacement. Ever.

"But let's focus on the now, Danzo. When I said never approach Naruto, there wasn't a one time exception built in so now I have to tax you."

"I won't beg. Not for my life, not for mercy," Danzo spat. Kakashi formed an eye smile.

"Oh, no. I'm in a good mood so I won't kill you today. Poor Fu and Torune weren't so lucky though. Do I need to tell you this is a final warning?"

"I believe you just did," Danzo grunted.

"I guess so. Well, I can't just stand on old men all day, I'm a very busy person. Maybe you should spend the rest of your day considering your actions, ne?" Kakashi said no more, stepping off the Sandaime's one-time rival. His two ANBU silently followed behind him as he set a leisurely pace. It was only when she was sure no one could hear did Neko speak.

"Was it wise to not execute him, Godaime-sama?"

"Mah, mah, Neko-chan. At his heart, Danzo is a coward with no belief in his own abilities. He's been hammered and cutoff from influence. He'll seek an alliance with one of our enemies, potentially revealing an enemy we hadn't known about. When he does, we move and let them all burn to ash in the fire's shadow."

Hours later, Naruto sits atop his father's head at the Hokage Monument. The air was smelled of a warm summer day transitioning into a cool summer night. The stars were just starting to dot the sky as the sun said a final farewell to the day. And what a day it was. He knew returning wouldn't be simple but he certainly didn't think it'd be this complicated. Naruto briefly closed his eyes as he ran through his thoughts, letting each one slip by until he achieved the much desired quiet. A state of unthinking, or what the monks called moments of pure being.

He opened his eyes again and looked out to the village with no preoccupation nor worries. Just him and the moment. The village was truly beautiful from this vantage point. So much so he wanted to share it.

'Hey, Kurama, you wanna take over and enjoy the view?'

'Sure,' Kurama answered and with a blink, blue eyes became red and slitted. Kurama breathed in deeply, enjoying the small taste of freedom, not remotely envious or resentful of his friend and container. Much less interested in the village, Kurama looked up to the heavens, the only things that had been out of reach for the great fox. He often wondered what else was out there, if Homura's branch still resided on the moon. While in the midst of his gazing upon the increasingly starry night, he did not fail to notice the approach of another.

The steps were soft but the rhythm was moderate and steady. Kurama concluded the person was a ninja but not attempting to sneak up on him, simply moving as had been ingrained in them. He next caught the faintest scent of lavender. Likely female, he reasoned. More puzzling was he felt no negative emotions from the stranger. Not even when sat beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He initially thought to pay her no attention but that plan was tossed out when she spoke.

"Hi, I'm Hyuuga Hinata," she said as she tucked the curtain of indigo hair behind her ear. He assumed when she saw his eyes that would change, she'd be afraid or angry or something. But the weird girl smiled.

"Uh.. hey," he greeted as it would be rude to not respond.

"Kyuubi, right?"

Kurama raised an eyebrow, "Yea."

"Cool," was her only response as she too took to looking at the stars. Kurama wouldn't say he'd necessarily gotten used to people but thanks to Naruto and his makeshift family, he did have more (positive) experiences with them. The Tsunade brat could be funny, knew a book's worth of dirty jokes and even when she occasionally forgot she wasn't Kurama's mother and he was hundreds of years older than her, it was kinda nice. Shizune was helpful, willing to answer any question she could. Neither treated him any worse than they did Naruto and he appreciated that. But this one beside him seemed weird.

He really did not understand it. She held no malice, which he appreciated, but to so comfortably sit next to him as if it were an everyday occurrence when they'd never met? Weird, very weird. And since he assumed she was here for Naruto anyway, he'd let him deal with it. Sometimes the seal was a safe space.

His partner was not expecting, and therefore not prepared to be thrust back into consciousness. Two quick blinks is what it took for Naruto to reorient himself and he instantly noticed he was not alone.

'Thanks for the warning, Kurama,' he thought but got no response, which was unusual. "Uh, Hey!" he said. He smiled when she giggled.

"Kyuubi-san greeted me in the exact same way," she said between laughs. "It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Uzumaki Naruto-kun. I am Hyuuga Hinata." Naruto's eyes were alight in recognition.

"You were the little girl I tried to help."

"You did help me, more than you can realize Naruto-kun. I owe you a great deal of thanks."

Naruto shook his head, "You don't. It was the right thing to do." If possible, her smile grew even brighter.

"Hmm, well that settles it, then," Hinata said with a firm nod.

"Settles what?," Naruto asked, squinting in confusion.

"You're going to be my boyfriend."

"Oh, ok... WHAT?"

'Hahahaha!'

Sup. Seals Chapter by the End of the Week, lads. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.