Writing FanFics By Moonlight, Winning Followers By Daylight.

A little Bit of Fairy Dust

Little Miss Witch

We paint the town red!

Yin and Yang

The Ballad of the Slime and Elven

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Last chapter of the Wave Arc qwq

Enjoy!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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(*)

Chapter 13: Land of Waves: Dreams Carried Forward

The morning air over the Land of Waves was heavy, the mist clinging to the unfinished span of the bridge like a burial shroud. Gato’s fleet approached, a dark, jagged silhouette against the rising sun. Gato stood at the prow of the lead vessel, a sneer plastered on his face. He watched the four figures waiting at the bridge’s centre—Kakashi, Rumiko, Sasuke, and Naruto—with nothing but smug arrogance. He was confident that his sheer weight of numbers would crush these meddlesome shinobi.

“Kill them!” Gato screeched as his hundreds of thugs poured onto the bridge, a chaotic sea of steel and malice thundering against the wood.

But as the lead wave rushed forward, their momentum met a brutal, calculated halt. Naruto stood at the centre of the bridge, a sharp, foxy grin spreading across his face. As the thugs neared, he whispered, “Now.” The bridge itself seemed to groan. Beneath the leading thugs, the makeshift tripwires Naruto had painstakingly rigged within the loose planks snapped taut. Click. Instantaneously, pre-set tension traps erupted from the sides, swinging massive wooden beams into the crowd like battering rams. A section of the floor dropped away into a pre-cut, reinforced hole, swallowing two dozen men into a screaming, tangled heap.

Before the surviving thugs could recover from the sudden, bloody efficiency of the trap, the air filled with the familiar poof of jutsu. Scores of shadow clones materialised, surrounding the entire bridge. Kakashi, Naruto, and Rumiko stood at the centre of their own formation, effectively boxing in Gato’s army.

“They’re trapped,” Gato’s eyes widened, his arrogant sneer replaced by a flicker of genuine terror as he realised the tactical nightmare he had walked into.

Rumiko moved with fluid grace, her hand motioning sharply. Adamantine Sealing Chains erupted from her body, snaking through the air like golden vipers to bind the encroaching thugs, holding them motionless. Naruto and his own swarm of clones surged forward, weaving through the gaps to dismantle the remaining resistance with precise, focused strikes.

Through the chaos, Kakashi was a phantom, moving to the perimeter to ensure that not a single thug could retreat or escape the bridge. Amid the swirling shadows and the clash of steel, Sasuke vanished, then reappeared like a bolt of lightning at the rear of the formation. Before Gato could comprehend that his army was collapsing, he felt the cold, sharp point of a kunai pressed against his throat.

“It’s over, Gato,” Sasuke stated, his voice devoid of emotion. The criminal kingpin stood frozen, realizing too late that his overwhelming numbers had been nothing more than bait in a trap he had walked into willingly.

Seeing their boss at the mercy of a teen, the thugs, who weren’t dead or knocked out, decided Gato's money wasn’t worth dying for and made a smart decision: they ran away from the hell the bridge became for them.

“No!” Gato shrieked, seeing his men abandon him. “Get back here, you rats! I paid you, I own you, save me, goodammit!”

The only answer the maganat got was Sasuke pressing the Kunai harder against his throat, making blood sip out. “You should follow their example and surrender, idiot. No one will save you.”

Gato gulped, looking into the boy’s eyes, shuddering as he saw them tinted red with a black tomeo spinning around the pupil. This wasn’t a simple child, but someone who saw hell and would kill him without a second thought. All his forces left Gato. He sank to his knees and cried like the pathetic man he was, begging for his life.

A light smirk was on Sasuke's lips. One look in his Sharigan and Gato was still. The Uchiha was secretly happy he had awakened his Sharigan during training with Rumiko and Naruto.

As the last of the thugs left, the sun shone through the mist finally, shining down on the victorious Team 7 with their capetive.

Rumiko wiped sweat from he forehead, ecstatic about how good their plan had worked. None of her team was hurt, and they caught Gato. A better ending to this battle she couldn’t wish for.

The sound of heavy, rapid footsteps echoed against the steel planks as the bridge suddenly transformed from a battlefield into a stage for celebration. Before the dust from the skirmish had even fully settled, a roar erupted from the far side of the bridge.

Tazuna, Tsunami, and Inari were leading a crowd of villagers who had rushed to the site, armed with tools, pans, and sheer, overwhelming relief. As they caught sight of the cowering Gato, restrained and broken, the cheers became deafening.

Inari was the first to break the perimeter, his small feet hammering against the wood as he sprinted toward Naruto. He didn't stop until he collided with the blond ninja, burying his face in his jacket. Tsunami followed closely behind, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she looked at the young team who had, against all odds, restored the future of their home.

"You did it," Tsunami whispered, reaching out to place a trembling hand on Rumiko’s shoulder. "You actually did it."

The villagers surged forward, a tidal wave of gratitude. They didn't see children; they saw the warriors who had faced the demon and the kingpin and emerged unscathed. They began to chant, the names of the shinobi intertwining in the morning air. It was a chaotic, beautiful symphony of survival.

Kakashi stood at the edge of the assembly, his single eye scanning the sea of faces. He let the warmth of their appreciation settle over his team, seeing the pride swelling in Naruto’s chest and the uncharacteristic, bashful relief on Sasuke’s face. Even Rumiko finally looked like a girl who could allow herself to breathe.

He allowed them a moment of grace before he stepped forward. He navigated the crowd, his presence commanding enough to gently quiet the immediate area. He turned his attention to the bridge builder, who was currently being clapped on the back by neighbours.

"Tazuna-san," Kakashi called out, his voice cutting through the fading cheers with professional calm.

The old man turned, his face flushed with triumph. "Kakashi-san! I don't know how to thank you—"

"You don't need to," Kakashi interrupted with a soft, closed-eye smile. He gestured toward the kneeling, weeping criminal kingpin. "However, the mission dictates that we address the primary threat to your land. Gato is in our custody. As our client, the final decision on his fate rests with you."

The crowd fell silent, the cheer dying out as the weight of the question sank in.

Tazuna looked at Gato—the man who had strangled their economy, terrorised their families, and made their lives a living hell for months. He looked at the bridge, the spine of their new future, and then back at the three young ninja and their sensei who had made it possible.

"He's a man who dealt in lives like they were coin," Tazuna said, his voice hardening, losing its earlier tremor. "If we let him go, he'll only find someone else to corrupt. He'll do this again, somewhere else."

Tazuna took a steadying breath and looked at Kakashi. "He doesn't get to go back to his riches. And he doesn't get to run. What does the law of your village say about men like this?"

Kakashi’s expression remained unreadable, his visible eye steady and focused.

"In the eyes of the law, Tazuna-san, a civilian who commits crimes of this magnitude—slavery, conspiracy, and attempted assassination of a protected party—is usually turned over to the proper authorities for a tribunal," Kakashi explained calmly. "However, given the geography and the state of your government, that process is… complicated."

Tazuna looked at the cowering, whimpering man. Gato, hearing the conversation, scrambled forward on his knees, his eyes wild with terror. "Please! I have money! I have resources! If you kill me, the economy of this land will collapse! You'll be no better than the monsters you claim to fight!"

Rumiko stepped forward, her voice low and sharp, cutting through Gato’s frantic pleading. "The economy of this land didn't collapse because you were gone, Gato. It collapsed because you were squeezing the life out of it. People like you don't build; you consume."

Tazuna looked at the villagers—the people who had worked through hunger and fear to build the bridge. He looked at Inari, who finally stood tall, no longer the frightened boy hiding in the shadows.

"We don't need his money," Tazuna declared, his voice firm. He signalled toward his workers. "We have the bridge. And we have our pride back."

Tazuna turned to Kakashi. "He doesn't get to go back to his riches. If we kill him, he becomes a martyr for his remaining sycophants. If we turn him over to the local magistrates, they'll just be bribed by his remaining captains to set him free. There is only one way to ensure he never hurts anyone again."

Tazuna gestured to the bridge’s unfinished end, looking out over the churning, dangerous waters below. "Exile him to the most desolate island in our territory, stripped of everything—his wealth, his status, his connection to the outside world. Let him live the rest of his life as a beggar, watching the bridge he tried to destroy from afar. Let him know that his empire wasn't worth the wood it was built on."

Kakashi nodded once, a gesture of quiet approval. It was a harsh, cold justice, but it was fitting. It left Gato alive to suffer the consequence of his own irrelevance, a fate that, for a man driven by ego and greed, was far worse than a quick death.

"A sound decision," Kakashi said. He motioned for his team to finalise the handover. As the villagers moved in to claim their tyrant—not with weapons, but with the cold, hard weight of their collective will—Gato’s sobbing died away into a pathetic, hollow sound.

The reign of the criminal kingpin was not ended by a blade, but by the very people he had deemed powerless, leaving him to fade away into the history of the Land of Waves as nothing more than a cautionary tale.

(*)

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant shades of bruised purple and burning orange, the bridge transformed. It was no longer a place of battle, but the centre of a jubilant, sprawling festival. Lanterns were strung up along the guardrails, swaying gently in the evening breeze, and the rhythmic sound of drums began to thrum against the planks.

The village had pulled out all the stops. Long tables were dragged onto the span, groaning under the weight of freshly caught fish, warm sake, and heaps of steaming rice. Laughter—genuine, unburdened laughter—echoed across the water, carrying the scent of celebration far beyond the construction site.

Team 7 sat at the head of the festivities, treated not as hired hands, but as honoured guests. Naruto was in his element, his mouth stuffed with food, regaling a group of wide-eyed local children with exaggerated tales of the traps he had set, his foxy grin wider than ever. Beside him, Sasuke remained quieter, though he wasn't scowling; he watched the villagers dancing with a rare, softened expression, occasionally allowing Inari to pull him into a conversation about his kunai techniques.

Rumiko leaned back against the wooden support, a cup of warm tea in her hands. She watched her brother, her teammate, and her sensei, letting the relief finally wash over her. Kakashi sat a few feet away, his visible eye crinkled in that familiar, lazy smile as he listened to Tazuna shouting a toast.

"To the bridge!" Tazuna roared, raising his glass high, his voice raspy from a long day of cheering. "And to the heroes who gave us our future!"

“TO OUR FUTURE!”

A while later, the music had changed to dancing ones, couples, friends and families storming the makeshift dance floor, celebrating in the beat of the drums so the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. The Uzumaki Twins also couldn’t it idily by and joinend the dancing.

To Sasuke's utter surprise, Naruto and Rumiko were good dancers. He wouldn’t have believed that the dobe knew how to dance, but he twirled Rumiko around with skill, while the Uzumaki Princess looked divine, smiling and laughing, swaying her hips to the beat.

Strange warm blossemed in Sasuke's chest seeing his teammates so clearly happy, enjoying themselves. It was like…when his mother smiled after he gifted her something…the feeling of happiness to have made someone you cared for also happy. He frowned and took a sip of his tea. No, he shouldn’t think this. Bonds just would keep him from fulfilling his duty to kill that bastard of his brother. He couldn’t risk getting attached to someone, not as long as Itachi could use them against him!

Kakashi, having observed the internal struggle mirrored on Sasuke’s face from across the table, quietly stood up. He moved with that languid, almost feline grace of his, slipping through the crowd of dancing villagers until he stood beside the lone Uchiha.

He didn't speak at first, simply leaning against the railing beside Sasuke, watching the embers of the lanterns dance against the darkening sky.

"You're thinking too much, Sasuke," Kakashi said, his voice low enough that it was swallowed by the rhythm of the drums. "It's a common habit for people like us. We try to intellectualise every emotion, dissect it, and label it as a weakness."

Sasuke stiffened, his fingers tightening around his cup. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you?" Kakashi shifted his gaze toward the centre of the bridge. Naruto was currently attempting a particularly ridiculous spin, nearly tripping over his own feet, while Rumiko laughed, catching his arm and pulling him back into the rhythm with effortless grace. "You think that if you let yourself enjoy this—if you let yourself care about them—you're losing your edge. That these 'bonds' are just chains that will hold you back when the time comes to face your past."

Sasuke looked away, his jaw tight. "They are chains. You know what happens to people who get close to me, sensei. You know my target."

"I know your path is singular," Kakashi replied, his tone firm yet devoid of judgment. "But listen closely, Sasuke. A ninja who has nothing to protect is not a ninja—they are just a weapon. And weapons are easily broken. It is the people at your back, the ones who know your strengths and cover your weaknesses, who actually give you the power to fulfil your mission."

He glanced at the Uchiha, his single visible eye softening. "If you face that darkness alone, you will be consumed by it. If you face it with comrades who can anchor you to the light... you might actually survive the encounter. That isn't a weakness. That is the only way to become strong enough to do what you intend to do."

Sasuke opened his mouth to retort, to argue that he didn't need anchors, but the words died in his throat as a blur of orange and blue slammed into his sides.

"Thinking time is over, Teme!" Naruto shouted, practically vibrating with energy. He had appeared out of nowhere, his face flushed and his hair messy from the dancing.

"Yeah, Sasuke!" Rumiko was right behind him, breathless and glowing with a genuine, infectious joy. She grabbed his left arm while Naruto snagged his right. "You can’t just sit here sulking while the best music of the night is playing. The village is celebrating, and we're part of this victory too!"

"Let go," Sasuke hissed, though his resistance was half-hearted at best. "I don't dance."

"Neither do we!" Naruto laughed, bracing his feet and starting to drag the Uchiha toward the clearing where the villagers were spinning in circles. "But that's the best part! Who cares if we look like idiots as long as we’re all looking like idiots together?"

"Come on, Sasuke," Rumiko teased, her blue eyes bright. "Consider it… intensive agility training. With a better rhythm."

Before he could offer another protest, the twins yanked him forward. Sasuke stumbled, his sandals scuffing against the wood, and for a split second, he looked back toward Kakashi with a panicked expression.

Kakashi just chuckled, raising a hand in a lazy wave and leaning back against the railing. "Go on, Sasuke. Live a little. You might find it’s not as dangerous as you think."

With a final, frustrated huff that didn't quite reach his eyes, Sasuke allowed himself to be pulled into the fray, the warmth of his teammates finally breaking through the cold, calculated walls he’d spent so long building.

(*)

The bridge was finished two days later after the fest, which meant it was time for Team 7 to return home.

Not only did Tazuna and his family send them off, but the entire village once again assembled to say farewell to their heroes.

“Thanks to you, the bridge was safely completed, but we will miss you very much,” Tazuna expressed with a heavy but thankful heart.

“Take care.” Tsunami wished them.

“Thank you for everything,” Kakashi-Sensei said with an eyesmile.

“We’ll come back for a visit again, Tazuna!” Naruto promised.

Inari tried to be brave, fighting his tears as he asked: “For sure?”

Naruto noted this, also starting to fight his own tears. They had become pretty close over the past days. “Inari, you’re gonna miss us, aren’t you? It’s all right to cry. Go ahead and cry, dattebayo.”

“I won’t cry! It’s all right if you cry, Naruto-Nii-San!”

“Oh, is that so?”

The teenager and the boy stared at each other, holding their tears back, till Rumiko rolled her eyes and shoved her brother towards Inari.

“Crying isn’t a sign of weakness. Go say really bye to Inari!”

“Ane!” Naruto spluttered, but then he just hugged Inari, and they both cried like waterfalls, telling each other how they would miss the other.

The adults cooed over this, while Sasuke rolled his eyes with a tiny smirk and Rumiko had a hand on her heart, awweing.

“Take care, Inari, okay?” Naruto asked him as he finished their hug. The black-haired boy nodded, giving him a big grin. “You too, Naruto-Nii-Chan. Become Hokage, as you told me.”

“Ha! You can beat on that!”

They grinned at each other before Rumiko also gave Inari a hug, the little boy blushing.

“Become a good man, okay, Inari-Chan?”

“I will, Rumiko-Nee-Chan!”

With that, the Uzumaki Twins joined their team. Team 7 raised their hands together and waved goodbye.

“Take care!” Rumiko shouted.

“Till next time!” Naruto promised.

“Thanks for everything,” Kakashi said.

“Goodbye,” Sasuke spoke up.

Farewells and goodbyes followed Team 7 as they started to cross the new bridge, towards home, towards Konohagakure.

“Mmh….” Tazuna hummed, stroking his beard in thought. “These kids and their sensei gave us back our courage, our hope and our future. They changed Inari, the changed our land for the better.”

“They have been like our bridge, don’t you think, Father?” Tsunami shared, wiping a tear away.

“Truth… speaking of bridges, our bridge does need a name.”

“So what are we going to name our bridge, Tazuna?” A friend of his wondered.

Tazuna thought for a long moment before he declared with a smile: “The Bridge of Seven Stars.”

“It’s perfect, Father.” Tsunami agreed, with the whole village nodding along. “Seven for their team name and stars since they have been the guiding lights that led us out of Gato’s darkness.”

“Heh, Seven Stars, I like this, Jiji.” Inari chirped, smiling and waving after Team 7.

As the chorus of farewells faded into the gentle rush of the sea breeze, Team 7 made their way across the span of the newly christened bridge.

Walking side-by-side, the rhythmic thud of their sandals against the timber echoed like a steady, peaceful pulse. Naruto marched ahead with his hands laced behind his head, practically bouncing with newfound energy, while Rumiko walked beside him, a soft, contented smile playing on her lips. Sasuke trailed just a half-step behind, his gaze drifting out toward the horizon—the weight in his chest notably lighter than it had been when they first set foot in this mist-shrouded land. Bringing up the rear, Kakashi strolled with his hands buried deep in his pockets, his single visible eye taking in the peaceful scene before him.

The heavy, suffocating fog that had once blanketed the Land of Waves had entirely cleared, revealing an endless stretch of clear blue sky and shimmering water.

"Hey, Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto called out over his shoulder, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. "When we get back to the village, you're buying us all the biggest bowl of Ichiraku ramen to celebrate, right? I'd say saving a whole nation deserves a reward!"

"Nice try, Naruto," Kakashi chuckled, his tone lazy and amused. "Last time I checked, we still have a mission report to write. But... maybe I'll consider a small bonus if you manage to hand it in on time for once."

"Hey!" Naruto squawked, causing Rumiko to break into a quiet laugh, the sound carrying over the open water. Sasuke allowed a small, almost imperceptible smirk to touch his lips, shaking his head at the usual antics.

For the first time since their squad had been formed, the silence between them was no longer filled with suspicion, distance, or doubt. The blood, the struggle, and the quiet triumph of the Land of Waves had carved something permanent into their foundation. They were no longer just four individuals bound by an assigned squad number. They were a team—an anchor for one another against whatever darkness the future held.

With the morning sun at their backs, casting long, golden shadows across the path, Team 7 turned their faces toward the open road ahead, heading home.

(*)

I won’t lie, I cried ending the Wave Arc qwq

But I’m even more excited for the Chuunin Exams.

It’s. Going. To. Get. Wild!

Let’s see what shenigans Rumiko and her boys will find themselves in and if our Rumi can change the plot even more!

Till next time :D

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*) 

A super-duper long chapter for my peeps! *sends you kisses*

Enjoy!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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Chapter 12: Land of Waves: The Meaning of a Ninja

The shed was a tomb of damp wood and shadow. The air inside was thick, stagnant with the scent of salt air and wet earth.

Zabuza sat slumped against the far wall, his breathing ragged and strained. The specialised ninja bindings, reinforced by the residual, suppressive chakra of the trap that had ended their assault, dug deep into his wrists with every shifting movement. His infamous Kubikiribōchō lay discarded just out of reach—a silent, heavy reminder of his failed attempt to cut through the Konoha team. He watched the entrance with a predator’s gaze, though the fire behind his eyes was dampened by the stinging reality of being outmanoeuvred by ‘green academy kids.’

Beside him, Haku remained unnervingly still. He sat in a meditative posture, head bowed, seemingly indifferent to the restraints. He was like a statue carved from ice, waiting for a thaw that might never come.

Outside, the heavy, rhythmic thud of crutches hitting the dirt path broke the silence.

Zabuza’s ears twitched. He shifted his weight, his muscles bunching in anticipation, only for the bindings to spark with a warning hum of electricity.

The door creaked open, admitting a slice of blinding afternoon light that cut through the darkness of the shed. Kakashi Hatake stood in the threshold, leaning heavily on a pair of makeshift wooden crutches. He was battered, his clothes torn and stained, and his visible eye was weary, but his presence remained an impenetrable wall.

Behind him, framed by the light, was Rumiko. She wasn’t looking at the prisoners with fear; she was looking at them with clinical, calculated focus.

"Stay sharp," Kakashi murmured, his voice low and raspy, barely audible over the wind. He didn't look back at his student, but he knew she was listening. "Interrogation isn't just about breaking a body, Rumiko. If you want to run ANBU one day, you have to learn to dismantle the mind. You look for the cracks in their resolve. You look for what they are protecting."

Rumiko nodded once, her expression hardening. "Understood, Sensei."

As they stepped into the dim shed, the temperature seemed to drop. Kakashi positioned himself carefully, his weight distributed on the crutches, while Rumiko stepped forward, her chakra flaring.

Golden light erupted from her back as she manifested her Adamantine Chains. The translucent, ethereal links hissed as they materialised, glowing with a soft, pulsing power that seemed to suppress the very air in the room. They danced through the air like fox tails, weaving around the rafters of the shed before locking down,creating a barrier between the Kiri-Ninja and them with a rhythmic clack-clack-clack.

"You're far from home, Mist," Kakashi said, his voice deceptively calm as he stood over them. "And your employer is running out of time. Let’s talk about why you’re really here."

Rumiko watched as Zabuza’s eyes darted toward Haku, even as he tried to maintain his scowl. She noted the micro-expression—the way his shoulder tensed when Kakashi mentioned 'employer.'

Focus on the emotional tether, she reminded herself, just as Kakashi had taught her during their training back in the village. The body lies, but the eyes tell the truth.

"They're yours to crack, Rumiko," Kakashi said, stepping back slightly to give her the space. "Take the lead."

The Uzumaki Princess stepped closer to the prisoners. The atmosphere in the shed was suffocating, heavy with the scent of damp wood and the metallic tang of dried blood.

Zabuza growled, a low, guttural sound in his throat, but Rumiko ignored him entirely. Her focus was a laser beam fixed on Haku.

"You look at him," Rumiko said, her voice dropping into a register that was eerily calm, "and you see a master. You see a saviour. You see the only person who gave your life meaning."

Haku didn’t flinch. His expression remained a carefully cultivated mask of porcelain indifference. "He gave me purpose," Haku replied, his voice soft but steady. "I am his tool. It is all I am."

"That," Rumiko said, pacing a slow, deliberate circle around him, "is the lie you tell yourself to sleep at night. But look at your hands, Haku. They aren't trembling because of the bindings. They’re trembling because you know I'm right."

She stopped in front of him, leaning down until she was inches from his face. She allowed her own chakra to flare—not with aggression, but with a crushing, empathic weight. She didn't use the chains to hurt him; she used them to resonate with the sheer, suffocating loneliness she knew he harboured.

"You aren't a tool," she whispered, her voice sharp enough to cut through the dim light. "You’re a mirror. You reflect the darkness you think you deserve back onto him, pretending it's loyalty. You’re terrified, Haku. Not of death, but of the silence that would follow if you weren't needed. If Zabuza doesn't need a sword, who are you? Just a boy with no village, no name, and a heart that’s been starved of anything but the cold."

Haku’s eyes widened, just a fraction. It was the first crack in the armour.

"I know what it's like," Rumiko continued, lowering her voice until it was a secret meant only for him. "To look for a place where you belong and find only people who want to use you. But there’s a difference between belonging and being owned. Zabuza isn't just fighting for whatever his goal is—he’s dragging you into the grave with him. And you know it. You’ve felt that cold blade of reality pressing against your throat for years."

"You don't know me," Haku hissed, his calm finally fracturing. His shoulders slumped, the weight of her words visibly bowing his spine.

"I know that you dream of a place where you are more than a weapon," Rumiko pressed, leaning in closer. "I know you didn't kill us  because you didn't want to. You had the chance, and you hesitated. You rather saved Zabuza by putting him into a coma. You aren't a demon, Haku. You're a boy who was taught that his only value is in how well he can destroy."

She stood up, looking down at him with a gaze that was almost pitying. "If you die for him today, you don't die a hero. You die exactly what you claimed to be—a tool, discarded and forgotten. Is that really all you want your life to amount to? A footnote in someone else's war?"

Haku let out a shaky, ragged breath, his head dropping. The mask was gone. The posture of the calm, detached ninja dissolved, leaving behind a boy who looked exhausted, small, and utterly broken by the truth he had been hiding from himself.

Zabuza, struggling against his bindings, shouted, "Don't listen to her, Haku! She's just a Konoha brat trying to manipulate you!"

"Am I?" Rumiko didn't look at Zabuza. She kept her eyes on the trembling boy before her. "Tell him, Haku. Tell him how you feel when the mask slips. Tell him what you’re really afraid of."

Haku’s hands, bound as they were, clenched into white-knuckled fists. The ice had melted, replaced by a raw, vulnerable grief. He opened his mouth, and for the first time, his voice cracked with genuine, human emotion.

"I... I just wanted to be..." He couldn't finish, but the dam had broken. The silence in the shed was no longer heavy with threats; it was heavy with the weight of a revealed truth.

Rumiko glanced back at Kakashi. The Jonin’s visible eye was wide, watching her with a mixture of shock and newfound respect. She had done it. She hadn't just broken the ninja; she had reached the person underneath. Now, she just had to see what they would do with the pieces.

“I will be frank with you, Haku.” Rumiko began, her voice full of true empathy. “ANBUs of Konoha are coming to take you and Zabuza back to the village. The Hokage will hand you out to Kirigakure to prevent a war. What will the Mizukage do to you? To you and, namely, Zabuza, who is one of the most famous Missing-Nin of their village? Maybe you will only go to prison, but your dear master? He will get killed, no doubt.”

Haku’s breath hitched. He looked at Zabuza—not with his usual, unwavering devotion, but with a terrifying, hollow clarity. The reality of Rumiko’s words was a cold blade, sharper than any kunai. He had spent his entire life building a cage, convincing himself it was a home, and now, this girl had unlocked the door and forced him to see the abyss outside.

Zabuza, realising the grip his boy had on his loyalty was slipping, thrashed against the bindings, his face contorting into a mask of pure, unadulterated rage. "Shut up! You know nothing of the Mist! You know nothing of the life of a shinobi!"

"I know enough," Rumiko retorted, her voice hard as diamond. She ignored the rogue ninja’s bluster, keeping her focus locked on Haku. "I know that in the Mist, a tool is discarded the moment it chips. And Haku, you’ve been chipping since the moment we met. You hesitated to kill us. You protected Zabuza instead of finishing the job. That isn't the behaviour of a cold-blooded weapon. That is the behaviour of a human being who is tired of the blood."

She reached out, gently—shockingly so—placing a hand on Haku’s shoulder. The Adamantine Chains pulsed in sympathy with her intent, a faint golden hum filling the room. "The Hokage is a man of mercy, Haku. But he is also a Kage. He cannot simply let two elite threats walk free. If you stay on this path, you die. Or worse, you go back to the hell that created you."

"And what..." Haku’s voice was barely a whisper, broken and hollow. "...what is the alternative?"

"The alternative," Rumiko said, her gaze drifting toward the heavy wooden door, "is to stop being what they want you to be. Konoha doesn't need your heads on a pike. We need people who understand the price of war to help prevent the next one. Walk away. Leave the Land of Waves. Disappear into the shadows where no Kage can find you. Or..." She paused, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Zabuza. "Fight for a future that isn't built on Gato's gold."

Zabuza fell silent. The raw aggression in his expression shifted to something more calculating, a flicker of the former Seven Swordsman peeking through his desperation. He wasn't a fool; he knew the trap he was in. He knew the Konoha girl was offering them a lifeline, however precarious it might be.

"You're a strange one, kid," Zabuza rasped, his voice rough. "You hold the power to end us right here, yet you talk of mercy?"

"I don't want to kill you," Rumiko said, and for the first time, she allowed a flicker of the 'future' she carried to bleed into her expression—a haunting look of someone who had seen too much grief. "I want you both to be more than just history books. I want you to survive long enough to matter."

Kakashi, who had been leaning quietly against the doorframe, finally shifted. He stepped forward, his visible eye scanning the pair. "Rumiko is my student," he said, his voice grave. "And she speaks with the authority of the Leaf. If you take this chance, the bridge will be finished, Gato’s influence will be dismantled, and you will be permitted to leave. You will be dead in the eyes of the Bingo Book. You will have no village, no mission, and no master. But you will have your lives."

The shed fell into a suffocating silence.

Haku looked at Zabuza, his eyes wide, pleading. It was the moment of decision. The ice that had defined Haku's life for so long was finally, truly, beginning to thaw.

"Zabuza-sama..." Haku breathed.

The Demon of the Hidden Mist let out a long, shuddering breath, his shoulders finally dropping as the fight drained out of him. He looked at his hands, then at the girl who had managed to do what no Jonin had ever achieved: she had taken the weapon apart without ever drawing a blade.

"Finish the bridge," Zabuza muttered, his voice devoid of its usual malice. "Finish the damn bridge, kid. And if we're still breathing when the sun sets... we'll see where the road takes us."

Rumiko let out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. A small, sad smile touched her lips.

She had done it.

She had changed the variables.

She had spared them.

Hopeful it wouldn’t bite her in the ass.

(*)

“Well, then my cute little Genin’s.” Kakashi formally cooed at his students, later the same day, “Thanks to Rumiko being an amazing interrogator, we got the intel we need from our prisoners to prepare for Gato. According to Zabuza, he and Haku were the only elite ninja on his payroll. Gato believes more in quantity than quality, it seems, but still, we need to prepare.”

Naruto, Sasuke and Rumiko looked at their sensei with determined looks.

“Are we in the forest for this reason?” Naruto asked with a raised hand.

“Indeed, Naruto. As Tazuna said, he will need a week to finish his bridge. In this time, we have to get ready for Gato. So we will train till you kids puke!” Kakashi chirped with an eyesmile.

His Genin deadpanned at him, while he kept his eyesmile on.

“I'd rather not puke…” Rumiko murmured, crossing her arms, with her brother and Sasuke nodding in agreement.

“I will teach you to climb trees!”

“We can climb trees, Sensei,” Sasuke answered slowly, like talking to a kid.

“But not in this way.”

Under his kid's eyes, the Hatake walked slowly with his crutches up to a tree. Then he placed one then the other foot on the bark and just walked up, as if Gravity was a joke. He then hung upside down on a branch.

“This is the tree climbing excerises,” Kakashi called down. “By concentrating the perfect amount of chakra on your foot soles, you can climb them just as me. Better chakra control will also make you stronger, which benefits you in the long run. You can use a jutsu more often with less chakra, for example.”

He enjoyed the shocked look on Sasuke's face greatly, but frowned at the bored looking Uzumaki twins. “Naruto, Rumiko, something wrong?”

“We can already do that, Sensei,” Rumiko told him dryly. “Shisui-Senpai taught me tree climbing when I was like four, and I taught it to Naruto.”

Hearing the name of one of his cousins, Sasuke gave Rumiko a sharp look from his black eyes. He couldn’t believe what he heard! Was this a bad joke?

“You were a pupil of his?” Sasuke hissed. “That is not funny, Uzumaki.”

The Uzumaki Princess gave him a sharp look back. “It’s not a joke, Uchiha. I had a mentorship with Shisui! He was my Sensei, Senpai and friend. You must have seen the flowers on his grave, or do you think they just appeared out of thin air?!”

Sasuke’s face paled; the anger instantly drained away, replaced by a storm of confusion and a flicker of something far more painful—grief. He looked from Rumiko to the heavy, silent woods, his hands trembling at his sides.

"Shisui... was dead before I ever got the chance to learn from him," Sasuke muttered, his voice barely a breath. "How could you—"

"Sasuke, enough."

Kakashi’s voice wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a command that brooked no argument. He stepped between them, his posture still relaxed, yet the air around him had grown dense with authority.

"Rumiko isn't lying," Kakashi said, his visible eye fixed on Sasuke. "Shisui had a habit of finding talent in the most unexpected places. He kept his training with the Uzumaki twins quiet—a personal favour to the Hokage, and perhaps, a way to keep a piece of his own legacy alive outside the walls of the Uchiha compound."

The black-haired boy stiffened, his knuckles white. He looked at Rumiko—really looked at her—not as his rival since academy days, but as someone who carried a piece of the world he had lost. The revelation seemed to strike him harder than any kunai.

"Then..." Sasuke started, then clamped his mouth shut, unable to finish the sentence. He turned his head away, his dark hair shielding his eyes. "Teach me."

It wasn't a request; it was a demand, delivered with a desperate, sharp edge.

Rumiko let out a slow, steadying breath. She didn't gloat; she didn't offer a smirk. She understood the Uchiha’s pain better than most, thanks to her 'future' knowledge. She simply nodded, stepping back to let Kakashi take the lead again.

“Alright. Sasuke? Get a kunai ready. You will mark your progress on the tree climbing like this. For the beginning, you should race up to the tree till you get it down. Okay?”

The Uchiha nodded sharply and, with a quiet snarl, began the training exercise. Still, something bothered him. Now it explained why Rumiko was such a talented kunoichi, but what about Naruto? If Rumiko taught her twin what Shisui had taught her, then why had Naruto played the fool for so long? It didn’t make sense. Why hide Naruto's talents? He would need to ask them in a moment alone. This gave him no peace.

Meanwhile, Kakashi rubbed his neck, smiling, impressed behind his mask. He wanted the Uzumaki Twins to learn water walking now, but they also could do it already. Shisui indeed hadn’t done half-baked things.

“What about your chakra natures?” Kakashi asked next.

“Mine are wind and fire, Kakashi-Sensei.” Rumiko shared.

“And mine is wind,” Naruto said with a grin.

“Okay, do you know some jutsu based on your chakra nature?”

“We learned Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. And I can also do Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire.” Rumiko informed.

The Hatake nodded at what the twins told him. Now with that he could work.

“Good, I will show you some jutsus based on your elemental natures, and you will learn them till you puke, alright?”

“Yes, Sensei!”

Then the twins surprised him once more as they made at least 100 clones each.

“We know how, when Shadow-Clones dispel, that the user inherits their memories.” Rumiko had noted Kakashi's look and explained.

Minato-Sensei, Kushina-San…your kids are incredible!

“Well then, let’s get to work, Wonder Twins!”

(*)

Inari felt lost. Lost in his own beliefs, lost in his grandfather's words and lost in this new reality these Konoha Ninja brought with them.

After his beloved stepfather's death, after he had seen his strong arms reduced to mush, Inari was sure Gato was the unbeatable monster from his deepest nightmares.

He had the money, the people and the cruelty to reign supreme over anyone. If his stepfather couldn’t beat him, no one could.

Yet, these Ninjas, only a few years older than him, defeated Gato's strongest men.

How?

Why?

Why now and not his stepfather Kaiza?

Inari, my boy, courage isn’t  never to be afraid; courage is the will to fight. Your stepfather knew this. He fought even when he was afraid. I’m doing the same with my bridge, and I know you have this will too. Deep down under your sorrow.

Grandfather's voice echoed in his mind the whole day, when Inari watched the ninja kids train and now also during their dinner. The three were tired; it showed, yet there was a quiet satisfaction of a job well done on them. Where did they get the courage, the will to continue, even in the face of death? Weren’t they afraid of dying? Dying like his stepfather?

“So what will happen to this Zabuza and Haku-Kid?” Tazuna asked Kakashi curiously. “These ANBU guys seem tough. Even if I couldn’t see their face behind the masks.”

“Well, Rumiko and I put in a good word for them. In the end, they told us what we needed.” Kakashi answered, slowly eating his fish. He was feeling frail after showing the Uzumaki Twins jutsus. “But our Hokage will decide in the end. I doubt he will risk a war over them, so perhaps Zabuza and Haku will just…vanish. We have units for these kinds of things. They can make a person never exist in the first place.”

Tazuna let out a little grumpy huff, hoping just he would never again see these guys, as Tsunami asked a question: “Sensei? Shouldn’t they be in prison for their crimes? They did try to assassinate my father.”

“It’s a bit more complicated, Tsunami-San.” Kakashi began to explain. “It’s a small way the Five Kages walk with each other. Zabuza and Haku are Missing-Nins from the Hidden Mist, normaly we could have just handed them over, but this would have surely meant their death. Hadn’t they shared their information with us, we would have just done this, but we offered them a deal. The Leaf would judge them and handle the situation silently.”

“But aren’t they criminals?”

“Then all ninjas would be. See, we take missions; who can make us fight other ninjas, but who is the bad guy when both ninjas fulfil just their duty?”

“It’s more like a grey zone,” Rumiko spoke up. “We learn this in the academy. One of our greatest heroes was the Fourth Hokage, who killed in the last war over 1000 Iwagakure Ninja in one strike, but in Iwagakure he is hailed as a monster.”

Sasuke took a sip from his tea before he added. “In a strange way, Ninja are normally neutral. We don’t care if our clients are seen as good or as bad. In our line of work, the line vanishes. We get paid and then fulfil our job as well as we can.”

“Yeah, yeah, dattebayo.” Naruto nodded. “It's rare that we truly work against true scumbags like Gato, but in a weird way, if he came to Konoha and had paid for ninja to work for him…we would stand now on his side. Iruka-Sensei said we are tools.”

A frown formed on Tsunami and Tazuna's faces, while Inari just looked at his dinner but listened.

“You’re so young.” Tsunami pointed out, shaking her head. “Do you truly see yourself this way? Could you work for someone this cruel?”

"We're not just tools, Tsunami-san," Rumiko said, her voice cutting through the heavy silence of the room. She looked directly at the woman, her eyes reflecting the weight of everything she had seen in her past life and was now witnessing in this one. "At least, not to each other. We are comrades."

Naruto nodded vigorously, his usual loud demeanour replaced by a sombre maturity. "Iruka-sensei told us that, yeah. But looking at Sasuke, or my sister, or even Kakashi-sensei... I don't see them as tools. I see them as the reason I'm still standing. If the village wants me to be a weapon, fine. But I choose who I protect."

Sasuke stared at his bowl, his fingers tightening around his chopsticks. The mention of working for someone like Gato—for money, for orders—left a sour taste in his mouth, especially after the conversation about Shisui earlier. "Being a tool is the easy way," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "It means you don't have to think about the morality of the kill. You just... execute. But that's what makes the rot set in. You lose yourself."

Kakashi watched them, his visible eye scanning each of his students in turn. He could see the seeds of something dangerous and beautiful being sown in this small, quiet dining room. They were questioning the very foundation of the ninja world—a question that had broken better shinobi than them, but one that might be necessary for them to survive what was coming.

"The world is grey," Kakashi said, his voice soft but firm. "And you will find yourselves in positions where the 'right' choice doesn't exist. But as long as you have each other—as long as you remember why you fight, rather than just who you fight for—you might just keep your souls intact."

The air in the room remained thick, but the tension had shifted. It wasn't the suffocating pressure of a life-or-death mission anymore; it was the heavy, contemplative weight of a team beginning to understand that their path wasn't going to be a simple one.

Inari, who had been staring down at his rice, finally looked up. He didn't say anything, but the look he gave Naruto—a mix of confusion, lingering fear, and a tiny, flickering spark of something like admiration—was enough.

After dinner, Inari knocked shyly at the bedroom door, where Naruto and his team slept. He wanted- no, he needed to talk to someone. Perhaps one of the ninja kids had the answer he sought.

The door opened, and Naruto poked his head out. “Huh, Inari?” the Uzumaki Heir murmured, his face looking like a confused fox. “Can I help ya?”

“I…I…wanted to talk,” the little boy stuttered, looking embarrassed at the floor. “My grandpa talked with me, but…I wanna understand you guys.”

Naruto felt how important this was to the small child and waved him inside. They sat down, facing each other, and the blond nodded at him. “So what’s on ya mind, dattebayo?”

Slowly, while he cried softly, Inari told the blond ninja about his stepfather, Kaiza. How he was his hero and the hero of the village, protecting it with his strong arms, till Gato and his men killed him before anyone as an example.

“After…after Dad died, after I saw how his courage killed him…something broke in me.” Inari admitted, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. “Courage is stupid; it only brings pain. Fighting against strong ones doesn’t make sense. I'd rather live as a coward than die…but then you guys took down these super strong ninjas and then the talk during dinner…how do you do that, Naruto?”

“How I’m still courageous and don’t fear death?” Naruto repeated, and Inari nodded. “Yeah, that.”

“Well, Inari, I’m scared. I’m scared the whole time.” The Uzumaki Heir admitted, rubbing sheepish his head, seeing the little boys disbelieivng face.

“Huh?!”

“Yeah, dattebayo. I’m scared of losing, of dying, of not being strong enough. I’m scared to turn into a monster, of just becoming a mindless tool, but the most I’m scared about is losing my loved ones. Mostly Ane and my Hinata. Rumi and Hina are my heart and soul. I don’t know where I would be without them. But also Hokage-Jiji, Iruka-Sensei, Kakashi-Sensei and even that teme Sasuke I don’t wanna lose. These are my precious bonds. And I will do anything to protect them.”

Inari blinked with his big black eyes in astonishment. “That’s it? Cause you have bonds?”

“Heh, Rumi said it to me like this once: There is still something good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for,” Naruto repeated his sister's words. “For me, the good are my bonds. For them I can fight with my fear and become stronger. When you find something to protect, you become super strong. I think your Dad felt the same after meeting you, so he wasn’t afraid to die if it meant you would live. Yeah, Gato maybe has won some rounds, but he will never win the war, I promise you. If we all fight together, we can beat him, dattebayo.”

The air in the bedroom felt suddenly lighter, as if the suffocating weight of Inari’s grief had been lifted, even if just a fraction. The little boy stared at Naruto, his eyes still red-rimmed, but the frantic, panicked edge that had defined his demeanour since they arrived in the Land of Waves had mellowed into something contemplative.

"If we all fight together..." Inari repeated, testing the weight of the words on his own tongue.

"Exactly," Naruto said, offering a foxy, genuine grin. "And you're not alone, Inari. You've got your grandfather, you've got Tsunami-san, and..." He paused, looking toward the door that led to the rest of the team. "You’ve got us. We’re not leaving until that bridge is finished, and Gato is nothing more than a bad memory."

Inari looked down at his hands, then back at the blond ninja. For the first time, he didn't look like he was bracing for a blow; he looked like he was considering a possibility.

"I... I think I'd like to help," Inari whispered. "Not with fighting. I can't... I can't do what you do. But the bridge... Grandpa says it’s the future. If I help with that, maybe that’s my way of being brave."

Naruto ruffled the boy’s hair, his expression soft. "That’s as ninja as it gets, kid."

Both boys grinned in understanding at each other, and Naruto heard Kuruma grumbling in pride in their mindscape. He was glad he could help Inari. It seemed like the boy would find his place in the world, no doubt.

Then out of nowhere…

“So that Hinata? She your girl?”

Naruto spluttered, his face turning an even brighter shade of crimson, looking like a tomato trying to blend in with a sunset. He frantically waved his hands in front of his face, nearly knocking his own head back with the sheer velocity of his panic.

"What?! No! I mean—she's—we're just... it's complicated, okay?!" He stammered, his eyes darting wildly around the room as if looking for an exit strategy that wasn't there.

Inari didn't let up. The heavy, morose shadow that had clung to the boy finally shattered, replaced by a mischievous, toothy grin. He leaned forward, propping his chin on his hands, clearly enjoying the sight of the 'super powerful ninja' crumbling under the pressure of a single question.

"Complicated, huh?" Inari teased, his voice dropping into a sing-song tone. "Is that what they call it in Konoha? Because you turned into a tomato just now, Naruto-nii-chan."

"I did NOT!" Naruto shrieked, though his voice cracked at the end. Deep in his mind, he could practically hear the Nine-Tails rolling on the floor in hysterics—a deep, rumbling cackle that made Naruto want to crawl into a hole and bury himself. Shut up, you old fox bastard! He thought, though he knew the creature was only enjoying the show.

"Okay, okay! You win!" Naruto groaned, flopping backwards onto his futon and covering his face with a pillow. "Just... go to sleep, you little pest! We've got a bridge to build tomorrow, and if you keep talking like that, I'm going to tell your Grandpa you're staying up past your bedtime!"

Inari giggled—a genuine, light sound that hadn't been heard in this house for years. He stood up, smoothing his shirt, looking entirely satisfied with his victory. "Goodnight, Naruto-nii-chan. And for the record? I think she'd probably like you back."

Naruto pulled the pillow down just enough to glare at him with one blue eye, though he couldn't hide the small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, yeah. Get lost, kid. Goodnight."

As Inari scurried toward the door, the room felt different. The air wasn't heavy with the stench of fear anymore; it was warm, simple, and filled with the quiet rustle of a tired ninja team settling in for the night. Naruto let out a long, contented sigh, staring up at the ceiling.

Maybe, he thought, as the fatigue of the day finally began to pull him under, maybe tomorrow won't be so bad after all.

(*)

So Zabuza and Haku have to wait for what Sarutobi will do to them. What do you think will happen to them?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this long ass chapter :D

Till next time :D

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

This is, for now, the longest chapter of this FF, I think. :3 

Damn, I did my best with the fight scenes; I hope they are at least semi-passable :D

Enjoy!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 11: Land of Waves: Teamwork Unleashed

Last Time on Whirlpool Twins

“I wonder about that,” came Zabuza's voice from the space between the Genins and Tazuna. “It’s over.”

Before anyone could react, Kakashi managed to block Zabuza's sword strike, while the other four rolled on the ground. Team 7 Sensei kunai had found its place in Zabuza's stomach, but no blood came out.

No!

It was water!

Another Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi.

“Sensei, behind you!” Naruto shouted.

Surprised, Kakashi turned around, while the Zabuza he stabbed turned into a pool of water and the Zabuza behind him swung his sword.

“Die!” Zabuza shouted as his sword cut Kakashi in half. For a second he grinned in triumph, before it fell as he saw how the leaf jonin turned into a puddle. Then he felt the cold metal of a kunai on his throat.

“Don’t move.” The now behind Zabuza, standing and kunai holding Kakashi commanded. “It’s over.”

(*)

Zabuza could only laugh at the foolishness of the Copy Ninja. “Did you say it’s over? You don’t understand, do you? You won’t be able to beat me just by making like a monkey. No chance. But I must say you’re good. My Water Clone Jutsu was being copied at that point-”

(*)

“Sasuke,” Kakashi-Sensei called gently, stopping the Uchiha in his tracks. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you with my life. I will not allow my comrades to get killed.”

He turned his head towards his Genins, giving them one of his eye-smiles.

(*)

“-By letting the clone talk as if it were you, you succeeded in distracting me. And you used Hidden Mist Jutsu to hide yourself to see what I was doing. But…”

Suddenly, another Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi!  

“I’m not a fool!”

The Zabuza before Kakashi turned out to be a water clone, turning into a puddle, while the one behind him was the real deal. Zabuza swung his sword at Kakashi, but thankfully, he could bend down to avoid the slash. However, this didn’t save Team 7 Sensei from being kicked by Zabuza, flying high into the air. The Ex-Kiri-Ninja followed after Kakashi, ready to slash him this time, when he saw makibishi spikes on the ground before the lake.

“How foolish.” Zabuza mused before he also dived into the lake.

“Sensei!” Naruto screamed worriedly.

“His Taijutsu skills are also extremely good.” Sasuke referred to Zabuza.

Rumiko grit her teeth, saying nothing at the moment. Seeing it on TV was different from being included live. She needed to stay calm so she could help Kakashi-Sensei.

At the same time Kakashi broke the water surface, wondering why the water felt heavy, as Zabuza stood behind him, making hand signs fast.

“Hmph, fool. It’s the Water Prison Jutsu!”

“Darn it!” Kakashi shouted, but it was fruitless since he was now a prisoner in a round sphere of water. He realised what a stupid idea it had been to escape into the lake.

“You’re caught.” Zabuza chuckled amusedly. That had been simpler then thought. “It’s a special prison that makes it impossible for you to escape! It makes things harder having you able to act. Now, Kakashi, I’ll have to settle things with you later. First, I will finish those guys off.”

Since Zabuza needed to keep a hand inside the water sphere for the water prison justu to work, he created a water clone to take care of the Genins. From the lake arose the water clone, ready to fulfil this job.

“You’re acting big, wearing a headband like a ninja. But a real Ninja has hovered between life and death numerous times.” Clone-Zabuza said to Rumiko and the boys, stepping onto land. “In other words, only those who are worth being listed in my Bingo Book deserve to be called Ninja. Guys like you can’t be called real Ninja.”

Clone-Zabuza hides in the mist again, ready to take out one brat after another, and his first choice was the blond-haired one. He kicked the blond brat, but to his surprise, the kid had managed to use the Substitution-Jutsu to avoid his kick.

“Huh, good reflexes, but they won’t help you, brat.” Clone-Zabuza hums. Maybe these brats would entertain him a bit.

Heavy breathing Naruto appeared beside his sister and Sasuke, shaking but happy he managed to get away from Clone-Zabuza.

“You three!” Kakashi yelled. “Take Tazuna and run! You have no chance against this guy! As long as he has me trapped in this Water Prison, he won’t be able to move from here.”

Before Kakashi could say more or Clone-Zabuza attack again, Rumiko took a step forward, a smirk on her pretty face. There was some fear and nervousness in her blue eyes, but she had been taught by Shishiu the Teleporter; she and Naruto had trained harder than all, and they also had Kurama.

They got this.

She believed in herself, Naruto and also Sasuke.

“If that is all!” Rumiko shouted, and her golden Adamantine Chains sprang from her back, waving like tails of a kitsune behind her. “Then we will show this washed-up guy what Genin of Konoha can do.”

The reactions were hilarious to the Uzumaki Princess. Kakashi-Sensei looked like he had seen a ghost; Sasuke cursed for the first time she knew him in utter shock; Tazuna made himself even smaller; and Clone-Zabuza?

His eyes actually widened in shock. If he didn’t wear bandages around his face, his chin would meet the floor.

He had only read about this. Adamantine Chains. An A-Rank Jutsu which only the damned Uzumaki Clan possessed, with one of their abilities being to restrain an opponent's chakra, nullifying it completely. Made of the Uzumaki's own chakra, it was said they were unbreakable.

And this little girl possessed them? This meant she was an Uzumaki, the red hair not a coincidence!

“I admit, this is surprising. So young and already you possess the legendary chains of your clan.” Clone-Zabuza said in a slightly praising tone. “But you would have to catch me first."

Rumiko smirked, her blue eyes flashing with undeniable Uzumaki stubbornness. "You talk too much for a puddle," she taunted.

Behind her back, her fingers tapped a rapid Morse code rhythm against her leg, a silent signal they had utilised effectively since this mission began. They had been a team long enough for this kind of communication. Distract the clone. Target the real one.

Sasuke and Naruto didn't miss a beat. Sasuke dropped his shocked expression and Naruto his prideful, foxy grin, replacing them with the synchronised focus and teamwork that had earned Kakashi's praise during the Bell Test.

Naruto dropped low, slamming his hands together into his signature cross-seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A dozen Narutos materialised in a massive burst of smoke, instantly swarming the water clone in a chaotic melee.

"Fools! Numbers mean nothing!" Clone-Zabuza swung his massive blade, effortlessly popping three clones into smoke in a single, devastating arc.

But the clones weren't there to defeat him; they were human shields and distractions designed to blind him.

"Sasuke, now!" Rumiko barked.

Sasuke leapt high into the air, pulling a massive Fuma Shuriken from his back. He spun the weapon rapidly until it was a lethal blur. "Demon Wind Shuriken: Windmill of Shadows!" He hurled it with immense force, but not at the clone on the shoreline—he aimed it directly at the real Zabuza, who was still standing on the water, keeping Kakashi trapped inside the water prison.

Seeing the trajectory, Rumiko lashed out with two of her glowing golden Adamantine Chains. Instead of striking an enemy, she wrapped the chains securely around the centre ring of the spinning Fuma Shuriken. Channelling her vast Uzumaki chakra, she whipped her chains forward, propelling the heavy weapon toward Zabuza with the blistering speed of a cannonball.

The real Zabuza smirked beneath his bandages. Clever brats, but not clever enough. He simply tilted his head, effortlessly catching the chain-wrapped shuriken with his free hand while keeping his other arm buried in the water sphere.

"Is that all—?" Zabuza began, but his eyes widened in sudden realisation.

Hidden perfectly in the blind spot of the first weapon was a second one—the Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!

Zabuza had no time to block the second blade. He was forced to jump high into the air, abandoning his water clone's control, yet desperately keeping his fingers locked inside the water sphere to maintain Kakashi's prison.

The second shuriken flew harmlessly past him. Then, with a loud poof of white smoke, it transformed.

"Eat this, dattebayo!" Naruto roared, having reverted from his transformation mid-air directly behind the Demon of the Hidden Mist.

With a fierce battle cry, the blond Genin whipped a standard kunai directly at the arm Zabuza was using to maintain the jutsu. Faced with the choice of losing his arm or losing his prisoner, Zabuza gritted his teeth and ripped his hand away from the sphere to dodge the blade.

The water prison shattered instantly, collapsing into a heavy tidal wave that washed over the lake's surface.

Kakashi, gasping for fresh air but very much free, caught his footing on the water. He looked up at the three grinning Genin, his lone eye wide with pride. They really are Minato-Sensei and Kushina-San's children. Just as smart and quick on their feet. And Sasuke is truly one of the most talented Uchiha I've ever met.

Without Zabuza's focus, the Water Clone evaporated into a harmless puddle on the dirt. The real Zabuza landed roughly on the water's surface, glaring daggers at Team 7 as Kakashi stepped between the assassin and his students.

But Zabuza's glare turned into a disbelieving one as Adamantine Chains shot up from underneath him and wrapped themselves securely around his whole body.

Damn it!

The brats not only freed their Sensei but had trapped him now! He already felt how his chakra was dropping lower and lower with each passing second. He tried to break free, but the Adamantine Chain never budged a bit.

“You damn little she-devil!” Zabuza roared, seeing how she just stood beside her teammates, calm, without breaking a sweat.

“Now, Zabuza, is this the way to talk to a lady?” Kakashi said in a playful tone, getting a kunai ready. “She is just smarter than you.”

Now true panic appeared in Zabuza's eyes. Was he done for? Outsmarted by a fucking Genin?! Him? The Demon of the Mist?

Before Kakashi could end Zabuza's life, Senbons hit the ex-Kiri-Ninja's neck, and he dropped lifeless in Rumiko's chains.

Shocked, all but the Uzumaki Twins looked in the direction where the Senbons had come from. A young person in a mask with dark hair stood on a tree branch.

“Peace, Konoha Ninja.” The stranger called. “My fight is not with you.”

Keeping the stranger in his eyefield, Kakashi checked Zabuza's pulse. “He is definitly death.”

Only to turn fully around as the stranger let out a surprised yell as Rumiko Adamantine Chains wrapped around him.

“No, he is not!” The Uzumaki Princess shouted. “I suppress his chakra with my Adamantine Chains, but the lifeforce is still there. That other guy here just made him appear dead!”

“No, wait, please. That is not-” The stranger stuttered, but without mercy, Rumiko pulled him into the ground, keeping a tight hold.

“You can’t lie to a Uzumaki!”

Kakashi’s lone visible eye widened in realisation. Trusting his student’s sensory abilities, he pressed his fingers deeper into Zabuza’s neck, pushing past the chillingly cold skin to feel for the faintest thrum of life.

"She's right," Kakashi declared, his voice hard as ice. He stood up and glared at the masked youth now struggling against the glowing golden links of Rumiko's jutsu. "It’s a temporary state of suspended animation. The Senbon missed all vital organs on purpose."

The stranger—Haku—struggled against the Adamantine Chains, but it was useless. The more he pulled, the tighter they constricted, greedily sapping his chakra. "Please, let me go! You don't understand!" Haku pleaded, his calm facade finally shattering.

"Oh, we understand perfectly," Rumiko shot back, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple. "You were going to fake his death, take the body, and revive him later!"

"Awesome catch, Ane!" Naruto cheered, throwing a fist into the air. "They thought they could trick us, dattebayo!"

Sasuke didn't cheer, but a highly satisfied smirk crossed his face. He kept his kunai drawn, his dark eyes snapping back and forth between the restrained Zabuza and the struggling masked ninja. "Tracker ninja dispose of bodies on the spot; we learned this in the academy," Sasuke noted aloud, his sharp mind piecing it together. "He was asking to take the body away. A sloppy lie."

"Sensei," Rumiko gritted her teeth, her knees buckling slightly. The golden chains pulsed, but holding down a Jonin-level threat and his highly skilled accomplice was draining her fast. "A little help? Binding two people is eating my chakra alive!"

Kakashi didn't waste a single second. In a blur of motion, he appeared behind the masked youth and delivered a precise, lightning-fast chop to the back of Haku's neck. The stranger went limp instantly.

With both threats neutralised, Kakashi quickly produced a heavy spool of ninja wire. He systematically bound Zabuza and the masked ninja with complex knots that even a seasoned escape artist would struggle with, sealing their chakra points with specialised tags for good measure.

"Alright, Rumiko, you can drop the chains," Kakashi ordered gently.

With a heavy gasp, Rumiko released the jutsu. The golden chains shattered into motes of light, fading back into her body. She dropped to her knees, panting heavily, but a victorious grin stretched across her face.

Naruto was at her side in an instant, slinging her arm over his shoulder to help her up. "You did amazing, Ane!"

Kakashi looked at his three Genin, a profound sense of pride swelling in his chest. They had completely derailed an assassination attempt by one of the most dangerous rogue ninjas in the Bingo Book.

"I have to admit... you, kids are incredible," Kakashi said, giving them a warm eye-smile. "I’m really prou-"

Suddenly, Kakashi’s visible eye rolled back into his head. The severe chakra exhaustion from using the Sharingan and surviving the Water Prison finally caught up with him. Like a felled tree, the elite Jonin pitched forward and faceplanted directly into the dirt.

"Sensei?!" Naruto shrieked in panic.

Rumiko let out an exhausted, fond sigh. "Sharingan crash," she muttered, mentally preparing herself for the long trek ahead. She looked over at a trembling Tazuna, who was slowly creeping out from behind a bush.

"Well,Tazuna-San," Rumiko called out tiredly. "Looks like we've got two prisoners and an unconscious Sensei. I hope you have a lot of spare rope and a wheelbarrow."

(*)

The next time Kakashi got his senses back, he found himself in a bedroom, lying in a comfy futon. He felt more dead than alive, deep sleepiness in his bones, but he stayed awake. He stared tiredly at the roof, noting how Obito’s Sharigan once again had knocked him out, as a pretty lady with black hair entered his field of sight.

“Are you alright, Sensei?” she asked. This must be Tazuna's daughter, if he had to guess.

“Not really…” he admitted. There was no reason to lie. “It will be hard just to move for about a week.” Slowly, he sat up, placing a hand on his hurting chest.

“Well, it would be better if you didn’t move for a while.” Tazuna's daughter, Tsunami, advised.

“Okay…” Kakashi gladly lay down once more.

“Hey, Sensei’s awake!” Naruto appeared with his twin, Sasuke and Tazuna trailing after him.

“How are you feeling, Kakashi-Sensei?” Rumiko asked, kneeling beside his bedside.

“Eh, I will manage. What about you kids? Tazuna-San?”

Sasuke and Naruto also knelt around their Sensei's bed, while Tazuna wiped his face with a towel.

“We’re fine, Sensei.” Rumiko assured him, with Naruto nodding along and Sasuke letting out one of his ‘Hn’ sounds. “Don’t worry about us and get well as soon as you can.”

“What about Zabuza and his accomplice?”

“The kids put them in our shed,” Tazuna explained. “Haven’t woken up till now.”

“Good, that’s good.” Kakashi signed.

“So what are we going to do with them?” Naruto wondered.

“Well, I will send a message to the Hidden Leaf, so an ANBU Squad can pick them up, but till then, I will interrogate them. We can’t be sure if Gato has more ninjas like Zabuza on his payroll.”

All made worried faces at this, even Rumiko. She had changed the plot with Naruto and Sasuke's help; now all was uncertain. Let’s hope not…

“I think we can relax for a while. You did take out a powerful ninja and his minion.” Tazuna grinned and surprisingly bowed towards them. “Especially you kids are amazing. I’m sorry, I had my doubts, but you showed me what Konoha Ninjas can do!”

This made Rumiko smile, Sasuke smirk, and Naruto grin fox-like. “Heh, don’t worry, old man! We got this! Shall come whoever, we beat them!”

“Ototo, don’t jinx it,” Rumiko warned him, which made him smile sheepishly. “Hehehe, sorry, Ane.”

Suddenly, a young boy's voice sounded from the door. “You’re arrogant and full of yourself.”

“Who the heck are you?” Naruto asked, pointing at this depressed-looking kid.

“Hey Inari!” Tazuna cooed, holding his arms open. “Where’ve you been?!”

Fast Inari ran up to him, grandfather and grandson hugging each other. “Welcome home, Jiji.”

“Inari, what sort of greeting is that?!” Tsunami scolds. “These are the Ninja who escorted your grandpa! Not only that, they managed to capture and defeat two dangerous ninjas Gato had hired!”

Inari had been ready to tell these ninjas what fools they all were when he registered what his mother said. He turned a ghostly pale as his whole worldview was flipped over.

“Wha-What?” The child stuttered, getting a flashback of his stepfather. His strong stepfather, who lost his life to Gato. His stepfather who had been his hero. “That’s impossible! No one can beat Gato! You’re lying, Kaa-San!”

Naruto's eyes turned into slits. He didn’t like one bit how this brat was talking to his mother. He should be glad to have one!

“Hey, you brat!” Naruto shouted, waving a fist around. “Your mother isn’t lying. I, my awesome sister, and that teme helped our Sensei beat Gato's henchmen, and we will go next up to Gato personally!”

“You’re all lying!” Inari shouted, tears streaming down his face. “If…if…my dad couldn’t…then why you?! Why not him?!”

With a frustrated scream, the child ran away. Tsunami wanted to run after her son, but Tazuna stopped her.

“Let him, ‘Nami,” her father said. “He needs to rethink a lot of things which he had been so sure about.” Then he turned towards Team 7. “I’m sorry, please don’t think ill of Inari. He has gone through a lot.”

The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence after the sound of Inari’s retreating footsteps faded. Naruto remained tense, his fists still clenched at his sides, his chest heaving with the residual adrenaline of his outburst.

Rumiko sighed, her gaze softening as she looked toward the door. She knew the trauma behind that boy’s bitterness; she knew, perhaps better than anyone, how a single tragedy could shatter a child's belief in heroes. She reached out, placing a firm, grounding hand on her brother’s shoulder.

"Let it go, Naruto," she said quietly, her voice lacking its earlier sharp edge. "He’s not attacking us. He’s attacking the pain he feels every time he looks at his family and remembers who is missing."

Naruto huffed, looking away, though his shoulders dropped a fraction of an inch under her touch. "He shouldn't say that stuff about his Kaa-San, though. Not when we’re risking our necks for his village."

"I know," Sasuke muttered, his arms crossed. His dark eyes, usually cold and unreadable, held a flicker of understanding—or perhaps a mirrored memory of loss. "But words don't change the mission. We have a Bridge Builder to protect, and a revolution to ignite in this land. If we can beat Zabuza and that masked kid, we can handle a traumatised kid."

Kakashi, propped up against the pillows, watched his team with a weary but deeply impressed eye. He was still aching from the exhaustion, but the sight of his three students—the way they protected one another, the way they navigated not just the battlefield, but the emotional complexities of their client’s home—reminded him why he had decided to keep them together.

"They're right, Naruto," Kakashi rasped, his voice sounding tired but firm. "This mission has changed. We aren't just escorting a client anymore. We are involved in the liberation of a nation. If we are to see this through, we need to be stronger than just our jutsu."

Tazuna, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of shame and gratitude, finally cleared his throat. "I’ll go talk to him," the old man said, his voice thick with emotion. "He needs to hear the truth. Not about how 'impossible' things are, but about what real courage looks like. I think... I think he needs to see that you three aren't just arrogant kids, but people who fight for something worth dying for."

Rumiko nodded, offering the bridge builder a tired but encouraging smile. "Tell him the truth, Tazuna-San. Tell him that heroes aren't people who never lose—they're just the people who refuse to stop standing back up."

As Tazuna left the room, the tension in the air slowly dissipated, replaced by the quiet, heavy atmosphere of a team reflecting on their first true trial. Rumiko moved to the window, looking out toward the horizon where the bridge—the symbol of this land's future—stood incomplete in the distance.

She knew the real challenge was still ahead. Haku and Zabuza were captured, but Gato would surely notice their absence. The calm was temporary, a brief respite before the final storm. But as she felt the familiar, grounding presence of Naruto behind her and the steady, watchful gaze of Sasuke, she felt a surge of hope.

The path of history was shifting, just as she had planned. And for the first time since she arrived in this world, she felt like they were ready to meet it head-on.

"Rest up, Sensei," Rumiko murmured, turning back to the room. "You're going to need all your strength for what comes next."

(*)

Before you come at me with pitchforks, telling me Rumi is overpowered, remind yourself she is Kushina's daughter. Kushina, who, near death, still could keep down Kurama with her Adamantine Chain, Kurama who is the strongest of the Bijuu! Is it really that far off that Rumiko can hold a Jonin of Zabuza's calibre and Haku down? She has been training since a 3-4 years old in the ninja arts, and Shisui was her teacher. He damn pushed her even more.

So it makes sense, in my head, that she is so strong.

Naruto is also a badass, which we will be seeing soon, I promise.

And our edgelord Sasuke will also become strong.

This Team 7 is different from the canon on and I hope it shows.

Anyway, let’s see if the Butterfly Effect will kick them in the ass or not! XD

See you next time :D

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Yuhu, we begin the Wave Arc.

Let’s see if Rumiko and Naruto can start to truly change things!

Enjoy :D

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 10: Land of Waves: Arriving

Punctually the next day, Team 7 with their client Tazuna began their journey to the Land of the Waves. For the Uzumaki Twins, it was the first time being outside of Konoha; they were excited.

Yet they didn’t forget their duty in guarding the old bridge builder.

Kakashi smiled proudly behind his mask, noting how vigilant Minato-Sensei's kids were. They truly were good little Genin; their parents would be so proud of them…

Sasuke just stayed still, watching out for trouble, while a part of him still wondered what the dobe’s deal was. A few weeks before, Naruto had been a loud dumbass, but since becoming a Genin, he showed sides that no one would have guessed he possessed. Did he perhaps play a role in the academy? But why?

Meanwhile, Tazuna just drank a fresh bottle of beer, not daring to say anything after the little red-haired she-devil made him nearly meet his maker yesterday. That girl was dangerous, which on one side was good, but also bad for him.

The group walked for a few hours in a calm atmosphere as they passed a puddle. Rumiko's eyes turned to slits, and Kakashi's look stayed for a long second on the water.

There came the plot knocking! The Uzumaki Princess thought, getting herself ready for the ambush of the Demon Brothers of Kirigakure.

That’s when she felt her Sensei tap a quick message in Morse code on her hand back. I will be the bait. Inform Sasuke and Naruto.

Showing she understood, Rumiko gave a quick nod before she took Naruto's hand to squeeze it in Morse code. Enemy Ninjas. Sensei will be the bait. Get ready.

Naruto also gave a nod before she placed a hand on Sasuke's back to tap the same message there. The Uchiha let out a little huff, but Rumiko knew it meant he understood.

They have been a team long enough for this kind of communication.

As the group continued forward, the air around the puddle seemed to thicken, vibrating with the sudden, sharp release of killing intent.

From the centre of the water, two figures erupted with violent grace, their bodies turning from liquid to solid as they rose. They were the Demon Brothers of Kirigakure, their faces twisted into sadistic grins.

With a blur of motion, they lunged, their bladed gauntlets whirling in a deadly, synchronised arc. Before Kakashi could even appear to react, the chains whipped around him, pulling taut. With a sickening crunch, they constricted, shredding the Jonin’s body into a spray of blood and gore.

Tazuna let out a strangled, terrified scream. "They—they got him!"

The brothers didn't hesitate, their eyes locking onto the cowering bridge builder. "One down," the larger one snarled, his voice a raspy grating sound. "Now for the target."

They turned their gaze away from the carnage, expecting to find cowering academy brats. Instead, they found a wall of steel.

Sasuke was already in motion, his body a blur as he propelled himself into the air, driving a powerful kick into the centre of the brothers' combined chain. The force of the blow shattered the momentum of their charge. Simultaneously, Naruto dropped low, making his famous hand cross-sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

A dozen Narutos materialised in a semicircle, blocking the path to the bridge builder. They didn't just stand there; they swarmed. While the main body engaged the brothers in melee, the clones acted as human shields and distractions, pulling the brothers' focus away from Tazuna and forcing them to defend against strikes coming from every direction.

Rumiko was the shadow in the chaos. She didn't rely on brute force; she relied on precision. As the brothers stumbled back from the Uchiha’s strike and the clone assault, Rumiko flicked her wrist, sending a pair of kunai whistling through the air. They didn't aim for vital organs—they aimed for the gear. With deadly accuracy, the kunai pinned the brothers' chain gauntlets directly to the wooden roots of a nearby tree.

"Now!" Rumiko barked.

Caught, pinned, and off-balance, the brothers were utterly exposed. Their desperate scramble to free their gear left them completely blind to the figure emerging from the tree line behind them.

Kakashi—very much alive, his body having been nothing more than a carefully timed substitution log—appeared as if he had simply stepped out of thin air. He didn't even draw a weapon. With a calm, almost bored sigh, he moved between them, delivering two precise, lightning-fast strikes to the back of their necks.

The brothers went limp instantly, collapsing into the dirt with a heavy thud.

Tazuna was relieved and also in disbelief at what he had just witnessed. He had survived, thanks to these three brats protecting him flawlessly. He had thought having Genin as bodyguards would be a problem, even with a Jonin, but these three?

They weren’t in the same league as their agemates; they were beyond! Even he, as a civilian, could see that.

“Let me just say, good job, my cute little Genins.” Kakashi praised his kids with an eye-smile. “You worked like a well-oiled machine together.”

Since the danger was over, the Genin dropped their fighting stances. Sasuke smirked slightly, Rumiko grinned happily, and Naruto rubbed his nose with a wide smile. Sure, they could do without being called cute little Genins, but they took the recognition anyway.

Then, simultaneously, Team 7 turned to a nervous, sweating Tazuna, the Genin giving him displeased looks, while Kakashi had narrowed his lone eye.

“By the way, Tazuna-San.”

“W-What is it?” The bridge builder answered Kakashi, stuttering.

“We need to talk.”

Before they talked, however, Team 7 bound the Demon Brother to a tree.

“Chuunin from the Village Hidden in the Mist.” Kakashi picked up the word again. “These guys are ninjas known for continuing to fight no matter what the sacrifice.”

“How were you able to detect our movements?” One of the Demon Brothers wondered.

“There probably wouldn’t be puddles of water on a clear day like today, when it hasn’t rained for days,” Kakashi-Sensei explained, bored with these cretins from Kirigakure.

This made Tazuna ask a question. “Knowing that, why’d you leave it to the kids to fight?”

“If I felt like it, I could kill these guys instantly, but I had to know who the target of these enemies was.”

“Hm?! What do you mean?”

“In other words, what I mean is I had to know if it was you, or one of us Shinobi, who was being targeted.  We haven’t heard anything about you being targeted by ninjas. The content of the request was supposed to be just protection from gangs, thieves and the like. This is a mission with a B-rank or higher. The request was supposed to be for backup protection until you finished building your bridge. If our enemies were to be ninjas, the mission would’ve been estimated without question as an expensive B-Rank mission. It appears there’s some kind of good reason for this, but being lied to in the request won’t do. This is beyond the scope of our mission.”

“Kakashi-Sensei?” Rumiko spoke up. “What is the plan now?”

The boys also stared at their sensei in question.

“Mmh, well, how do you kids feel about this?” Kakashi asked back.

The three Genin shared a look with each other before nodding. They knew what they wanted to do.

“We will continue this mission and protect Tazuna-San!”

(*)

Heavy fog greeted Team 7 and Tazuna as they were rowed over the river to the Land of Waves.  

“You can’t see anything in this fog,” Rumiko murmured thoughtfully, with Naruto nodding along. “Yeah, never saw something like that at home, dattebayo.”

“When we reach the side of the bridge, we’ll be in the Land of Waves.” The Rower, a friend of Tazuna, told them quietly. “

The closer they came to land, the better they saw this huge bridge in construction.

It was truly awe-inspiring. Even Rumiko hadn’t seen such a big bridge in her first life.

“Wow, it’s huge.” Naruto gasped.

“It is roughly three times the size of Sasuke's ego.” Rumiko couldn’t help but crack a joke. I miss YGOTAS…

Her brother snorted, while the black-haired boy gave her a pissed look. “Screw you, Uzumaki!” he growled, full of Uchiha Moodiness™.

“Now, now, kids. This is not really the time to discuss Sasuke's ego.” Kakashi-Sensei hums. Now Sasuke looks at him, pissed, while the Uzumaki try to laugh quietly, so as not to alert any enemies.

“Tazuna-San.” The Hatake turned now to their client. “I want to ask you something before we arrive at the pier. The identity of your assailants and the reason why they are after you. If you don’t tell us, our mission may end when you make landfall.”

Tazuna let out a deep breath. “It appears I have no choice but to tell you. Frankly, I'd like you to listen. As you said, this may be beyond the scope of your mission. Actually, I am being targeted by a terrifying man. You guys have probably heard his name before. A shipping magnate by the name of Gato.”

“Oh! Isn’t that some shady guy you told me about, Ane?” Naruto asked his sister.

“Yeah, I read some articles in the newspapers about him.” Rumiko began to explain as the other males looked at her in curiosity. “Gato of Gato Company is one of the richest men in the world. He is the chief executive of a shipping company, but unofficially there are worrying rumours about him.”

“Which are?” Sasuke asked with a slight frown. He could guess what these rumours could be, but he wanted a confirmamtion.

“Well, people who talk negatively about him disappear or change their minds from one day to another. Companies go bankrupt out of the blue and competitors either sell anything to him or vanish also.”

“The little lady is right.” Tazuna agreed. “Gato is into drug trafficking and deals in contraband using gangs and ninjas. Moreover, he runs a despicable business, ruthlessly taking over nations and enterprises. It was about one year ago when that man first set his eyes on the Land of the Waves. He used his wealth and violence to enter this country, and before anyone knew it, he had taken complete control of the island’s maritime transportation and shipping. Having a tight grip on the ocean, on an island like ours, means having control of finances, the government, the people, everything. The one thing Gato fears is the completion of the bridge that has been under construction for some time now.”

“Of course, you, as the main bridge builder, have become his target,” Rumiko said with crossed arms. “He fears what this bridge stands for: hope.”

This earned her surprised looks from everyone, but mostly Tazuna.

“You’re right, little lady. But how?”

“As you said, this is a maritime nation, and Gato currently controls any means of transportation to the mainland. Now what happens when this bridge is finished?”

Naruto made his cute thinking foxy face before he snipped with his fingers. “Oh, oh! The people will have a way to go to the mainland out of Gato's control! This could give them hope back, the hope and will to fight back against this scumbag, and he can’t have that!”

Astonished, even if his face didn’t show it, Sasuke stared at Naruto.

That dobe… in school, he never thought logically, but now he really thinks through any situation? What is your game, Naruto?!

They really are Minato-Sensei and Kushina-San's children. Just as smart and quick on their feet. Kakashi thought bittersweetly.

Tazuna rubbed the side of his head. “Well, I will be damned. You kids are right. I’m trying in my way to fight against Gato and give my friends and neighbours their hope back. This bridge is more than a bridge; it’s a symbol of rebellion.”

“There is still one thing, Tazuna-San,” Kakashi-Sensei spoke up. “Your opponent, Gato, is a dangerous one who will even use ninja. Why did you hide that fact from us when you made your request?

“The Land of Waves is a very poor nation, and even feudal lords have no money. Of course, we ordinary citizens have no money either. We cannot afford to make requests of Rank B or higher.” Tazuna explained, then changed his tactic, using blame to get Team 7 to agree to stay. “Well, if you pull out of the mission when I land ashore, I will, no doubt, be killed. Killed sometime before I make it home. But there’s no need for concern! Should I die, my cute grandchild, who will turn eight, will only cry his heart out! And my daughter will only blame the Hidden Leaves Ninja for the rest of her life and grieve in solitude! Oh, it’s not your fault at all!”

“Way to gaslight and manipulate someone,” Rumiko grumbled, with the boys nodding along and Kakashi-Sensei scratching his wild silver-white hair.

“Well, I guess we have no choice. Let’s continue as his bodyguards.” The Hatake declared.

“Oh! I am most grateful!” Tazuna chirped, making a victory sign secretly.

The rower told them how they were nearly on the pier without being noticed. They rowed inside a tunnel, and when they came out, they saw a rundown town built on the water, the fog gone.

Team 7 and Tazuna stepped on the pier, where the rower left them. He wouldn’t risk anymore.

It was time to escort the bridge builder to his house.

Which means…Rumiko thought, looking around carefully…Zabuza should appear any minute now.

Meanwhile, Naruto felt something tickling his neck. He knew about Zabuza and Haku; Ane told him what to expect on this mission, so he was more alert than normal.

“There!” The Uzumaki Heir shouted, throwing a kunai knife into the bushes.

All looked in the direction, seeing just a bunny. A white bunny? During spring, when its fur turned only white during winter?

“Substitution Jutsu!” Rumiko shouted, pulling her kunai out.

“Get down!” Kakashi yelled, as a massive sword, who lookend a lot like Cloud Strife's Buster Sword, came soaring through the air towards the group.

Thankfully, all managed to throw themselves down on the ground. The giant sword got stuck on a tree, and like the badass he was, Momochi Zabuza stood on its handle with his back to Team 7 and Tazuna.

“Well, well.” Kakashi greeted in fake friendliness. “If it isn’t the Rogue Ninja of the Hidden Mist, Momochi Zabuza.”

Kakashi's hand was going up to his headband, ready to reveal his hidden eye.

“I assume you are Kakashi, the Sharigan User.” Zabuza guessed right.

The Uzumaki Twins noted how Sasuke got stiff hearing this, and their hearts did go out to him. Sasuke surely, though, wonders if Kakashi could be perhaps family.

Zabuza continued: “Sorry, but I’ll have you hand over the old man.”

“Get in Manji battle formation, you guys,” Kakashi-Sensei commanded his Genin. “Protect Tazuna. Don’t involve yourselves in the fight. That’s the teamwork in this situation.”

A tad too dramatically, well for Rumiko, their sensei finally showed his Sharigan eye. The one he got from Obito.

“Fight me.”  

“Well now, I never expected to see the rumoured Sharigan this soon.” Zabuza mused lightly. “This is an honour.”

Fog was starting to gather as Zabuza continued: “When I was in the Anbu Black Ops of the Hidden Mist, search information about you was in the Bingo Book I would carry around with me. There was also something else in the book, about the man who has copied over one thousand skills. Kakashi the Copy Ninja.”

The two adult ninjas stared each other down.

“Let’s end the talking here,” Zabuza said, squatting on the sword. “I must kill that old man immediately.”

Fast, the three Genin got into the Manji formation, with Sasuke before Tanzuna, Rumiko on his left and Naruto on his right, kunais ready. Kakashi stood before them all.

“But, Kakashi, it seems I have to defeat you first.”

With that, Zabuza pulled his sword out and stood now on the water surface of a lake. He had a hand in Ram before his covered mouth, the other arm raised as he generated chakra.

“Ninja Art, Hidden Mist Jutsu.”

The mist wrapped around him, and from one blink of the eye to the other, Zabuza was gone.

“He’ll probably come to kill me first,” Kakashi informed his Genin while looking around for their enemy. “Be careful, as he said he was an Anbu Black Ops member from the Hidden Mist and is known as the ‘Silent Killing’ technique expert.”

“Silent?” Naruto asked.

“As the name suggests, it’s a killing skill that’s implemented in an instant in silence. By the time you realise it, it’s possible you may find yourself in the afterlife. I haven’t totally mastered the use of my Sharigan. So don’t lower your guard, you guys. Well, if we fail, we’ll only die.”

“You’re  way too nonchalant about this, Kakashi-Sensei.” Rumiko deadpan, alert and ready for anything.

“The mist is steadily getting thicker.” Naruto pointed out, trying to see something in this denseness.

“The Land of Ocean is surrounded by ocean,” Tazuna spoke up. “So mist rises very easily.”

“Didn’t mean it like that, old man. That’s surely this Hidden Mist Jutsu!”

Rumiko's blue eyes turned into slits as the mist got Kakashi-Sensei. “Naru, Uchiha, get ready. I don’t see Kakashi-Sensei anymore.”

The boys let out agreeing sounds, their muscles tense, ready. This was different from their fight against these Chunin from Kirigakure; this was as serious as it could get.

“Eight spots.” Zabuza's voice echoed around them, sounding eerie. “The larynx, the spine, the lungs, the liver, the jugular and the subclavian veins. The kidneys, the heart. Now then, which vulnerable spot would be good?”

Her heart raced in her chest, but the Uzumaki Princess refused to let Zabuza get her. “Boys, stay calm,” she advised Naruto and Sasuke. “We can’t freak out. We need to stay on target.”

“Right, Ane!”

“Hn.”

That’s when they felt immense chakra being ejected from before them. The mist was repelled enough that they could see Kakashi-Sensei, the source of the chakra mass.  

It was overwhelming. The lust of blood Kakashi and Zabuza also penetrated the air with. Sasuke could feel it and didn’t know how to handle it. Shakingly, he raised his kunai to kill himself, rather die by his own hand than be a victim of one of the men's bloodthirst.

“Sasuke,” Kakashi-Sensei called gently, stopping the Uchiha in his tracks. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you with my life. I will not allow my comrades to get killed.”

He turned his head towards his Genins, giving them one of his eye-smiles.

“I wonder about that,” came Zabuza's voice from the space between the Genins and Tazuna. “It’s over.”

Before anyone could react, Kakashi managed to block Zabuza's sword strike, while the other four rolled on the ground. Team 7 Sensei kunai had found its place in Zabuza's stomach, but no blood came out.

No!

It was water!

Another Zabuza appeared behind Kakashi.

“Sensei, behind you!” Naruto shouted.

Surprised, Kakashi turned around, while the Zabuza he stabbed turned into a pool of water and the Zabuza behind him swung his sword.

“Die!” Zabuza shouted as his sword cut Kakashi in half. For a second he grinned in triumph, before it fell as he saw how the leaf jonin turned into a puddle. Then he felt the cold metal of a kunai on his throat.

“Don’t move.” The now behind Zabuza, standing and kunai holding Kakashi commanded. “It’s over.”

(*)

So I hope next chapter I can wrap up the first fight against Zabuza in one, but I promise nothing ^^ 

Until next time :D

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Enjoy the chapter :D

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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(*)

Chapter 9: Between Heart and Duty

Rumiko knew damn well that this was a mistake. Not a little one, but a huge one!

A catastrophic one! Yet she hadn’t been able to resist.

When Saturday came, she woke up earlier than normal, careful not to wake up her brother. Then she quickly dressed herself, packed the Time-Kunai (as she called the odd Thunder God Kunai) with her other ninja tools and was out of the flat as if hellhounds were after her.

The Uzumaki Princess formally raced to her dad's old training ground, while her mind and heart battled against each other. Her brain cussed her out, calling her an idiot, and her heart encouraged her to do it.

She ended up listening to her heart and, in a red flash, was back in the past.

Oh, she had been furious with herself. How weak she was to resist Obito's siren song; what a colossal dumbass she was being. What did she believe? That she could make Obito fall in love with her and change the future?

Yes.

Yes, a part of her truly was that hopeless romantic.

She had called Ino and Sakura fangirls, but she wasn’t better when it was about Uchiha Obito! She may even be more delusional than the two girls. Obito loved Rin deeply, so deeply that he wanted to create a better fake world, where he could live with her. He would walk over corpses; he would rip Kurama out of her mother, Kushina; he would kill his clan with Itachi; he would let the Akatsuki kill and murder and hunt Jinchurikis, all for the Eye of the Moon Plan, and Rumiko really thought her little flame of love could reach Obito?

Who was she kidding? This was not a fairy tale or a romantic comedy! This was the real world, real life, real people with their own hearts and minds. Hearts didn’t change that easily.

So Rumiko had been ready to just travel back to the present and really get rid of the Time-Kunai, as a bright-smiling Obito ran up to her.

And her brain loses against her heart.

All the good arguments that spoke against all this didn’t mean anything more to her than the burning hot fever in her veins, fast beating heart and clammy stomach when she saw the Uchiha.

Logic didn’t have a place anymore, just feelings.

Just this tiny, fragile hope that love was possible between them.

And this was more than enough to stay.

(*)

Naruto woke up with the smell of miso and grilled salmon in his nose. Yawning, he sat up, looking at the alarm clock on the bedside table.

Huh?

It was later than usual when he smelled Ane cooking in the morning. Did she oversleep? It didn’t happen often, so he wondered if all was alright with her.

Curious, he walked to the kitchen, scratching his blond hair under the sleeping hat and murmured a greeting. “Morning, Ane.”

“Good Morning, Naruto. Did you sleep well?” Hinata's beautiful voice greeted him.

In one instead, his sleepy eyes popped open. He stopped scratching and just looked in utter surprise at his crush. Long ago, the Uzumaki Twins had given her the keys to their flat, so Hinata could come and go however she pleased, but it was still a surprise to see her this early.

Not only that! She wore a soft purple cotton dress with a cute apron, standing by the oven as if she made breakfast in his flat any day! Her beautiful, elegant neck was exposed and in Naruto came the desire to place kisses all over the exposed skin.

Get your hormones under control, brat! Kuruma, thankful, growled in their mindspace. The Princess isn’t a snack you can just devour!

This was like cold water over his head, and Naruto felt the burning in his veins simmer down.  

Right.

Hinata deserved a real courtship, not him just jumping her.

He wanted to do this with her the right way. As soon as he was Chuunin, he would ask Hinata's old man for permission to court her. Ane had made clear he needed to do these since the Hyuuga were such traditionalists. Even him being Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's son wouldn’t save him from Hiashi Gentle Fists if he didn’t show Hinata and her family the respect such a high clan deserved.

“Hina, morning.” Naruto finally spoke up, giving her his foxy grin. “My day is already better with you here.”

The Hyuuga Heiress blushed like a rose, hiding her shy giggles behind one hand. “You’re sweet, Naruto. Please sit down; breakfast is nearly ready.”

He wanted to do so, before he realised he was still in his Pjamas and sleeping cap! Now he blushed in embarrassment.

“Eh! I will just get dressed really fast, Hina! Stay just as beautiful as you are!”

Making the nickname of his father, the Yellow Flash, an honour, Naruto raced into the bathroom, took a fast shower, dressed in his simple black t-shirt with the red Uzumaki Spiral and some soft orange pants, brushed his teeth and fixed his hair, before he was back in the kitchen.

“I’m back!”

“I can see that, Naruto.” Hinata smiled shyly and lovingly at him, as she placed the dishes on the table. “Sit down, please.”

“Oh wait, lemme help.”

Together they set the table before sitting down to enjoy the breakfast.

“Say, Hina? Where is Rumi?” Naruto asked, looking around the flat. “She can’t hide in this little flat.”

“We saw each other as I made my way here,” Hinata explained. “She said I could just come over and eat with you for breakfast. She wanted to do some extra training before you meet up with your team.”

Frowning, Naruto took a bite out of the rice, munching thoughtfully. “Ane is doing a lot of extra training these past weeks. Always alone and in the morning. What’s up with that?”

“Maybe she works on a new jutsu? You know how she is. If it isn’t perfect, she won’t show it to us.” Hinata offered an explanation, but she had a strange feeling in her stomach.

Since they had become Genin and were placed on their teams a good few weeks ago, her best friend acted a tad more secretive. Rumiko may really just be working on a new jutsu, but…something in Hinata told her there was more.

And looking at how Naruto seemed sceptical, the feeling got more intense.

“Could be, Hina,” Naruto answered, drinking his tea. “But something rubs me the wrong way about it. I just can’t point my finger at it.”

The blue-haired girl signed in agreement. “I understand what you mean, Naruto. Rumi seems happier, but also more solemn than normal. Like these two emotions battle in her.”

“Yes, exactly, dattebayo! Also, she signs a lot and looks out the windows, logging.”

This made Hinata listen up, a suspicion forming in her.

Could it be that her best friend…was in love? She wanted to ask Naruto more, but he seemed to not know anything. Also…Rumiko NEVER had revealed her own love to Naruto…so if her best friend had a partner, she should ask her directly and not through her brother.

Perhaps Rumiko worried Naruto wouldn’t like seeing his Ane date someone? Whatever it was, Hinata would ask her the next time they were only what was up.

(*)

Meanwhile in past Konoha, Rumiko and Obito had ended one of their long training fights. Since Rumiko had decided to take the risk to meet up with young Obito so many weeks ago, they had grown closer, becoming very good friends.

It was nearly impossible not to, when Obito logged so for friendship, Rumiko was hopeless in love with him, and they taught each other new ninja techniques. Sure, a part of her was afraid to help Obito get stronger; this could bite her in the ass in the present, but another hoped, pleaded that perhaps she really could change the past!

When you sweat and bleed with someone, you start to talk and get closer; it was normal.

Anyway, the two friends sat beside each other on the ground, trying to catch their breath. Their spar had ended as it always did with Rumiko winning.

Cutely, Obito pouted, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Oh, man! You’re so fast and strong, Rumi! Whenever I think I got you, you pull something new out. You remind me of Minato-Sensei.”

A bittersweet smile formed on her lips as Obito compared her to her future father. “I take this as a compliment. Your sensei is hailed as a genius, right?”

The Uchiha nodded with a wide grin as Rumiko handed him a water flask. “Oh yeah. Minato-Sensei is just badass. Also, he is super nice and wants to be Hokage too.” He took a big gulp. “Ah! I’m really glad to have Minato-Sensei as my teacher.”

Rumiko took her own big gulp from her water flask, as Obito continued to talk. “What I most like about Minato-Sensei is that he isn’t arrogant about his status as a genius. Not like Bakashi. Grr!”

“I assume Hatake kicked your ass once again?” Rumiko guessed, knowing what an arrogant gremlin her sensei was as a kid. Deeply traumatised, yes, but also with a stick up his ass.

“Yep.” Obito popped the p long and dramatically lay down on the ground like a starfish. “I wish I had my Sharigan, so I would show him who is boss!”

Rumiko leaned a bit over him with crossed arms. “I don’t have one and still kick your ass, Obi…you just need to train harder. That’s what I do. I didn’t just become that good overnight without doing anything, yeah?”

“Naah, I get what ya mean, it’s just frustrating, ya know?” Obito murmured sadly. “I’m 13 years old and still no Sharigan. I feel like a joke.”

“You aren’t a joke.” Rumiko contradicted him. “You’re just a late bloomer, but it doesn’t mean you will not be badass. You will be one of the strongest ninjas ever. I believe in you.”

You don’t know how strong and dangerous you can be…she thought, heartbroken.

The Uchiha gave her a wide smile to hide his happy tears. “You and Rin are the only ones to believe in me. Thanks, Rumi.”

“Of course, Obi,” Rumiko said simply, hiding her jealousy over the brunette girl who held Obito's heart. “I’m your friend, and I’m cheering you on.”

"You know," Obito murmured, staring up at the shifting clouds, "sometimes I wonder if I’m just chasing ghosts."

Rumiko went still. "What do you mean?"

He sat up slowly, looking at her. The usual bravado that painted his face—the mask of the future villain, the insecure child—was gone. In its place was something raw and painfully honest. "Everyone talks about the 'will of fire,' or becoming Hokage, or being a genius like Minato-sensei. But when I'm here with you... it doesn't feel like I'm performing for an audience. It just feels... quiet."

Rumiko felt a sharp, familiar pang in her chest—a mix of affection and grief. She reached out, her hand hovering for a second before she brushed a stray leaf from his shoulder.

He didn't pull away. Instead, he leaned into the touch, a faint, surprised smile touching his lips.

"I'm not a ghost, Obito," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm right here."

"I know," he replied softly. "That’s what scares me. You’re the only person who doesn't look at me like I’m a disappointment. Even when I mess up, even when I'm an idiot... you're still here." He shifted closer, his gaze searching hers with a desperate, youthful intensity. "Why, Rumi? Why do you stay?"

The question hung between them like a fragile bridge. Rumiko looked at him—at the boy who would one day shake the foundations of the ninja world—and saw only the boy who needed to be held.

She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to tell him that she was fighting for his soul, that she was trying to change a fate written in blood. But she couldn't.

"Because you're worth the effort," she said, her voice thick with emotion. She reached up and, with a gentle touch, readjusted his goggles. Her thumb lingered on his temple, a fleeting, tender contact that felt both like a promise and a goodbye. "And because I think... maybe I'm a little bit lost without you, too."

Obito’s breath hitched. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to narrow down to just the two of them—the Uchiha and the girl who carried the weight of the future in her heart. He looked down at her hand, then back up into her eyes, his expression softening into something so genuine it made her heart ache.

"I’m not going anywhere," he whispered, a quiet vow that carried more weight than any grand gesture.

Rumiko let out a shaky, bittersweet laugh. She pulled her hand back, but her fingers brushed his arm, leaving a lingering trail of warmth. She looked away, toward the sun, hiding the tear that threatened to spill.

"Good," she said, her voice steadying. "Because tomorrow, we’re going to be even better. No more 'late bloomer' excuses."

Obito grinned, the tension breaking as he fell back onto the grass, his hands behind his head. "Yeah. Tomorrow. Just you and me, right?"

"Always," she whispered, knowing full well the price of that word.

(*)

Ah yes, the joys of being a Genin. Wonderful missions like babysitting, walking dogs or painting fences awaited you.

Today's mission for Team 7 had been the dreaded and feared mission of recapturing the infamous Tora, the cat.

Rumiko held Tora by the scruff so he would stop scratching her poor Ototos face, while Sasuke informed Kakashi-Sensei via walkie-talkie of their success.

With that mission done, they just needed to deliver the naughty cat to his owner, Madam Shijimi, the wife of the Fire Daimyo and pick up their next.

The Uzumaki twins grinned gleefully, seeing the hellcat being nearly squeezed to death by its owner. Karma, kitty cat!

“Now then…”Lord Third began, reading out loud the next missions available. “The next mission for Kakashi’s seventh squad is an errand to the neighbouring town, to babysit the chief Councillor’s boy, helping with digging for potatoes-”

That’s when Naruto raised his hand like in school.

“Yes, what is it, Naruto-Kun?”

“Jiji! Eh, I mean Lord Third.” Naruto corrected himself fast. “We have been doing D-Rank missions for weeks! Can’t we finally have a C-Rank, please?”

His sister bowed. “Please, Lord Hokage, we’re more than ready for one.”

They have a point. Sasuke thought to himself.

They have askend polite, but still, just asking for a C-Rank? I will hear it later…Kakashi signed silently.

“Naruto, Rumiko, you’re still bottom rookies.” Iruka, who today helped the Hokage, spoke up. “At the start, everyone moves up the ladder by gaining experience from simple missions.”

“We know these.” Rumiko took the word, with her brother nodding along. “Jonin do the A-Rank missions, Chuunin B and C rank, and finally the Genin C and D Rank. Is it so wrong to ask for our right to a C-Rank mission?”

“What Ane says, dattebayo!” Naruto agreed, making a fist. “Jiji, erm Lord Hokage, I’m no longer a child playing pranks; I’m a real ninja. We all three are.”

“We worked hard and trained every day. We will never gain more experience if we only do D-Ranks.” Rumiko added.

This made Sarutobi and Iruka smile. Indeed, from Kakashi's reports, they have seen how Team 7 was doing well. They worked together, trained hard and dutifully fulfilled their D-Rank Missions.

So maybe it truly was time for a C-Rank.

“Okay, fine,” Sarutobi called, making the Uzumaki Twins smile with hope, and even Sasuke looked interested. “If you insist. I’ll have you do a Rank C mission. You’ll be bodyguards for someone.”

“Jiji, you’re the best, erm, I mean thank you, Lord Hokage.” Naruto chirped, giving a respectful bow, which Rumiko and Sasuke also copied. “Who will be guarding?”

“I’ll introduce you now. Could you please come in?”

The slide door opened behind Team 7, and Rumiko had to fight a smirk seeing their client.

Hehe, had a feeling it would be Tazuna.

Meanwhile, the bridge builder was disspointed and displeased seeing his bodyguards. “What’s this? It’s just a bunch of darned squirts,” he growled, before taking a gulp from his beer bottle. “Particularly you, the smallest one with the idiot face.”

Before anyone could react, a kunai landed beside Tazuna's face, stuck to the door frame. Shocked, he let the beer bottle drop, seeing a real-life demoness!

“Hey, you old geezer.” Rumiko twintails had split into nine tails, swishing around. Her face was in shadows; a dangerous glint of teeth was seen behind her smile. “Don’t call my brother an idiot, or you will get it!”

Yep, Kushina-San, number two…Kakashi tried not to shudder.

I didn’t even see her draw and throw her kunai. Sasuke thought in shock. How fast is she really?

Sarutobi just facepalmed. Jeez, just like her mother with the speed of her father. And she is still a Genin!

Naruto placed his hands on Rumiko's shoulders to calm her down. “Ane, what’s wrong? Why do you think he offended me?”

As an answer, Sasuke stepped up to them, and Naruto saw how he was the smallest of the three!

“Next time, throw the kunai in his eye!”

“Gladly!”

“Naruto, Rumiko, you don’t kill the client, understood?” Kakashi told them, tired.

“Please excuse Rumiko's temperament, but she is very protective of her brother Naruto.” The Hokage told the shaken-up Tazuna. “They will behave now, right?”

He gave them a stern look, making the Uzumaki twins grit their teeth and nod sharply. Rumiko's hair also returned to normal.

“W-Well, I’m Tazuna, veteran bridge builder,” he stuttered, making a note to himself to never, ever cross the red-haired girl. She was dangerous, like a kitsune! “Your job is to risk life and limb to guard me until I return to my land and complete my bridge.”

In theory, that sounded simple, but Rumiko knew what would happen. Zabuza and Haku would wait for them. She hoped her plans for them would work.

(*)

A bit of NaruHina and ObiMiko for my beautiful readers! <3

Next chapter we will dive into the Land of Waves!

Yuhu!

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Please enjoy this chapter, my peeps!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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(*)

Chapter 8: The Bell Test: Teamwork or Failure?

Last Time on Whirlpool Twins

Suddenly, Naruto's face lit up with a mischievous, foxy grin. He grabbed a chalk eraser from the blackboard ledge and dragged a chair over to the sliding classroom door.

“Naruto, what are you doing?” Sasuke sighed, sounding incredibly tired.

“Setting a trap! That's what he gets for keeping Uzumaki Naruto waiting!” He wedged the eraser perfectly above the doorframe, grinning at his handiwork.

“A Jonin isn't going to fall for a booby trap,” Sasuke scoffed, closing his eyes.

Rumiko chuckled quietly, letting the kunai slide back into her leg pouch. “I don't know, Uchiha. Sometimes the most obvious traps are the ones you walk right into. Plus, it's a test to see if our illustrious sensei actually pays attention to his surroundings.”

Before Sasuke could ask what she meant, a pale, gloved hand reached out and gripped the edge of the sliding door.

A satisfying plop was heard as the chalk eraser fell onto the Jonin's white-haired head.  

It was still for exactly one second before the Uzumaki twins hollered with laughter.

“I got him, I got him!” Naruto celebrated, pointing gleefully at Kakashi Hatake.

“Awesome Naru! That's what he gets for being late!” Rumiko chirped, hugging her brother from behind.

Bright, foxy grins were on the twins' faces, while Sasuke just stared in mild disbelief at their new sensei.

Get real. The Uchiha Heir scoffed in his mind. Is he really a Jonin?

Thoughtful Kakashi picked up the chalk eraser, then gripped his chin. “How can I put this? As for my first impression of you guys? Well, I hate you.”

Naruto and Sasuke made faces hearing this, while Rumiko just deadpanned. Not that she hadn’t liked Kakashi in the manga/anime, but it was still so super rude to keep them waiting. He had deserved that little prank from her brother.

Just like in canon, Kakashi-Sensei led Team Seven to the roof of the academy to get to know them. He leaned against the fence, while the three Genin sat before him on the ground. The Uzumaki twins were boxing Sasuke in.

“Let’s see.” The Hatake began. “First off, let me have you guys introduce yourselves.”

“Anything specific you want to know, Sensei?” Rumiko asked, leaning her head on her hand, while the elbow rested on a knee.

“Well, how about your likes, dislikes, your future dream, hobbies, things like that?”

“Hey! Before that, please tell us about yourself.” Naruto called, curious. Ane had told him what kind of Sensei Kakashi was, but he just wanted to hear for himself.

“Me?” Kakashi pointed at himself. “My name’s Hatake Kakashi. I don’t feel like telling you guys about my likes and dislikes. I’ve never really thought about my future dream…As for my hobbies, I have many.”

“What a letdown.” Naruto hissed to his twin sister. “He just said his name!”

Rumiko just shrugged her shoulders. What could you do? She hadn’t expected anything different from Kakashi.

“Next is you guys.” Their Sensei said simply, looking at Naruto. “Let’s start with you.”

“My name’s Uzumaki Naruto. I like my sister's and Hinata's cooking! Also, I adore the ramen from Ichiraku that Iruka-Sensei buys Ane and me. I also like to learn new jutsus and train with Ane and Hinata! What I dislike are arrogant people and fangirls! They are scary. My hobbies are pulling pranks, taking care of my plants, and listening to Rumiko stories. And my future dream…is to surpass all Hokages! And so I’m going to get the entire village to acknowledge my existence! Oh, and I wanna have my own family one day and marry Hina- erm someone very special to me!”

I see…your son has grown up in an interesting way, Minato-Sensei…Kakashi thought bittersweetly.

The dobe actually likes that meek Hyuuga Heiress in that way? Sasuke thought, a tad surprised. He had always seemed to not get how she crushed on him.

“Okay, you next,” Kakashi said out loud to Rumiko.

“I’m Uzumaki Rumiko. I like learning and inventing new jutsus. Especially seals. Same as Naruto, I like to train with him and my best friend, Hyuuga Hinata. I dislike people who treat my precious people, namely Naruto and Hinata, badly, and I will not stand for injustice and hate in this world. If someone is treated badly, you get a piece of my mind! My hobbies are inventing stories, writing them down or telling them. I also enjoy cooking, gardening and reading. My dream for the future is to become the ANBU Commander of the Leaf. So I can support Naruto here as Hokage. I also want to get married and have a family someday.”

A true fierce kunoichi. Kakashi had to fight a smile. She is the perfect blend of Kushina-San and Minato-Sensei.

As long as it isn’t that Obito Guy, marry who you want, Ane…Naruto grumbled in his mind.  

“And lastly.”

“My name’s…Uchiha Sasuke. I have lots of dislikes but no likes in particular. And…I don’t feel like summing up my ambition as just a dream, but I do have an ambition! The ambition to restore my clan and without fail…to kill a certain man!”

Damn, what an edgelord. Naruto made a slightly uncomfortable face. I get why, but damn! Only living for revenge is tough.

Jeez, talk about all pretty outside and inside nothing. Oh, if you only knew how Itachi did this all to prevent a war and for your sake. Rumiko thought sadly.

I knew it…Kakashi signed in his mind.

“Good. The three of you are very distinctive and interesting.” Kakashi told them. “We’ll have a mission tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir!” Naruto saluted and asked: “What kind of mission?”

“First, we’ll do what we can do with just four people. A survival exercise.”

“I assume it isn’t just a simple exercise to see our strengths and weaknesses in the ninja arts,” Rumiko spoke up. She remembered what was coming and wanted to speed up the process.

For a moment, Kakashi-Sensei's lone visible eye glittered, impressed, before he began to chuckle unoamisely.

Sasuke stayed cool as a cucumber, Rumiko deadpan-ing, and Naruto raised an eyebrow.

“Hey! What’s so funny, old man?” Naruto grumbled irately.

“Uh, well, if I tell you, I know you’ll grow disenchanted. Of the twenty-seven graduates, only nine will be recognised as junior ninjas. The remaining eighteen will be sent back to the Academy. In other words, this exercise is an extremely difficult test with a failure rate of 66% or higher!”

The Uchiha Heir tried his best to appear unbothered, but felt his heart beat fast in anxiety. He couldn’t be sent back to the Academy! Any day that man lived was an offence against his dead clan!

Meanwhile, Naruto and Rumiko just gave Kakashi-Sensei plain looks of annoyance. It was clear he tried to freak them out, but they wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

“This means we still have a 33% chance of winning. Good odds in my book.” The Uzumaki Princess declared nonchalantly, which made Naruto grin, Sasuke feeling the tension in his body slowly leaving and Kakashi?

Kakashi actually looked bewildered. He had expected the usual reactions of fear and panic in these Genins' eyes, but Minato-Sensei's daughter wasn’t only unbothered, no! She also calculated the winning chances and shared them to lift the spirits of her teammates.

“Erm…” Fast Kakashi coughed to cover his slip. “Well, you can certainly see it this way, if it helps you. But this isn’t like your tests in the academy. I will determine if you pass or not. Bring your complete set of Ninja tools. We meet at five in the morning.”

Once again, Kakashi was surprised how calm Rumiko stayed, and Naruto also, after a look and nod from his sister. It seemedn like she told him in this way they got these. Only Sasuke clearly showed signs of distress, by clenching his steepled fingers harder together.

Minato-Sensei, your daughter is truly something else.

Out loud, Kakashi dismissed the kids before he added his usual little trick. “And you’d best skip breakfast. You’ll throw up.”

Then with a finger salute, he bodyflickerd away.

Sasuke was also ready to leave the rooftop as Rumiko's voice stopped him.

“Wait a moment, Uchiha.” She called, also up on her feet with Naruto beside her. “You can believe me or not, but eat breakfast. Kakashi-Sensei is clearly tricking us. We learned how important it is to be nutrieded good before a mission.”

A slight frown formed on Sasuke's face. “Is that a trick, Uzumaki? What is your scoop?”

“No scoop, just advice.” Rumiko scoffed. “I said my part. Do with this information what you want. Let’s go home, Naru.”

“Right behind you, Ane.”

With that, they left a slightly confused Uchiha on the rooftop. Was she truly trying to help him or to sabotage him?

(*)

The next morning, punctually at five in the morning, the Uzumaki Twins and the Uchiha Heir met up at one of Konoha's training fields. Just as Kakashi had said, they had brought all their ninja tools in a backpack with them.

Rumiko pulled a sleepy Naruto by the hand, while Sasuke walked up coolly to them, not a bit tired.

“Uchiha.”

“Uzumaki, Dobe.”

Naruto just grumbled something very rude under his breath.

Under Sasuke's slightly disbelieving eyes, Rumiko got two sleeping bags out of her backpack, unrolling them on the ground.

“Uzumaki? What are you doing?” Sasuke couldn’t help but ask. This was just too bizarre.

While she helped her sleep twin in one of them, she explained: “Naruto and I did a little investigation about Kakashi-Sensei after we split yesterday. The rumours we heard were quite interesting. Turns out he is ALWAYS late. So we will just continue sleeping. Feel free to do whatever you want in the next few hours.”

Frowning, Sasuke looked on as Rumiko also got into a sleeping bag and the Uzumaki Twins just fell asleep side by side.

“Hn…” The Uchiha uttered, hands in his pockets, looking away from them. Well, if they wanted to be lazy, he wouldn’t stop them. They were only burdens anyway.

However, after three hours had passed, Sasuke realised that the Uzumaki Princess had said the truth. Kakashi-Sensei was still not seen anywhere, while he started to feel a bit tired and the Uzumaki Twins just slept peacefully.

Is she actually trying to help me? Sasuke thought. In the academy, she took any chance to beat me; she was my rival. Why is she doing this?

During his musings, Kakashi-Sensei finally entered the training field.

“Hi folks. Good morning!” The Hatake greeted before stopping dead in his tracks, seeing the scene before him.

Sasuke was the only one up and about, while Minato-Sensei's kids just slept in sleeping bags on the ground.

“What the?” Kakashi murmured under his breath. He had seen a lot of things from the Genin he had been giving, but this was new.

“So Uzumaki was right…” Sasuke spoke up, annoyance clear on his face. “You’re INDEED always late, Sensei.”

Meanwhile, Naruto and Rumiko had sensed Kakashi's arrival, waking up.

“You’re late!” Naruto shouted with a pointed finger. “What kind of Sensei are you?! This is so super rude, dattebayo!”

“Erm…a black cat crossed my path, you see.” Kakashi gave one of his standard excuses, while Rumiko quietly put the sleeping bags back into her backpack.

I can’t believe how unbothered Rumiko is. She got that calm from Minato-Sensei, no doubt.

Under the Genin mixed looks of curiosity, annoyance, and blankness, Kakashi placed an alarm clock on one of three tree posts.

“Okay, it’s set for 12:00,” he began, pulling out the famous two bells for the Bell Test. “Today’s assignment is to take these bells away from me by noon. Those who can’t do it won’t get lunch. They’ll be tied to that, and I’ll eat my lunch before your very eyes.”

So that was the point for us not to eat breakfast… Sasuke realised, his stomach grumbling from hunger, as the Uzumaki Twins were unbothered at all. Damn it! Uzumaki had been right, and I didn’t listen! Now they are full of energy, while I have to fight my hunger.

“Say, say, Sensei,” Naruto called, with crossed arms, even though he knew the answer. “We are three, and you have only two bells! I don’t think you counted wrong, soooooo something is up with them.”

“You’re on the right track, Naruto.” Kakashi praised with a closed-eye smile. “There are only two, so at the very least, one will have to go to the logs. That person will be disqualified for failing the mission and will return to the Academy. It might be one person at the very least, or it could be all three of you. You can use your Shuriken. You won’t be able to take the bells unless you come with the intent to kill me.”

Determined, the three Genins just looked at him.

In truth, Sasuke and Kakashi were surprised by how Naruto acted…so un-Naruto-like. Sasuke had awaintend the normally dumbness of the dobe, yet he was calm and actually thought! While Kakashi had read Naruto's files, where the teachers had stated how he was a loud, dumb troublemaker, only a teacher named Umino Iruka had written down how he possessed talent and good instincts.  

“Begin when I give the ‘ready-go’ signal. We’re going to start. Ready…start!”

Fast the Genins sprang away to hide somewhere on the training ground.

As a hideout, Sasuke picked a tree overlooking the clearing where Kakashi-Sensei stood now alone. He needed to listen and wait till the Jonin would let his guard down before he attacked him.

“Uchiha…”

Rumiko's voice suddenly whispered beside him. The Uchiha Heir would deny till his death how he had twitched in surprise.

“Uzumaki?” He whispered back, not keeping his eyes off Kakashi. “What is it? You should hide somewhere else.”

“Just listen for a second. Kakashi is playing us.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s simple. He wants us to fight against each other. There are only two bells, so of course we will compete for them, but one Genin could never take a Jonin down alone. Even three Genins barely have a chance. However, I believe this is the truth test. A Ninja Genin Team is normally made up of four people: three Genin and their Jonin. We learned these in the academy. He wants to see if we three can work together or not, even if the odds are against us.”

A slight frown formed on Sasuke's face. What Rumiko said sounded logical; they had learned these, but another part of him was sceptical. What if she was wrong and he would risk his chance to get a bell alone and become a full-fledged Genin?

“Uzumaki, you were right about the lunch and his tardiness, but I have my doubts. I can’t risk not becoming a Genin.” He told her sharply, making her let out a frustrated huff.

“I had a feeling you said these, so Naruto and I agreed you would surely get one of the bells if I am wrong.”

This was unexpected, and Sasuke's black eyes widened a bit. “Why would you do that?!”

“’Cause if I like it or not, Naru and I need you to defeat Kakashi-Sensei. If this is the price to pay for your collaboration, then so be it.”

Thoughful, the black-haired boy side-eyed her. What should he do?

A few minutes had passed since the test began, and Kakashi had taken out his beloved Icha Icha Paradise book, continuing to read where he left off. He hardly believed his three Genin would understand the true meaning of the bell test. Rumiko and Naruto would surely work with each other, and Sasuke would try all alone, from what he had read in their files. The Uzumaki Twins and the Uchiha Heir were bitter rivals. The probability they would work together was low.

In the branches above, Sasuke let out a long, quiet breath. His pride warred with his logic, but the rumbling in his stomach and the calm certainty in Rumiko's eyes tipped the scales. If Kakashi was truly testing their teamwork, acting alone would be a fool's errand.

“Fine,” Sasuke whispered, his Sharingan-less eyes narrowing. “What’s the plan, Uzumaki?”

Rumiko’s lips curled into a sharp, confident grin. She motioned for Naruto to join them, and the three Genin formed a tight huddle amidst the leaves.

“Naru, you’re our vanguard,” Rumiko instructed, tracing a rough map of the clearing on the tree bark with her kunai. “Kakashi expects you to be loud and impulsive. Play into it, but use your clones to herd him toward the riverbank. Don't give him a second to breathe.”

Naruto nodded, slamming a fist into his palm. “You got it, Ane! I’ll make him put that stupid book away!”

“Sasuke, you’re our artillery,” she continued, turning to the Uchiha. “Wait for Kakashi to evade Naruto's clones. He'll likely use the trees or the air to escape the numbers. When he does, cut off his escape route with your shurikenjutsu and a Fireball. Force him to the ground.”

“And what exactly are you doing?” Sasuke asked, an eyebrow raised.

Rumiko held up a small, intricate paper tag, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief. “I’m the trap. Just push him into the centre of the clearing. Now, let's show this tardy cyclops what Team Seven can do.”

Down in the clearing, Kakashi lazily turned a page of Icha Icha Paradise, chuckling at a particularly scandalous line.

Three minutes in, he mused. Right about now, Naruto should be rushing in blindly...

“Shadow Clone Jutsu!”

A chorus of poofs echoed through the training ground as twenty perfect copies of Uzumaki Naruto erupted from the brush. Kakashi didn't even look up from his book as he swayed to the side, casually dodging a roundhouse kick from the real—or maybe a fake—Naruto.

“Too slow,” Kakashi mumbled, ducking under a barrage of punches.

But instead of the chaotic, disorganised brawl Kakashi anticipated, the clones moved with startling synchronisation. They didn't just attack; they linked arms, forming a human chain that swept across the field, forcing Kakashi to constantly backpedal toward the treeline.

Interesting, Kakashi thought, finally lifting his eye from the page. He’s actually using them to restrict my movements, not just overwhelm me.

Kakashi leapt into the air to vault over the wall of blondes. It was exactly what Team Seven had planned for.

From the canopy above, a flurry of shuriken rained down, moving with lethal, calculated precision. Kakashi’s lone eye widened slightly. The shuriken were strung with nearly invisible ninja wire. With a swift twist of his body, Kakashi pulled out a kunai, parrying the blades just as Sasuke dropped from the branches, hands moving through a rapid blur of hand signs.

Serpent—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger!

“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!”

A massive sphere of roaring flames engulfed the space Kakashi occupied in mid-air. The heat singed the grass below, and Naruto’s clones dispersed into smoke to avoid the blast radius.

Sasuke landed gracefully next to the real Naruto, both boys staring into the smoke. But they knew better than to think a Jonin was taken down that easily.

Poof.

A charred log plummeted to the ground in Kakashi's place. Substitution Jutsu.

“Behind us!” Sasuke yelled, spinning around.

Kakashi stood near the centre of the clearing, his book finally tucked away in his pouch. His posture was slouched, but his lone visible eye was deadly serious. “Not bad. You forced me to put away my book. But you’re still too—”

“Now, Ane!” Naruto roared.

Kakashi barely had time to register the shift in chakra beneath his feet. He looked down to see three explosive tags buried in the dirt, intricately modified with Uzumaki sealing formulas. They hadn't been placed there during the fight—Rumiko had set them up before Kakashi had even arrived that morning, right where she had unrolled their sleeping bags.

Rumiko dropped from a nearby tree, her fingers locked in the Ram seal. “Uzumaki Sealing Art: Binding Enclosure!”

Instead of detonating, the tags flared with bright blue chakra. Chains of solid energy erupted from the earth, wrapping tightly around Kakashi’s ankles and wrists, anchoring him to the spot.

“Gotcha!” Rumiko cheered, landing perfectly on her feet.

Naruto and Sasuke didn't hesitate. Moving faster than they had all morning, the two rivals sprinted toward the immobilised Jonin, their hands outstretched for the silver bells tied to his waist. For a split second, victory was inches away. Naruto’s fingertips brushed the cold metal of a bell.

Suddenly, Kakashi’s visible eye curved into a crescent shape.

With a surge of chakra that blew the Genin back, Kakashi shattered the sealing chains. It wasn't the real Kakashi—it was a Lightning Clone. The clone dispersed into crackling electricity, sending a shocking wave through the ground that paralysed Naruto, Sasuke, and Rumiko just as the alarm clock on the wooden post violently rang out.

RIIIIING! 12:00 PM.

The three Genin collapsed into the grass, groaning as the residual electricity faded from their muscles.

A moment later, the real Kakashi Hatake strolled out from the bushes, casually tossing the two silver bells in the palm of his hand. He looked down at the three exhausted, panting children lying in the dirt.

“Well, well,” Kakashi said, his tone unreadable. “Time is up.”

Naruto punched the ground, his teeth gritted. “Damn it! We were so close, dattebayo!”

Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut, his fists trembling. I failed. I actually worked with them, and I still failed.

Rumiko just sighed, rolling onto her back to stare at the clouds. “Show-off. You used a Lightning Clone so my seals couldn't lock down your physical chakra network.”

Kakashi crouched down in front of them, his eye moving from Naruto, to Sasuke, and finally to Rumiko. The silence stretched on, heavy and suffocating, before Kakashi let out a long, dramatic sigh.

“You guys...” Kakashi began, his voice dangerously low.

The Genin held their breath.

“...Pass.”

Naruto blinked, lifting his head from the dirt. “Huh? Wait, what?”

Sasuke’s head snapped up, his dark eyes wide with shock. “But we didn't get the bells.”

Kakashi gave them a closed-eye smile, hooking the bells back onto his belt. “The bells were just a distraction. The real goal of this test was to see if you could prioritise the team over yourselves. In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum; that's true. But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum.”

Oh Obito…you truly had an immense impact on Kakashi-Sensei…Rumiko thought bittersweetly, thinking about the Uchiha she liked so much. How you have lost yourself…

Kakashi  stood up, looking proudly at his new squad.

“Naruto, you used your clones to set up your teammate rather than trying to take all the glory. Sasuke, you put aside your pride to act as support and strike when the opening was created. And Rumiko...” Kakashi chuckled. “You analysed the situation, united your team, and set a trap that genuinely surprised me. You three are the first squad I’ve ever passed.”

Naruto’s face split into an incredibly wide, blinding grin. He threw his arms around a highly uncomfortable Sasuke and his grinning twin sister. “We did it! We’re real ninjas, teme, Ane!”

“Get off me, dobe!” Sasuke shoved him away, though a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Rumiko laughed, pulling herself up from the grass and dusting off her clothes. She looked at Kakashi, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“I told you, Sensei,” she chirped, winking at the Jonin. “Good odds in my book.”

“Well then, my cute little Genins.” The Hatake eyesmiled, holding up lunch boxes. “Tomorrow we will have our first real mission, but for today, we eat and relax, alright?”

“Yes, sir!”

And thus began the journey of the legendary Team Seven of Konohagakure!

(*)

Hehehe, it was such a nice chapter; I had fun with it ^^

See you next one!

Land of Waves here we come ;D

(*) 

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write the comments in your own language!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*) 

I hope you will enjoy this chapter :D

Also, I don’t hate Sakura and Ino, but they were annoying fangirls in part one; they need to get sat straight. The only character I truly hate in Naruto is Danzo Shimura :/

Anyway, you will see what I mean.

I hope you also like Naruto's new look ^^

Onward, then!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 7: Orientation Day Shenanigans

Finally, the day Naruto and Rumiko had waited so long for had arrived. It was Orientation Day. They would be assigned to a team with a Jonin and fulfil missions for the village.

But most importantly: they could start to change the world for the better.

Rumiko looked proudly at the walking Naruto beside her. His new ninja gear made him look handsome, just like their father. How most people could look at him and not see Minato would be forever a mystery to her.

“Heh, you’re staring, Ane.” Naruto chirped, arms behind his head.

“I’m just so proud of you, Ototo. You have become a formidable ninja.” Rumiko said before she added softly: “You look so much like Dad.”

Naruto felt tears spring in his eyes and gave his sister a side hug. It meant a lot to him that she said this. In a way, he carried through his looks, their father with him.

“And you’re beautiful like Mom.” Naruto kissed her temple, making Rumiko smile and ruffling his hair. “I wish I also had such pretty red hair.”

That's when they noticed a badly concealed Konohamaru on one of the wooden fences in the streets.

“Fight me, here!” the young child shouted, ripping his poorly camouflaged clothing away. He wasn’t looking where he set his feet and slipped on the clothing, falling heavily down.

The Uzumaki twins just blinked.

“What are you doing, Konohamaru?” Naruto asked, while the child carefully stood up.

“Very good, Naruto…You’re the man I expected you to be.”

“I didn’t do anything, you know…”

Not listening, Konohamaru put his hands into the Ram hand sign. “Let’s fight fair!”

“Sorry! I’ve got an orientation meeting to go to. Cause…as of today, I’m a ninja!” Naruto explained, proudly pointing at his headband.

“Awesome, Naruto!” Konohamaru gasped before he finally noticed the pretty girl beside him. A blush formed on the child's cheeks. “Huh? Say, Naruto, who is that pretty girl?”

Smiling, the Uzumaki Heir put a hand on his Ane's shoulder. “That’s my twin sister, Rumiko.”

“Hey, Konohamaru. Nice to meet you.” Rumiko gave the little boy such a beautiful smile that he nearly fainted.

“Woah…” Konohamaru uttered. “Who is the older one?”

“We’re twins, Konohamaru. There isn’t really a younger or older-”

“Me!” The Uzumaki Princess shared a gleeful expression, raising a hand, making Naruto pout.

He may call her Ane, but like all twins, when someone asked this question, he didn’t admit how he was the younger. It was a classic twin thing.

Since they needed to get going, they said goodbye to Konohamaru for now and continued their way to the ninja academy. When they arrived in their classroom, Hinata waved shyly at them, pointing at the seats beside her.

“Aww, she reserved the table for us. She is so sweet!” Naruto murmured to Rumiko, giving Hinata a thankful, foxy grin.

Of course, Hinata blushed and poked her fingers together. Amused, Rumiko shook her head over these two. They were so cute!

“You should tell her this,” Rumiko murmured back as they walked over to their friend.

“Not till I’m Chuunin and people see me as somebody.” Naruto reminded her fast, before sitting down beside Hinata. “Morning, Hinata! Did you sleep well?”

“M-Morning, Naruto. Yes, I did. How about you?”

Still with an amused smile, the redhead sat down beside Naruto, watching happily as these two lovestruck idiots talked with each other.

Oh, Rumiko knew why Naruto wanted to wait till people knew they were the Uzumaki and Namikaze Heirs. Right now, Hyuuga Haishi would never give his blessing for Naruto and Hinata to court, but when all knew who they really were…well, he would be a fool to not say yes to such a promising match.

It was bragging rights to have the son of the Fourth Hokage and Heir of the legendary Uzumaki as son-in-law.

Also, any children of theirs would be absolute beasts.

I can’t wait to dote on Boruto and Himawari. Rumiko thought with all future aunt happiness. My little Boru and my Sunshine Flower…Auntie Rumi will do all that you grow up in a world without that alien bullshit of the Ōtsutsuki!

Suddenly, Rumiko was brought out of her thoughts as the door of the classroom formally opened in a crash. Oh yeah, it was Sakura and Ino, once again competing.

The once-friends turned rivals entered the classroom in a heap and shouted: “Goal.”

They breathed heavily, overpowered by their power walking. In Rumiko, the desire to facepalm grew. God, they were such fangirls, taking the ninja life not seriously at all.

What a ninja gets tired from power walking? Shameful!

I know they will get better, become true badassass, but this is just pathetic!

“I won again, Sakura!” Ino cooed, fake sweet.

“What’re you saying…?” Sakura growled. “The tip of my foot got in one centimetre faster!”

“You must be blind!”

Their squabble ended abruptly just like it started, because Sakura's eyes found Sasuke.

“Naru, Hina…” Rumiko whispered to them, making them turn to her. “We are back with the usual who-gets-to-seat-beside-Sasuke-spiel.”

Indeed, the Uzumaki Princess was right. Like vultures, Sakura, Ino and all other girls in their class stormed Sasuke's bench to fight for the honour (note the sarcasm) to sit beside him.

“How much are you gonna bet someone will end up with a bloody nose?” Rumiko asked the Hyuuga Heiress and her twin brother.

“Not taking this bet,” Naruto murmured, crossing his arms and tilting his head. “You were right the last eight times.”

“Erm…I think it’s very high the chance of a bloody nose. Ino-San looks ready to smack Mio-San.” Hinata noted, looking at Sasuke and his unwilling harem like a scientist studying monkeys.

“Ha, right on, Hinata!” Naruto agreed, nodding at her. “Oho, look, Kasumi is trying to slip into the bench. Sneaky!”

Rumiko bit her lips to not laugh aloud. “And there is Sakura, pulling her away with the help of Tsumugi!”

The twins and their best friend quietly commented on the shenanigans. A part of them did feel sorry for Sasuke to endure this courtship dance, but a bigger part had too much fun.

It took Iruka-Sensei's appearance and him making Sakura and Ino sit with Sasuke to stop the Fourth Ninja World War in the Uchiha’s name from breaking out.

“As of today, you all have become full-fledged Ninjas.” Iruka-Sensei began, as the class finally calmed down. “However, you’re still Genin. The tough part’s still to come! From here on, you’ll be in a squad of three and carry out your missions under your Jonin teachers.”

Come on, dattobayo. Ane and Hinata!

It…it would be amazing to be with Naruto and Rumi.

Now we will see if canon takes a different path. I just hope I will be with Naru. And Hina, if possible. But that would be too amazing.

“The groups have been determined so that the strength of the groups will be balanced. Now for the assignments.” Iruka cleared his throat and began to read out the teams.

Whenever their sensei called out a team and they didn’t hear their names, the Uzumaki Twins and Hinata were relieved, but their worry also became larger. With any newly formed team, their chance of being together or apart rose.

Damn, this is Schrödinger's Ninja! Rumiko thought with a frown. We’re at the same time in a team and also not. And we will know it when Iruka-Sensei calls our names.

“Now then, the next is Group Seven. Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Rumiko…”

“Hooray!” Naruto yelled, jumping up from his seat with raised arms, while Rumiko smiled happily.

“And Uchiha Sasuke.”

Naruto's good mood dropped faster than when Ichiraku Ramen was closed without warning. He deflated like a broken balloon. “We’re with…Sasuke?”

I wanted Hinata. He whined in his head.

Rumiko rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache forming. Yes, she needed Sasuke to seal Black Zetsu, but would she enjoy being with him in a team? Probably not.

I get why he is like he is, but we also didn’t have a simple life. Being a tad more friendly would do Sauce good. Rumiko signed in her mind. He needs therapy like yesterday.

Hinata looked sad at her depressed friends. So I’ll be in a different group from Naruto and Rumiko, huh…

The next team which Iruka called was the canon Team Eight made up of Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino.

What made Rumiko raise an eyebrow was Group Nine.

“Haruno Sakura. Satō Kagami and Adachi Subaru,”

So Sakura was put in a team with background characters. Rumiko knew Kagami and Subaru.

Kagami wasn’t a fangirl of Sasuke, but only cause she already had an older boyfriend. Anyone knew this. Rumours said she already had sex with the three-year-older boy.

Subaru was quiet and unassuming. He was not bad in the ninja arts but also not brilliant. He was just normal and plain. The Uzumaki Princess had once heard him murmur how he hated learning to be a ninja. So perhaps he was forced by his parents, while he would rather do something else.

Then Iruka called for the canon Team Ten, the next trio of Ino-Shika-Cho, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji. How Ino had believed she could be with Sasuke in a group, when these three clan children ALWAYS were grouped together, Rumiko would never understand.

“That’s all for the group division,” Iruka-Sensei told them. “In the afternoon, I’ll introduce you to your Jonin teachers. You’re dismissed until then!”

What happened next was funny and utterly pathetic. All Sasuke Fangirls stormed his bench, trying to get him to eat with one of them, or some of them didn’t even use that excuse and right out confessed their love.

It was such a sensory overload, thanks to all these female shrieking voices, that the rest of the class either tapped their ears or fled the scene.  In the case of Hinata and the Uzumaki Twins, they chose the latter.

Finally, outside, they sat down tired on one of the stone benches, sighing in relief. Rumiko rubbed her hurting temple, Naruto had a frown on, and Hinata had placed her hand on her chest.

“Damn, girls are scary,” Naruto grumbled, crossing his arms. “Well, at least fangirls. I’m glad you both aren’t like that.”

“If I ever act like that, Ototo.” Rumiko began. “You can hit me over the head. Full permission.”

“Oho, really, dattobayo?”

“Yep.”

“Nice!”

“Erm…Naruto, Rumi?” Hinata spoke shyly, making the twins turn to her. Now they noted how their best friend had three bento boxes on her lap. “I made us lunch. For celebrating becoming full Genin…even if we are not in the same team.”

Naruto smiled brighter than the sun, turning Hinata into a cute tomato, eagerly making grappy hands at the bento boxes. “Oh, Hinata! I love your cooking! What did you make, what did you make?!”

“Thanks, Hina. I can’t wait to eat it.” Rumiko chirped, drool forming on her lip. Hinata was an even better cook than her; her bentos were in one league with Ichiraku Ramen.

“No need to thank me,” Hinata answered with a smile, handing out the bentos. “I did this gladly.”

The three teens unpacked their lunch, and Hinata giggled lightly, seeing the look of hungry awe on her friend's face.

“Damn Hina, you outdid yourself.” Rumiko chirped, poking with her chopsticks the little sausage octopuses.

“It smells and looks amazing!” Naruto praised. “You will be an amazing wife one day, Hinata, dattobayo!”

Hearing Naruto say she would be an amazing wife one day made the Hyuuga Heiress go nearly into cardiac arrest. It didn’t help how Naruto gave her a sweet smile, and Rumiko wiggled her eyebrow behind her brother's shoulder.

Sadly, their lunch break was interrupted by two harpies. Okay, that was a tad mean, but Rumiko didn’t want to handle Ino and Sakura right now. They were still too much of fangirls than real powerful kunoichis.

“Uzumaki, there you are!” Ino hollered with Sakura nodding along. “Me and forehead wanna talk with you.”

Rumiko just let out a deep sigh, while Naruto and Hinata frowned.

“We wanna eat; can’t this wait?” Naruto grumbled.

“Shut up, Naruto. This has nothing to do with you!” Sakura hissed.

“Don’t tell my brother to shut up, Haruno!” Rumiko growled protectively. Her temper was rising, her odango-twintails splitting up one side into four sections and the other into five. She was close to entering her mom's famous Bloody Red Habanero Mode.

Ino and Sakura took a step back. All knew how protective Rumiko was of Naruto and learned to be very cautious when the Uzumaki Princess became this demoness from hell.

If they were smart, they would just leave, but their brain blinded by misguided love and hormones, made them act foolish.

So Sakura huffed, trying to be brave. “You don’t scare me, Rumiko! We are all ninjas now.”

“For once I agree with forehead,” Ino said with crossed arms and an arrogant kicked-out hip. “So you better listen up! You may be in a group with Sasuke-Kun, but don’t think someone as plain as you has any chance with him. He belongs to me!”

“Wrong, Ino-Pig, Sasuke-Kun will be mine.” Sakura corrected, flicking her pretty pink hair. “But yeah! You have no chance with Sasuke-Kun, Rumiko! So just step away and don’t make a fool out of yourself.”

Before Rumiko could answer, Naruto jumped up from the stone bench, angrily pointing at the two girls. “Hey, hey, hey! Who gives you the right to talk to my sister that way?! If she is plain, then you’re just worms, cause Rumiko is with Hinata, the most beautiful girl in school! No wait, in all of the Land of Fire. You’re just jealous cause Ane is the best ninja of our generation. That stupid teme should even feel honoured if she talks to him!”

Rumiko’s floating, nine-tailed-fox hair slowly lowered, the fiery red strands settling as a warm, genuine smile spread across her face. Naruto's fierce defence was exactly why she loved her little brother so much.

“Aw, Ototo, you're the sweetest,” Rumiko cooed, reaching out to affectionately pinch his cheek. “But don’t waste your breath on them.”

She slowly stood up. The terrifying aura of the Bloody Red Habanero didn't vanish; instead, it condensed into something much worse. It became a cold, suffocating pressure that made both Ino and Sakura freeze in their tracks. Rumiko stepped past her brother, her blue eyes piercing into the two trembling girls like ice shards.

“Let’s get a few things straight, you pathetic excuses for kunoichi,” Rumiko began, her voice dropping to a dangerously quiet, silken tone. “First of all, ‘plain’? I wear gear that actually allows me to move, fight, and bleed without worrying about my skirt flying up or a broken nail. Sakura, your hair is a literal neon target for any enemy sniper, and Ino, your ridiculous diets have left you with the upper-body strength of a wet noodle. You both nearly collapsed from power walking into a classroom this morning. If this were a real battlefield, you’d both be dead before you could even shriek Uchiha’s name.”

Sakura opened her mouth to argue, her face flushing with indignation, but Rumiko took a single, intimidating step forward, snapping her mouth shut.

“Second,” Rumiko continued, a mocking smirk playing on her lips. “Your entire existence revolves around a boy who doesn’t even look at you. Do you honestly think Uchiha Sasuke —a survivor driven entirely by revenge and power—gives a single damn about your shampoo scent or your flower arrangements? You are annoying buzzing flies to him. You aren't his teammates, you aren't his equals, and you certainly aren't his future wives. You're just background noise.”

Ino’s eyes welled with tears of humiliation, while Sakura looked like she had just been slapped across the face.

“And finally,” Rumiko leaned in, her voice a deadly whisper that sent shivers down their spines. “I have absolutely zero interest in Uchiha. I have ambitions that involve actually protecting this village, not playing house and acting as a broodmare to revive a dead clan. So take your misguided, hormone-addled delusions and get out of my sight. If you ever interrupt my lunch with my brother and my best friend again, I won't use my words to destroy you. I'll take you to the sparring ring and show you the difference between a real ninja and a pair of squealing fangirls.”

She held their terrified gazes for a long, agonising second before flicking her hand as if dismissing a pair of stray dogs. “Shoo.”

For a moment, neither girl moved, paralysed by the absolute verbal slaughter they had just endured. Then, Ino let out a small, strangled sob, spun on her heel, and ran off. Sakura shot one last, deeply shaken look at Rumiko before scrambling after her former best friend.

Silence fell over the courtyard, save for the gentle rustling of the leaves.

Naruto stared at his sister, his jaw practically hitting the floor, before a massive, starry-eyed grin split his face. “Ane… that was the coolest thing I have ever seen, dattobayo!”

Hinata, who was clutching her bento box to her chest, nodded furiously, her pale violet eyes wide with awe. “R-Rumiko… you were amazing.”

Rumiko let out a long breath, her terrifying posture melting away as she plopped back down onto the stone bench, returning to her cheerful self in an instant. “Thanks, guys. Now, where were we? Ah, right! These delicious bentos aren't going to eat themselves!”

After a delightful and peaceful lunch, the students returned to the academy to meet their new Jonin instructors.

One by one, the elite shinobi arrived, calling out their teams and leaving the classroom.

Yuhii Kurenai picked up Team Eight, giving Hinata a warm, encouraging smile. Sarutobi Asuma collected the complaining Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Even Sakura's random team was picked up by a stern-looking Jonin who immediately ordered them outside.

Eventually, only Team Seven remained.

An hour passed.

Then two.

Naruto was vibrating with impatient energy, pacing the front of the empty room. “He's late! Dattobayo, how can a Jonin be this late?!”

Rumiko leaned back in her chair, idly balancing a kunai on her fingertip. Ah, Kakashi Hatake, she thought with a mixture of fondness and irritation. The man, the myth, the chronically tardy legend. I wonder what his excuse will be this time? A black cat crossing his path? Helping an old lady with her groceries?

Sasuke sat at his desk with his hands steepled in front of his face, radiating annoyed Uchiha angst. “Just sit down, dobe. Pacing won't make him appear any faster.”

“Don't call me a dobe, teme!” Naruto snapped back, pointing an accusatory finger. “And it's our first day! He should be setting a good example!”

Suddenly, Naruto's face lit up with a mischievous, foxy grin. He grabbed a chalk eraser from the blackboard ledge and dragged a chair over to the sliding classroom door.

“Naruto, what are you doing?” Sasuke sighed, sounding incredibly tired.

“Setting a trap! That's what he gets for keeping Uzumaki Naruto waiting!” He wedged the eraser perfectly above the doorframe, grinning at his handiwork.

“A Jonin isn't going to fall for a booby trap,” Sasuke scoffed, closing his eyes.

Rumiko chuckled quietly, letting the kunai slide back into her leg pouch. “I don't know, Uchiha. Sometimes the most obvious traps are the ones you walk right into. Plus, it's a test to see if our illustrious sensei actually pays attention to his surroundings.”

Before Sasuke could ask what she meant, a pale, gloved hand reached out and gripped the edge of the sliding door.

(*)

Evil cliffhanger is evil XD

We will meet Kakashi-Sensei next chapter, don’t worry :D

Also, I hope you noted all the new dynamics. ^^

Till next chapter!

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not try to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write the comments in your own language!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*) 

I had fun with this chapter >:3

Enjoy my peeps!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 6: Time Stranger

Rumiko pursed her lips at Naruto's get-up. She had tried her best to convince him otherwise, but he wouldn’t listen. He was damn set to take his photo for the Ninja Registration Form with Kabuki-Theater facepaint.

“You do know you look like a clown,” she told him, as they made their way to the photograph.

“I do not.” Naruto pouted, which looked ridiculous with his red facepaint. “It’s a masterpiece. People will remember me!”

“Yeah, remember you as the dork you were for centuries!”

“Oi! Ane! How mean!”

Her photo was taken fast, so she left her brother alone to take his picture. He wanted everything to be perfect, and she knew it would take at least three hours. He would meet Konohamaru today; she didn’t need to be present. This was something between the two boys.

So Rumiko decided to train.

Train something very special.

It had taken her a bit of sneaky research, but she found out which Training Ground Minato had learned and perfected the Flying Thunder God Jutsu. Thanks also to Naruto getting her the information she needed to cast it, she felt ready to try it out.

The old Training Ground of her dad was deserted. Overgrown with plant life, and strangely, the aura of melancholy was everywhere. It was clear that for years no one had entered it. Surely out of respect for the Hokage, but Rumiko was his daughter. It’s her right to be here and learn her dad's jutsu.

Humming a little melody, the red-haired girl unpacked her backpack. She studied the sharp kunai in her hand. It wasn’t Minato's famous Thunder God Kunai, just a common one, but with her modification.

She had used Minato's formula for the space-time jutsu as a base, put it in a seal and fastened the seal paper on the kunai. Either it would work how she imagined, or she would hurt herself in the process.

If not die!

“Uurgh, don’t think so pessimistically.” Rumiko tried to cheer herself up. “I could mostly just be yeeted against a tree…I should probs throw the kunai in an open space, just to be sure.”

Getting up, she did as decided. The kunai landed in the middle of the training ground, giving her enough free space to land.

“Okay, here it goes,” she murmured, fast doing the hand signs. “Flying Thunder God Jutsu!”

It felt like riding a rollercoaster, with only your navel being pulled and your body following along. The world turned into a blur, so nauseating that as Rumiko landed by the marked kunai, she just threw up.

“Oh god! How could Dad and Tobirama do this?!” Rumiko groaned, falling to the ground, but thankful not into the puke.

She lay there unmoving for at least ten minutes, trying to get her insides under control, before she slowly sat up.

“Uurgh…at least I didn’t die, a plus point. So I got it down. I just need to not get motion sickness.”

Her pretty face turned dark. Dear God, she would throw up a lot today, wouldn’t she?

Indeed she did!

She lost count of how often her stomach ejected, but at least she was getting it down. The motion sickness was slowly becoming endurable.

“Okay, one more round, then I will go to search for Naru and Konohamaru. They must be done with the Sexy Jutsu soon.” Rumiko decided, throwing her special kunais around the training field.

She wanted to test out how often she could flash around and appear before she got sick again. The first six kunais were easy; she was just a fiery red flash on the field, but then she started to feel faint.

If she didn’t want to go beyond, plus ultra (okay, this was Naruto, but she had loved My Hero Academia too!), then she would have stopped, but she also had the Uzumaki stubbornness. It formally told her to try another three kunais at least.

And that’s when it happened.

Somehow she hadn’t noted how an odd-looking Thunder God Kunai was festooned on a tree. Untouched and twinkling invitingly in the sun. One of her own kunai was close to it, and the Odd-Looking one formally sucked her into his space.

Rumiko let out a surprised shout before she felt how she crashed against something warm and hard, which also yelled. She and this thing rolled in a heap around the training ground before they smashed against a tree, groaning in pain.

“Fuck…someone got the number of that truck?” Rumiko hissed, confused, rubbing her hurting head. What had happened?

“Oh, man! I will feel this tomorrow,” a boyish voice lamented.

So she had crashed into a human.

Okay.

Ups.

“Uurgh, sorry, man.” She began, blinking the dark spots away from her blue eyes. “My jutsu backfired on me.”

The apologetic smile she sent him fell into a shocked one as she saw who she actually crashed into! Her brain went into error mode. What she saw didn’t make sense at all. It couldn’t! How…?

“Oh, don’t worry, accidents happen. I should have checked the training ground before I stepped in.” Thirteen-year-old, bright-eyed Uchiha Obito(!) answered with a small smile.

Obito's smile fell as the (pretty) red-haired girl gaped at him like a fish. Unsure, he rubbed his neck. “Erm…are you alright? You seem still a tad dizzy.”

A few very awkward seconds passed between them; he even saw how the girl pinched herself before she answered. “Oh, erm sorry. I don’t try to be weird, but are you real?”

It was still a weird question, but Obito tried not to ask her if she had all her marbles with her. “Erm, yeah. I’m real. Why you ask?”

Slowly, the girl got up, rubbing her head, looking utterly lost around the training ground and then…poked his goggles.

“Hey, my goggles!” he pouted. Not that he was afraid she would break them; it was just that they were important to him and he didn’t let anyone touch them.

“Ark! Sorry, sorry!” she shrieked, jumping away a bit. “I…just had to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.”

With a frown, Obito also stood up and noted how the mystery girl with the weird questions was taller than him. She stood at least 160 cm, against his 154 cm. Also, she seemed pretty familiar; it was surely her red hair, since it made him think of Kushina-San.

“So…who are you?” Obito asked a question, tilting his head in curiosity. “I’m Obito. Obito of the Uchiha Clan.”

The girl bit her plump bottom lip before she answered. “Call me Rumiko. It…is better you don’t know more.”

“Huh?” Obito hummed, confused. “Is it a secret or what?”

“It's complicated. I shouldn’t be here, actually, believe me.” Rumiko told him with a tired sigh.

“Are you gonna get grounded by your parents for being here?”

“I don’t have parents.”

Both teens made a face. Obito because he had said it and Rumiko because she had just answered without thinking.

“I’m sorry.” The Uchiha said truthfully and embarrassed. “I don’t have parents either. I know how you feel.”

Rumiko gave him a tiny smile. “I can imagine. Sucks, huh?”

“Major.”

They smiled at each other in understanding before a lovely red blush formed on Rumiko's cheeks, and she looked shyly away. Obito blinked, feeling a strange, clammy feeling in his stomach and a red flush on his cheeks. He wasn’t blind, okay? Rumiko was darn pretty, with this fiery red hair and sky blue eyes, and he was still a boy. His heart belonged to Rin, no question, but he could still find others attractive. It was just bodily, nothing more. A normal reaction for someone his age in front of the other sex.

“So Rumiko, you didn’t hurt yourself, right?”

“No, don’t worry, Obito. You neither?”

“Yep, all good. Say what kind of Jutsu did you pratice that made you crash against me?” Obito wonders.

“Eh, a family jutsu, you could say,” Rumiko answered, fixing one of her Odango-Twintails. “It has to do with space-time.”

Obito's beautiful black eyes started to sparkle in awe, making Rumiko blush more.

“Wow, really?! That’s so cool! My Sensei has his own space-time jutsu; it’s so badass!”

A little mischief, foxy smile formed on Rumiko's lips. “I will take your word. So what are you doing here, Obito? Also here to train?”

He nodded, crossing his arms behind his head. “Guessed right. My sensei takes us sometimes here, and I like the calm atmosphere. Helps me concentrate better. Are you a ninja too? I don’t see a headband.”

“I left it at home. I just became one.” Rumiko explained, crossing her arms, tilting her head in a friendly way. “So you’re my senpai, so to speak.”

“Oh, congrats then!” Obito chirped, giving her a thumbs up. “Wait…you’re younger than me? Aww, but you’re taller. So unfair.”

This made Rumiko giggle, which in turn made Obito grin. He liked making people laugh. Playful; he acted offended. “Hey, you should respect your elders, young Kohai! Really, kids these days. Nothing but rascals with their new flashy jutsus.”

“Oh my god, stop.” Rumiko laughed. “You sound like a grandpa!”

He joined her laughter. She may be weird, but she was nice. Obito liked her. Hopeful they could be friends.

Rumiko felt a lot better after sharing a laugh with Obito. She still couldn’t believe how she had apparently time-travelled. It felt like a dream, if she wasn’t already an isekai’d woman. Seems like the universe or whatever was responsible might be bored and orchestrate this.

Well, the time travel she could perhaps explain. It might be a hiccup in the Flying Thunder God Jutsu. She remembered seeing that odd-looking Thunder God Kunai on the tree…she doubted her own kunai were responsible for this going back to the past.

Yeah, but I need to go back to the present, because Naruto needs me! she reminded herself. Also, screwing canon over like this could lead to an alternative reality, which could be so catastrophic.

In her past life, she had watched Back to the Future enough time to know how to avoid smashing time in pieces. She hardly doubted she could change Obito with the power of love and anime by her side; Rin was his grand love; Uchiha just didn’t fall out of love.

Well, I could stay and perhaps save Rin, but I’m still not strong enough to kill Madara and, most importantly, Black Zetsu. I need Naruto and Sasuke with me to do that. They can seal that slimy black bastard into a moon and shoot it into deep space!

Making up her mind, she tried to plan how she could go back to her time. The best would be to just recreate the steps she did before crashing into the past, without the DeLorean or TARDIS, also the only way. Problem she just couldn’t shoo away Obito. That would be so rude.

But it’s not like I will see him again…but I also don’t want to leave a bad impression, damn! This is all so crazy!

“Hey Rumiko?” Obito's question got the girl out of her thoughts. “I know you were just training your family jutsu, but would you mind training with me? It could do us both good.”

That was heaven-sent; Rumiko wouldn’t lie. After training with him, he would go home; she would pretend too and then recreate her space-time jutsu to get back to her brother.

“That sounds good, Obito.” Rumiko agreed, hitting her open palm with her fist.  “Anything particular you wanna do?”

A happy smile formed on his handsome face, and Rumiko felt her knees go weak. Urgh, she loved this bastard, well, soon-to-be bastard- but fuck, she wanted to be so bad, Mrs Obito Uchiha! An impossible dream, she knew, so she should just enjoy this little time with him.

“I wanted to train my Big Fireball Jutsu…mmh…do you even know your nature affinity?”

“Yeah, I know it. I have two. Wind and Fire.”

“Awesome, that’s so cool!” Obito chirped, raising a fist. “I can teach you some fire jutsu if you like. Also, wind is amazing. Not a lot of people in the Land of Fire have this.”

Rumiko nodded happily. “I would love to learn some fire jutsu from a Uchiha; you guys are famous for them.”

“Not to brag, but I’m one of the best.” Obito, well, bragged, puffing up his chest. “Just follow my lead, and you will be an awesome kunoichi!”

“I bet,” Rumiko said with a tiny, amused smile. Why was he so cute?! She just wanted to kiss and pinch his cheeks.

“Mmh, are you mocking me, my young pupil?” Obito asked, fake offended, since he grinned brightly.

“Me? Never, oh great Sensei,” she chirped.

Obito just grinned wider, feeling warm. Not many people joked around with him like this. Rumiko was cool. Hopeful they would be friends for a long time.

“Mmh, I will let it slide now, since you’re still wet behind your ears. So I think Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire is a good fire jutsu for you to learn. It’s a C-Rank one. Ready to try it out?”

“You bet, Obito!”

Under Obito's guidance, Rumiko first learned the necessary hand signs: Rat → Tiger → Dog → Ox → Rabbit → Tiger! She had to repeat it a couple of times till Obito was satisfied. Next, he told her how she had to make her chakra flow into her mouth and spit out each little flame.

Then it was time to apply what she had learned. Fast, her finger waved the hand signs as she shouted: “Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire!”

Six perfectly formed little fireballs hit the wooden targets. The Uchiha whistled, impressed.

“Nice, Rumiko. That was amazing for your first try. You have good control over your chakra,” he praised her, making the redhead smile.

“Heh, thanks.”

“Now try to guide them with your chakra in different directions, okay?”

This was a bit more difficult; Rumiko began to sweat, but on her eleventh turn she got it. Obito applauded her and even gave her shoulder a friendly nudge. Damn, he is touching her, and she feels like…a bro.

He surely means it like that, uurgh! Rumiko laments.

Of course, Obito had no idea how she was dying inside from the friendzone, so he just checked the position of the sun and cursed.

“Oh damn! It’s so late! I was supposed to meet up with my team.”

“Oh?” Rumiko uttered, feeling a deep longing in her heart. Would Minato, her dad, be there? Could she risk a glimpse of him? “I’m sorry, I kept you here, Obito. You should probably go.”

“No, no, I’m always late. When someone needs my help, I help them; it's just who I am,” he explained with a grin. “I’m so sorry, Rumiko. Let’s meet up another day, yeah? Bye!”

With that, he began to run out of the training field.

“Oi, you idiot!” she called, amused. “When should we see each other again?”

“This weekend, Saturday morning, okay?!”, he hollered back.

“Okay, bye!” she laughed and waved at him.

When Obito was gone, a frown took place, and the Uzumaki Princess sighed. Why did she promise that? She couldn’t just jump back to the past to train with Obito; she should just return to her time and destroy that odd Thunder God Kunai which brought her here.

Nothing good would come out of this.

It couldn’t.

“Let’s go home,” Rumiko murmured, going through the hand signs for the space-time jutsu. “Before I really screw the past over. FLYING THUNDER GOD JUTSU!”

In a red flash, the world tilted again, and she crashed this time into a bush. The girl looked around and noted with relief how unruly the training field was.

She was back in her time.

Thank god.

And all seemed to be how it was.

Yeah, why shouldn’t it be? Obito probably doesn’t even remember me. What did I expect?

With a heartbroken sigh, she collected her special kunais and put them in her bag. She would at least have this precious memory: learning from Obito the Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu. This no one could take from her. A second she hesitated before pocketing the odd Thunder God Kunai. It would be better in her hands. She couldn’t risk someone time-travelling and fuck the timeline.

“Let’s go find Naru.”

(*)

Naruto had a slight frown on his face as he watched his big sister absentmindedly drying the dishes he washed. They always did their chorus together, but today Rumiko was deep in her own mind. What had happened while he taught Konohamaru the Sexy-No-Jutsu to her?

“Ane?” Naruto began, handing her a plate. “What’s up? You have been so still this whole evening. I’m worried.”

Rumiko let out a deep sigh, slowly drying the plate. “Something happened as I tried Dad's Flying Thunder God Jutsu.”

The blond let out a little hum, showing he was listening.

“You remember how it’s a space-time jutsu? Well, on the training ground had been an old, odd-shaped Thunder God Kunai… accidentally I used it and…I was in the past?”

…Did Naruto hear right? He stared with wide blue eyes at her.

“You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not!”

“How is this even possible?!”

“I have a hunch it has something to do with that odd kunai. Anyway! I didn’t do anything to disturb the timeline! All should be as it is.”

“And why do you sound so sad?” Naruto questioned, raising an eyebrow.  For a second, he shoved this all timey-wimey stuff out of his head. It was more important to know what was wrong with his sister. She wasn’t one to really sulk.

Rumiko stopped drying the plate, placing the kitchen towel on the counter, leaning on it with both hands. “You remember when I told you about Uchiha Obito?”

“That guy who ripped Kurama out of Mom and will cause the Fourth Ninja World War? Yeah, I remember.”

“I met him as a 13-year-old Genin. We talked, and he showed me the Phoenix Sage Jutsu. It’s just so… frustrating. Obito was once a good guy, and he lost himself so much.”

The sigh his sister let out made the alarm bells ring in Naruto's head. Not only that, but he could also feel Kurama's displeasure.

Kit, I don’t like that. She sounds…how do humans call it? Love-sick. The Ninetails grumbled worriedly.

It can’t be! I know Ane told me this Obito guy will be good again after I talk with him, but she can’t truly crush on the guy who destroyed our family! Naruto shouted back.

Mmh…you forgot once this all was a story for her. Perhaps the past life is battling with this one.

What do ya mean, dattobayo? Don’t speak in riddles.

Maybe she has this celebrity crush on this Obito guy in her former life, and now these old feelings fight with her new reality.

Oh…! You’re so smart, ‘Rama.

DON’T CALL ME THAT, BRAT!

Naruto turned back to his sister, while Kurama cussed him out in his mind and asked: “Say Ane? Did you like him when you were in your old world?”

The blush on Rumiko's cheek could challenge Hinata's lovely one.

“Oh my ramen, you do!” the blond gaped, pointing energetically at her. “Ane! That guy is not some bad boy, but a real terrorist! Also, isn’t he older?!”

“I’m technically 44 years old!” Rumiko pouted, POUTED, looking away.

The blond Uzumaki was flabbergasted. Ane was normally so adult and did not act like a young teen! “In mind perhaps, but your body is 12 years old! Mom and dad are probs rolling around in their graves!”

“Hey! It was Kurama who killed our parents, and we forgave him!”

“That’s different; also, that Obito Guy is responsible for the catastrophe on our birth AND I remind you, for a lot of shit we will have to deal with in the future like, oh I don’t know, a fourth world war?!”

“The heart wants, what it wants!”

“Tell your heart it’s a dumbass, dattobayo!”

“OI! Also, Madara Uchiha and mainly Black Zetsu use him as a puppet, remember? Black Zetsu is the real enemy!”

“Ane, are you even listening to yourself?!”

“Naru, stop, I don’t wanna fight with you,” Rumiko said, rubbing her forehead, tired.

“Then stop saying such nonsense!” Naruto countered, narrowing his eyes. “You don’t plan to go back to the past, right?”

“No, it's dangerous. I could create an alternative universe where anything is even worse than before.”

Naruto nodded in agreement before he looked thoughtful. “If you know how it worked truly, we could perhaps save Mom and Dad.”

“Oh Naru,” Rumiko whispered, hugging him to her. He needed one, and she also. “If time travel was that easy, we could just go back so much in time and tell the Sage of Six Paths about Black Zetsu. The thing is, I don’t know WHEN the kunai sent me to the past, just as Obito was a Genin, before the Kanabi Bridge. It’s no guarantee that it will work a second time with a date in mind. I mean, I could end up in the Warring States Era for all we know.”

“I get it,” Naruto murmured, hugging her back with a heavy heart. “Time Travel dangerous. Let’s not touch it with a ten-meter pole.”

“Yeah…”

Of course, Naruto couldn’t see Rumiko's uneasy face, the battle against mind and heart in her blue eyes.

After he left the kitchen, Rumiko stood quietly for a moment, clenching her fists. The house was silent except for the distant hum of Konoha’s nightlife. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the old, odd kunai—the one that didn’t belong to this era, the one that had pulled her across the seams of time.

She turned it over in her hand, thumb tracing the worn seal, remembering how Obito had laughed, how he had been still full of hope, his black eyes full of light, for just a moment. She wanted to hold onto that—a memory untouched by the wars and betrayals that would come.

But the kunai felt heavier than before, as if it knew the weight of knowlegde of the future, past and present she carried. Rumiko hesitated, then tucked it away in the deepest drawer of her desk, beneath old headbands and faded childhood drawings Naruto had gifted her.

Out of sight, but never out of mind.

Maybe, she thought, some day she would be able to let go. But not tonight.

She turned off the kitchen light, the memory of fire-jutsu and summer laughter echoing behind her, and let the darkness settle—soft and bittersweet.

(*)

Well, did you expect this?

Also, time travel and isekai in one is new for me XD.

Since Back to the Future is one of my fav movies, I will base the time travel aspect on it, if you know what I mean.

Also, I hope I got the concept of the Flying Thunder God Jutsu down. I read the Wiki again :/  But in the end, Rumiko modified it for her use ^^

See you next chapter. *waves*

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not try to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write the comments in your own language!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Here you go, my dears :3

New chapter!

I hope you like the changes I made ;)

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Ch 5: Time Flies: We’re Genin’s of Konoha!

The next day, Rumiko and Naruto arrived punctually at the academy to take their Genin Exam.

Naruto wouldn’t lie: he was nervous.

Even with his sister's reassurance, their training and the Hokage's written permission, he was still afraid they wouldn’t let him pass.

Restless, he bounced his leg up and down, sitting beside his twin sister, who seemed extremely calm, but how she tapped the desk with her finger showed her own nerves.

Not only did he depended that the Kagebushin was counted as Clone Jutsu, but Rumiko also. Their chakra pools were just too big for the normal clone jutsu. It was nearly impossible for them to learn it.

When his name was called, Naruto gulped, gripped his permission sheet tightly in his hand and walked into the examination room, with only Rumiko’s quiet support.

Iruka-Sensei and Mizuki awaited him with smiles, but only Iruka’s was sincere. Oh, the blond Uzumaki knew what Mizuki wanted to use him for; Rumiko had told him so; however, they were prepared for it.

Don’t worry, kit. Kurama grumbled soothingly in his mind. They would be fools not to let a child pass who can do Kagebushin.

Thanks, ‘Rama. I will try to remember this.

Good…and stop calling me ‘Rama, brat!

Naruto hid the laugh which was trying to come out with coughing. He couldn’t laugh during his test, or he would look like a lunatic.

“Alright, Naruto. Then show us your Clone-Jutsu.” Iruka said, friendly.

The boy gulped and stepped to his favourite teacher.

“Erm, Iruku-Sensei? I have this from Grandpa Hokage, I mean from Lord Third for you,” he uttered bravely, handing Iruka the sheet. “It’s about the Clone-Jutsu. Ane and I, well, Rumiko and me posses to much chakra. We can’t do the Clone-Jutsu at all. So we talked with Lord Third, and he alloweed use to learn another type of clone jutsu. This is the permission, signed by Jiji, erm Lord Third.”

Surprised, Iruka read fast over the paper, nodding along. “Mmh, yes, I see. It a offical document. With Lord Third's signature.”

He handed it to Mizuki, who else read it fast. “Yes, all seems to be in order. Then please show us your other Clone-Jutsu.”

Only Naruto noted the frustration in Mizuki's eyes. Just like Rumiko had told him: Mizuki hoped he would fail, so he could manipulate him to steal the Scroll of Seals.

Bastard! I’m no one's puppet! Naruto thought, trying to not show his anger, while Kurama growled in agreement.

Instead, he gave the adults a nod and stepped into the middle of the room. After taking a calming deep breath, Naruto did the cross-handsign for the jutsu.

“Kagebushin-No-Jutsu!”

Where one Naruto had stood, now ten perfect shadow-clones stood, grinning brightly.

Poor Iruka actually fell down his chair, and Mizuki gaped like a fish. The traitorous ninja couldn’t believe that the fox demon child actually mastered a Justu from Lord Second; meanwhile, Iruka was between happiness and total astonishment.

Iruka had wished so much that Naruto would pass, that he could fulfil his dreams, but actually pulling out a S-Rank Jutsu this flawlessly at twelve years old?!

Even he couldn’t have imagined it.

“Naruto.” Iruka began, trying to not burst out in tears from pride, standing up. “You not only passed, but you showed us what great potential lies in you. You can be damn proud of yourself for this. A S-Rank Jutsu at your age! Congratulations! You pass.”

The ten Narutos celebrated hard. Two danced with each other, three gave high fives, one had fallen to his knees with raised arms, two tried to hide their tears, and the rest just jumped up in joy.

“I’m a Ninja, I’m a Ninja!”

Real Naruto made his doppelganger vanish and just hugged Iruka in glee as the chuunin handed him his headband.

“Thanks, Iruka-Sensei! Thanks so much, dattobayo!”

Iruka chuckled with a little blush ruffling his hair. “You earned it, Naruto, truly. You will be an amazing ninja, no doubt!”

“Hehehe, thanks!”

“Now, get out of here, okay? Enjoy the rest of your day.”

“I will, Iruka-Sensei! Bye!”

Mizuki smiled the best he could, but inside he gritted his teeth. He couldn’t believe it. The brat actually managed to pass. What about his plan?

It doesn’t matter, he thought. Naruto is dumb. I will just think of something different to make him steal the scroll for me.

(*)

Hinata fiddled with her new headband, which she wore like a necklace, waiting for Rumiko and Naruto to join her on the swing. Her best friend had told her the three of them would meet up there when they passed.

She had been called first and now had to wait and worry for them. Oh, she knew about the Uzumaki Twins' true strength; they sparred regularly together, but would the teacher let them pass?

She remembers when she first saw with her Byakuga their chakra pools. Rumiko was so large and bright like a sun already, but Naruto? If Rumiko was the sun, then Naruto was a supernova. His chakra was an incredible life force, larger and bigger than anything she could imagine.

But with so much energy came also problems. They had trouble moulding the little amount of chakra which was needed for the simple clone jutsu.

They had Lord Third's permission to use Kagebushin. She reminded herself, poking her finger together. I can’t be so pessimistic. Not about them. All will be well…and if not, I am sure Lord Third will help them. He did give his permission.

“HINATA!”

The Hyuuga Heiress heard the familiar, beloved yell of Naruto's voice. She looked up, seeing Naruto and Rumiko running up to her. Silver glints from Naruto's forehead and Rumiko's stomach.

“N-Naruto, Rumi,” Hinata called, her hands up to her mouth, tears filling her eyes from joy.

They had passed!

THEY HAD PASSED!

“Hina! We did it!” Rumiko confirmed with a bright smile. “We’re Ninjas!”

Before she could say more, her arms were full of Uzumaki Twins. Burning red shot up Hinata’s pale cheeks; dizziness was approaching, but she shoved it all away. She wouldn’t faint, no sir, she would enjoy this moment with two of her favourite people in the world. The boy she loved and the girl who was like a sister.

“Hinata, don’t cry!” Naruto chirped, grinning his foxy grin. “Did you doubt us?”

“N-No, Naruto, I’m just so happy for you. You guys deserve it.” Hinata sniffled.

Rumiko cooed, wiping a tear away. “Aww, you’re so cute, Hina.”

Sadly, their little group hug was interrupted by Mizuki.

“Ah, Naruto, there you are. I’m sorry to interrupt your kids' celebration, but I need to talk with you for a second.”

The Uzumaki Twins side-eyed sly eachother, but played the role of naive kids. So Naruto just grinned and followed after the chuunin. “Sure, Mizuki-Sensei, what is it?”

Hinata tilted her head. Wondering what that was about, as she felt Rumiko wrap an arm around her shoulders.

“I know you could do it, Hina.”

“Only because you and Naruto trained so much with me.”

“Ah, nonsense. You’re strong, remember that.”

While the best friends talked, Naruto had to listen a bit further away to Mizuki's bullshit lie.

Super special test, which would promote you to chuunin if you absolved it. As if that would be offered to a fresh graduate! Naruto wasn’t dumb, thanks to his sister and also Kurama. He just played the fool, which worked amazingly.

If his Ane didn’t insist on taking out Mizuki like in canon, how she liked to say, then he would flip him the bird. Instead, Naruto played all the stupid, bright-eyed idiot and agreed to do this test.

So who was really the dumbass here?

(*)

Later in the evening, you would find Naruto with the Scroll of Sealing in one of the forests of Konoha. He was reading the scroll, since his Ane had asked him if he could memorise and write down for her the Flying Thunder God Technique, the one their dad had been so famous for.

Rumiko wanted to learn it, to honour their dad's legacy. He found it so cool. He could just imagine his sister flashing like red lightning around the battlefield and killing enemies before they even realised it.

“Would Ane be called then the Red Flash?” he murmured absentmindedly. “I think Bloody Red Lightning is cooler!”

The Red Habanero Flash. It would honour both your parents. Kuruma shared his idea.

Oh yeah, that’s cool! Naruto agreed.

So you got it down, for the little Habanero? Kurama asked.

Yup. It’s so cool, but I don’t get what's so complicated about it.

Because you’re a Uzumaki kit. Anything with seals is natural like breathing for you. Or why do you think you’re so good at making them?

Because I’m smart!

Your sister is the genius, not you.

Oi!

Their little squabble was interrupted by an angry Iruka. “Hey you, Naruto!”

Well, showtime, brat. I will take a nap. Kurama yawned, and Naruto heard him a second later snoring.

Damn that old lazy fox!

But he could handle this without him.

“You found me.” Naruto laughed sheepishly at his teacher, rubbing his head. “The first Jutsu was the Kagebushin, but I can already do that, so I don’t get why I needed to learn it. So you will make a Chuunin, right? Mizuki-Sensei said if I steal this Scroll, learn a Jutsu from it, I will already be made, Chunnin, dattobayo!”

In shock, Iruka's eyes widened. “What did Mizuki say, Naruto?!”

“Didn’t you listen? He told me about this scroll, and this place…”

That’s when Iruka felt killing intent. He managed to push Naruto out of the way and was alone, impaled by kunais. They didn’t hit any important organs, so he would live.

“I’m impressed you found this place,” Mizuki called from his place on a tree branch.

“I see now…how it is.” Iruka groanand. He understood now how Mizuki had tricked Naruto, so the boy would steal the scroll for him.

“Naruto, give me that scroll,” Mizuki demanded.

Just like Ane said. I have to give my best! Naruto said in his mind, using all his acting skills to appear frightened and confused.

“Wait, wait…” Naruto stuttered. “What’s goin on here?”

Under pain, Iruka pulled some kunai from his body. “Naruto! Never give him that scroll! It is a dangerous object that contains forbidden Ninja Jutsu. It was sealed. Mizuki used you in order to get it for himself!”

“Wha…?!”

“Naruto, Iruka is only afraid of you holding that scroll!” Mizuki said back.

The blond-haired boy just looked confused from one Chuunin to the other.

“What are you saying, Mizuki!” Iruka yelled. “Don’t let him fool you, Naruto!”

The traitorous Chuunin laughed. “I will tell you the truth.”

“Idiot! Don’t do that!”

“After an incident 12 years ago, a rule was created. That is, Naruto, a rule everybody but you knows.”

“Except me?!” Naruto shouted, stupefied. “What is it?”

“Stop it, Mizuki!” Iruka hollered.

But the white-haired man just continued. “The rule forbids anyone from revealing that you are actually the Demon Fox Spirit! You are actually the demon nine-tailed fox spirit, who killed Iruka’s parents and destroyed our village! Everyone has been deceiving you ever since. Didn’t you find it strange? Why did everyone hate you so much?”

Now Naruto already knew this for a long time, and he is friends with the old furball, but he played along, giving an award-winning show of disbelief and pain.

“No, no, no! You’re lying!”

“Nobody accepts you,” Mizuki told him gleefully. “That’s why Iruka hates you so much! Die, Naruto!”

But then something happened which neither Mizuki nor Iruka could have expected. As Mizuki got ready to throw his big shuriken at the boy, he yelled loudly: “Now, Ane!”

Out of the darkness of the forest, golden chains sprang out, wrapping themselves tightly around Mizuki.

“What the?!” he shouted, feeling how his chakra was drained. He tried to break free, but these chains were too strong. “What kind of demonic technique is this, you fox devil!”

“Naruto?” Iruka gaped. He had never seen such a jutsu…wait a second? Did he call for…? “Ane? Rumiko?”

The frightened, confused mask melted from Naruto's face, like snow on a summer day. He grinned his foxy grin, arms behind his head.

“No, demonic technique. That’s a Uzumaki Clan Jutsu, right, Ane?”

“Right, Naru,” Rumiko answered, stepping out of the dark forest, walking towards her brother.

Now the adults could clearly see how this chain sprang out from Rumiko's back. She put her hands on her hips, looking at disgust at Mizuki.

“You’re the only demon I see, Mizuki. Using a child for your dirty work and then trying to kill him! Do you know what I do with people who wanna hurt my ototo?”

She didn’t wait for him to answer. She moved her Adamantine Chains, making the in it bound Mizuki repeatedly smash against the trees, till he was knocked out cold.

Since his sister had anything under control, Naruto ran up to Iruka, helping the disbelieving Chuunin up.

“Iruka-Sensei! How badly are you hurt? Here, hold onto me.”

“Naruto…” Iruka uttered slowly, feeling like he was part of a plan he didn’t understand. “What is going on?”

It was Rumiko who answered him. “Meh, just our first mission as Genin.” She walked over them, with the knocked-out Mizuki in her chains, dragging him through the mud.

“Your first mission?” Iruka repeated.

“It was like this, Iruka-Sensei.” Naruto began excitedly. “After Mizuki came up to me, telling me about this secret test to become a chuunin, I knew that it was a lie. We didn’t learn about this in the academy, so I told Ane this.”

“I agreed with Naru.” Rumiko took over, smiling with a foxy grin. “So we have gone to Lord Third and told him all this. But we asked him if we could take care of Mizuki.”

“But why? Lord Third could just have him arrested.” Iruka wonders. What had gone through these crazy children's minds?

“It’s about another S-Rank secret,” Naruto spoke up again. “But Jiji said he wants to tell you himself. We should probs go back to him.”

Rumiko nodded. “Indeed. We need to give the scroll back and also deliver this piece of shit to Torture and Interrogation. And you also need to get healed up, Iruka-Sensei.”

Well, Iruka had to agree. This sounded all reasonable, even if he just wanted the answer now. He had seen tonight's sides of his students he never guessed were there.

Lord Third awaited them with a smile after they had delivered Mizuki to Torture and Interrogation, and Iruka was healed up enough.

“You see, Iruka, a few years ago, Naruto and Rumiko came to me. It was when they were seven years old.” The Hokage told him while he inspected the Scrolls of Seal to make sure it was still intact. Rumiko and Naruto had fallen asleep on one of the couches in the Hokage office, so it was only the adults who talked. “They had come in contact with the Nine-Tails.”

“What? You’re serious?!” Iruka whisper-shouted to not wake up up the teens.

“What I’m going to tell you is a SSS-Rank Secret. Naruto and Rumiko trust you, so they wanted you to be part of it.”

Touched, Iruka looked with a smile at the sleeping twins before he turned back to the Hokage. “I feel honoured that they trust me. I will not make them regret it.”

Sarutobi nodded, placing the scroll aside for the moment to light up his pipe. “Good. As I said, they interacted with the Kyuubi. It told them the truth of who they were, why Naruto was chosen as its jailer. Remember how Lord Fourth was married?”

“Oh yeah, I remember. His wife was a jonin; she had this long, pretty red hair…” Iruka stopped himself as he started to connect the dots. His eyes wandered over again to Naruto and Rumiko, and for the first time he truly saw them. “No…they are…?”

“They are Lord Fourth's, Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's children,” Sarutobi confirmed. “This makes them the heirs to the Namikaze and Uzumaki clans."

Iruka sat down heavy on the chair before Lord Third's desk. His mind was spinning. He had a million questions, but one formally burst out of him: “Why didn’t you tell the village who they were?! As Lord Fourth's children, as heirs to two powerful clans, they would have been treated better. Naruto the most! And what about their lands and fortunes?! Why are you making them live in a one-bedroom apartment?!”

The Chuunin was angry. Angry beyond belief. He knew how it was to grow up like the Uzumaki twins. He saw their pain, the same pain he carried, in their eyes. Why had they been forbidden to take their rightful place in this village?

Sarutobi sighed, taking a deep drag from his pipe. “I understand your anger well enough, Iruka-Kun. The twins asked me the same when they came so many years ago to me. The truth is, I tried to protect them. Minato-Kun was feared and hated by nations, especially Iwagakure. Kushina-Chan was one of the last members of a once-powerful clan. You learned what happened to Uzushiogakure so long ago. I feared they would be hunted down, not only for what was inside Naruto, but for who they were. I wanted to give them a happy, safe childhood, but in doing so, I perhaps made it worse.”

“You think so, Lord Hokage?” Iruka grumbled, giving him attitude. “I understand you wanted to protect them, but like this?”

“I’m an old foolish man; I regret a lot of things in my life,” Sarutobi admitted. “But you have to understand, after the Third Shinobi War we have been weak, then we lost Minato and had to gain forces back after Kyuubi's attack. Even if I wanted to give Naruto and Rumiko all that is rightfully theirs, I feared that we couldn’t protect them with our weakened forces. Another war we can’t risk.”

Tired, Iruka rubbed his forehead. He knew that the Hokage had done his best, but the orphaned boy in him wanted to lash out more in the name of the Uzumaki twins.

“It’s hard to be Hokage.”

“True words, Iruka-Kun, true words.” Sarutobi agreed, taking another drag of his pipe. “Anyway, I told Naruto and Rumiko the truth and promised them that when they make Chuunin, we will reveal to the village who they are, and they will have access to all their lands and funds.”

“Why, Chuunin, Lord Third?”

“I always planned to tell them the truth when they make Chuunin. When they reach this rank, it shows me they are mature and also strong enough to carry their clan names with all positive and negative aspects.”

“I see, but that jutsu that Rumiko used on Mizuki. I never saw Adamantine Chains.”

This made the old Hokage smile. “Oh, it’s an Uzumaki Jutsu. Only they can manifest them. The Adamantine Chains are made from their chakra. You know Iruka? Just because the whole village will know who the twins are when they’re Chuunin doesn’t mean I didn’t give them access to scrolls of their clans. That’s the least I can do.”

“It really took me by surprise. So my students hide their talents, it seems. I never thought Naruto could be such a good actor, and Rumiko knows such an amazing jutsu…they really know how to stay under the radar.” Iruka mused, giving the sleeping twins a proud look.

“Indeed. You will be surprised what else they can do, but that’s in the future. For now, please keep this secret and don’t tell a soul.”

“Of course, Lord Hokage, but still…even if they are talented, why didn’t you just arrest Mizuki as the twins told you about his plan?”

“It’s actually quite simple. I wanted to give Naruto and Rumiko the chance to show all how loyal they are to the village. Especially Naruto benefits from it. Anything which shows how he is a true shinobi of the Hidden Leaf can perhaps change the minds of the people. I have at least to believe this.”

With that out of the way, finally all was well again. The Uzumaki twins' journey to become the greatest ninjas and also save the world could truly begin!

(*)

We got the first glimpse of what Rumiko and Naruto can do.

Also, Naru is way smarter than in canon, but still loves pranks and has idiotic moments.

Rumiko will also have her dumbass moments.

Just because you’re smart in a lot of subjects doesn’t mean you can’t be a buffon in others. Well, that’s what I believe. ^^

I hope you enjoyed this chapter; till the next one!

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not try to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write the comments in your own language!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

So this chapter has took a while, because I had been unsure in which direction I should go.

I wrote two different beginnings till I stuck to this version. It was simpler for me to write it this way.

You will see what I mean. :D

Happy reading!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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(*)

Chapter 4: Time Flies: Before the Genin Exams!

The sad truth in life was that sometimes you could try anything, pray for it, hope for it, but whatever you did…nothing could change.

Sometimes a person was just an asshole and stayed one.

Sometimes accidents happened, and families were destroyed.

Sometimes you can’t change ignorant minds, even with the best arguments.

Sometimes knowing the future was a curse, not a blessing.

Especially when you couldn’t prevent death.

(*)

Bored out of her mind, Rumiko sat in class while Iruka-Sensei droned on about the three basic academy jutsu, since tomorrow was their Genin Exam. One of them would be tested on their abilities, but the older Uzumaki was uninterested.

She knew her jutsu well enough; she knew what would be asked and had her permission. Naruto did too. Speaking of her brother, she should have joined him on his latest prank. He wanted to graffiti the Hokage Mountain, but Rumiko didn’t want to leave her best friend and seatmate alone.

Hinata was a nervous wreck. Even if they had trained together hard, the Hyuuga was still scared she would utterly fail and bring shame to her family. God, how Rumiko hated Hiashi and Neji. Even if they would be nice in the future, she was petty.

The short-haired heiress was damn important to her and also her future sister-in-law. No one messed with Hinata, not under Rumiko's watch. With glee, Rumiko remembered when she visited Hinata in the Hyuuga compound and had sucker punched Neji in his arrogant face as he tried to get a rise from his cousin. She had been banished from the compound since then, but it had been totally worth it.

Anyway, while Rumiko tried her best to stay awake, Iruku-Sensei was interrupted in his lesson by another teacher. Ah, so finally people had taken notice of Naruto's little prank. Since Iruka-Sensei could handle Naruto the best, besides herself, they called for his help to catch the sneaky boy.

So Iruka left, but not without telling his students they should read the chapters about the three basic jutsus, earning groans from the young teens. It took exactly three seconds after the chuunin left for the whole class to ignore their task, doing what they wanted. Some ate snacks (Choji), some took a nap (Shikamaru), and others gossiped (Ino), but most talked with their friends.

“Rumi?” Hinata's gentle voice roused Rumiko from her drowsiness. “Is Naruto alright? It seems like he made the adult very angry.”

Rumiko turned her head towards her best friend, her red hair pulled in the Odango-Twintails Style, swoshing in the air. “Mmh? Don’t worry, Hina. Naru just wanted to do one last big prank before graduation. Look.”

She pointed outside to the graffiti-covered Hokage Mountain, earning a little gasp from Hinata.

“Impressiv, mmh?”

“Indeed, Naruto is amazing,” the blue-haired girl says dreamily. “Graffiting the Hokage Monument without being seen, till he was done, shows how good he is at being unassuming.”

“True, true Hina.” Rumiko agreed, proud of her ototo. “Sadly, you’re the only one besides me who sees it like that.”

Hinata frowned a bit, but understood where Rumiko was coming from. Besides themselves and Iruka, all saw just a troublemaker in Naruto. A class clown. No one realised how for most of his pranks he needed to be extrem skilled.

“They will one day. One day, Naruto will show them all.” The Hyuuga Heiress said, convinced. She know deep in her heart how her crush had the will to fulfil all his dreams.

And she and Rumiko would cheer him on.

A few minutes later, Iruka, with a bound Naruto, entered the classroom. Their teacher dropped Naruto unceremoniously in the middle of the classroom. Rumiko and Hinata side-eyed each other, knowing what would come now.

Naruto would get lectured in front of anyone.

Indeed, Iruka-Sensei began with: “Listen, Naruto. Tomorrow is your Genin exam, and instead of learning, you’re goofing off, you fool!”

But Naruto just huffed and looked away. He was more than ready for the exam! His sister had drilled him mercilessly, for which he was thankful.

Of course, Iruka didn’t know this, so he just thought Naruto was giving him attitude. Angrily, he declared: “We will have a re-test on the Transformation Jutsu! Even those who already passed will take it!”

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT?!” all beside Hinata and Rumiko chorused in disbelief.

Since they didn’t have another choice, the class got in line before Iruka, one after another, showing how well they could do the jutsu.

Currently, it was Sakura's turn.

“Sakura Haruno. Here I go…Transform.”

She transformed into a flawless copy of Iruka-Sensei.

Their teacher nodded in approval. “Okay.”

In a poof, Sakura was back to her normal looks.

“I did it!” Sakura chirped happily, and Rumiko remembered how surely Inner-Sakura was celebrating hard. “Did you see that, Sasuke?”

Oh dear…Rumiko thought with a sweatdrop. How often I see that it doesn’t stop me from thinking how a bit pathetic you sound, Sakura.  Sasuke clearly doesn’t have any interest, right now, in you.

The red-haired Uzumaki had been neutral about the ship between Sasuke and Sakura in her old life. It was okay, and Sarada was a very cute child, just…Sakura's whole personality was often just reduced to her love interest. She could be such a badass when she didn’t chase after the Uchiha so much.

“Next, Sasuke Uchiha,” Iruka-Sensei called as Sakura walked to her spot in line.

“Yes,” the Uchiha answerd simple, stepping forward.

He also transforms into a perfect copy of Iruka and passes.

Whenever Rumiko saw Sasuke, she felt that bottomless feeling in her stomach. They had been rivals since the first day of the academy, fighting for the spot at the top, but there was also the deep guilt she felt towards him.

She hadn’t be able to save…Shisui.

She hadn’t been able to save the Uchihas.

The story had taken its canon course with Itachi being the clan killer and Sasuke the only survivor.

Life was so unfair.

“Next, Naruto Uzumaki,” Iruka called, getting Rumiko out of her funk. She knew she couldn’t stay to hang up on this…life was cruel, but she had to continue. For Naruto and her sake.

Naruto would always be her top priority.

Speaking of her brother, Ino and Shikamaru were lamenting to him because they had to retake this test. Since Rumiko stood by Hinata further away from her twin, she didn’t hear what they said to him, but it wasn’t needed. Rumiko remembers this episode.

So she just sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead as Naruto pulled out his Sexy-No-Jutsu, transforming into Naruko. Other than having twin tails like in the original, Naruto has long, flowing blond hair.

The reason was that Rumiko wore odango-twintails (like Sailor Moon) and Naruto didn’t want anyone to see a blond adult version similar to his sister naked.

His Sexy-No-Jutsu had the desired effect, as Iruka-Sensei fell backwards with a huge nosebleed.

Gleeful Naruto cackled, transforming back and pointing at their teacher. “How was it? I call it the Sexy-No-Jutsu!”

“You fool!” Iruka roared, getting up nearly to Naruto's face. “Stop making idiotic spells!”

Naruto just pouts.

“Rumiko Uzumaki, you’re next,” Iruka-Sensei grumbled. “Can you please show your brother how it’s done right?”

With a nod, Rumiko stepped beside Naruto. In a poof, she transformed into the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, her and Naruto's father, but not like anyone knows this.

She tried not to smile cheekily, hearing the ohhhs and ahhs of her classmates. There weren’t a lot of photos of her dad in the textbooks, so getting it right was difficult.

Iruka was very pleased. “A perfect copy of our Fourth Hokage, as expected of you, Rumiko.”

In another poof, she was back to herself and bowed in thanks towards their teacher.

“Take more of an example from Rumiko, Naruto,” Iruka advised before calling the next student.

Naruto pouted more. A part of him was proud that his sister was a genius, which was bragging rights, but another felt sometimes so small compared to her.

Even if it was silly.

Rumiko had trained him well.

He just had to pretend to be a fool a bit longer.

Rumiko knew what her brother was thinking, so she squeezed his arm in kind before the Uzumaki twins walked back to their spots.

(*) After school, Rumiko followed Iruka and Naruto to the Hokage Mountain. As punishment for his prank, her brother had to clean it.

She sat beside Iruka-Sensei on Lord First's head, while Naruto, grumbling, tried to wash the paint away.

“Darn, Darn, Darn!”

“I won’t let you go home unless you clean that all up.” Iruka reminded him.

“I don’t care!” Naruto shouted. “There’s nobody home anyway.”

“Ototo…” Rumiko signs. With her waiting for him to finish, they would return to an empty home, no mother or father to greet them.

Iruka knows this too, looking from Naruto to Rumiko, seeing the light depression aura around them. Oh, how he knows this feeling.

“Naruto, Rumiko…”

“What is it this time?” Naruto wonders, annoyed.

“Yes, Iruka-Sensei?” Rumiko turned with a head tilt to him.

“What I meant was…If you clean up all that mess, I’ll buy you kids ramen tonight.” Iruka promised, scratching his cheek shyly.

This made Rumiko smile brightly, and Naruto jumped up and down from joy. “Yes! I will finish it in no time!”

“Thanks, Sensei, that’s super sweet!” Rumiko added, earning a little head ruffle from Iruka.

“Don’t mention it.”

True to his word, Iruka invited the Uzumaki Twins to ramen at Ichiraku. Teuchi and Ayame welcomed the three warmly, and soon the children and teacher enjoyed their hot, tasty ramen.

“Naruto? Why did you vandalise those faces?” Iruka asked him curiously. “Don’t you know who the Hokage leaders are?”

“Of course, I do!” Naruto said back. “I know they earned the title Lord Hokage because they were the best Ninja of their time, right? Especially, the Fourth Hokage was a hero who saved the village from the nine-tailed demon fox.”

“Then why did you do that?”

“Because I’ll become Hokage myself. And I’ll be the greatest Hokage of all time! So that everyone will finally learn to accept me!”

“I know you can do it, Naru!” Rumiko cheered him on, stroking his spiky blond hair. “And I will help and serve you as your ANBU Commander.”

“Oh yeah, dattobayo! Sensei, the Uzumaki twins will take this village by storm!” Naruto grins, enjoying his sister's caress.

Iruka looked in wonder at these kids, so sure of themselves, with an unshakable spirit.

“By the way, Sensei, I have a favour to ask.” Naruto begins.

“You want another bowl?”

“Mmm…no…Can I borrow that Leaf headband for a while?”

Cutely, Naruto put his hands in prayer position, making Rumiko snort into her ramen. Damn, her brother's puppy-dog eyes were disarming, but Iruka wouldn’t fall for that.

“This? No, no. This is worn only by those who have graduated from the ninja academy. Tomorrow you will…”

“You’re so mean!”

“Ototo, Iruka-Sensei is right. I think it’s even against the rules to wear, as a non-ninja, a headband.”

“Not you too, Ane!”

“But she is right, Naruto. Also, that’s why you took off your goggles.”

“Hmmph! One more bowl, please!”

Iruka-Sensei ended up buying another two bowls for Naruto and one for Rumiko, but it was worth it to see the kids smile.

Then it was time to go home, so Iruka-Sensei walked them home before they split up. In the sanctuary of their little apartment, Naruto and Rumiko felt like they could breathe easier.

Also, they didn’t need to hide their true selves.

“Urgh, I hate that I have to play the role of an idiot,” Naruto grumbled while the twins got ready for bed. He was putting on his pyjamas and an adorable sleeping hat. “We could have graduated long before, Ane!”

Rumiko was sitting on the bed, brushing her long hair, pursing her lips at her brother. “You know it for our safety. A ninja has to see underneath the underneath. People will use you as their weapon if they know how powerful you are.”

“You mean Shimura, that creep.” Naruto pointed out, getting comfy in the bed. “I hate this all. We play just roles. Sometimes I wanna just yell how Dad didn’t want us to be treated this way!”

“Mostly you.” Rumiko hummed, joining him in their bed. “Also, how is Kurama? Got him offended for you calling him a demon fox?”

A foxy grin spread on Naruto's face. “The old furball gets huffy, buuuuttt he will survive.”

This made Rumiko smile. “I imagine. Anyway, just a bit more Ototo. Tomorrow we will become Genin, and then we can reveal our true badass selves.”

“You’re already a badass!”

“Are you saying I can’t be more?”

“Naah, dattobayo. But we both know you will be the kunoichi of the year. You and Hinata are the only ones who take it seriously. Anyone expects you to be a genius, but they will surely be shocked when I show them what I can do!”

“Till the chuunin exams, remember? That’s when we rip the masks off. Sarutobi promised us that when we make Chuunin, we can reveal our true heritage and get the Uzumaki and Namikaze fortunes and lands.”

“Yeah, I know.” Naruto yawned, closing his eyes. “Urgh, I’m tired. Nighty, Ane.”

“Me too. Sleep well then, Naru.”

(*)

An old saying goes like this: while men plan, the gods laugh.

Rumiko had tried to plan- oh, she had tried too much- but in the end she hadn’t been able to prevent Shisui's death and the Uchiha massacre.

It had been a hard time. The guilt was eating her alive, and seeing Sasuke turn dark and vengeful made it just heavier. For weeks, she just had… functioned. Only Naruto and Hinata had noted that something was wrong with her, yet she shoved them away.

How could she be consoled when the annihilation of a whole clan was on her shoulders? Yes, technically it had been Itachi with Obito's help,  but she had known!

She had known!

And yet her knowledge hadn’t helped at all!

All was just a fucking joke. For what was she reborn if she couldn’t change outcomes? It felt redundant. Her whole existence felt meaningless.

A part of her, the logical one, had tried to remind her how she was a little girl, how she could only care for Naruto and herself, but the adult in her refused to listen.

She had felt so utterly useless.

But then one night, weeks after the Uchiha Massacre, everything changed.

Rumiko had a nightmare. Which hadn’t been something new since the massacre, but it had been worse than normal. Naruto later explained to her how she had thrashed violently around the bed, crying out, chakra coming out in bursts from her body. Her little brother managed to hug her and tried to wake her up, but instead, something neither could imagine happened.

They were suckend into the mental space of the seal on Naruto's stomach. Rumiko had noticed immediately how they were in the sewer, which represented Kurama prison, but her brother was, of course, freaking out. It didn’t help that then Kurama, the old fox, made himself known.

“Are you finally visiting me, little warden?” Kurama growled, looking in disgust at the blond kid, who was his jailer, before his red eyes wandered to the red-haired girl. Curiously enough, she didn’t seem afraid of him one bit.

“Wha…wha…what?” Naruto stuttered, hiding automatically behind his brave sister. “Who are you?! Where did you come from?”

“That’s the Kyuubi, Naruto,” Rumiko said calmly, surprising the males. “You’re sealed in, my brother, right?”

This made Kurama huff with amusement. “A very smart girl you’re little habanero.”

Naruto had been losing his mind, which was understandable.

“Where do you know this, Ane?! What does it mean being sealed in me?”

“The Fourth Hokage- he couldn’t kill the nine-tailed fox…a beast of chakra can only be sealed in a person. You were chosen, Naruto, because we were born on this day…our father…wanted to believe in us!”

Kurama had heard and seen a lot in his long life, but this girl, this Rumiko, was an enigma. Where did she know all this?

“Hmm, your sister is right, warden. That damned Hoakge was your father,” he confirmed. He was just curious how this talk would go. No one could blame him, it was boring inside a seal and this appaered to become entertaining.

Naruto just looked at Rumiko, his sister, his Ane! Her eyes had always seemed old, but now she appeared centuries old, full of the burdens of lived lifetimes. Rumiko, in her case, just plobed down on the ground, not caring for the sewage water. It was all mental anyway.

Rumiko had been tired. So tired. Tired of keeping up appearances. Tired of being alone. Tired of not changing anything! So she had talked. Had said the truth, who she was and what she knew. How it was eating her alive, that she couldn’t change their lives for the better.

“I can’t just take it anymore.” Rumiko ended her tirade, tears of pain and frustration mixing with the sewage water. “I’m useless! I can’t save anyone! I was born for nothing!”

She got ready to be cursed out, to be called a freak…she should have known Naruto would never turn his back on her. He hugged her tight, crying with her.

“No, Ane, don’t say this! I don’t care who you were; what is important is you’re my sister, my family. I love you so much!” Naruto cried, rubbing his wet cheek against hers. “You love me. You take care of me. You do your best to give me a better life! Don’t dare to call yourself useless. I thank the gods that you were born!”

Even Kurama had words of comfort for her. Her revelation of how he and Naruto would be friends in the future, how he would be accepted, had made him softer towards the children.  “No one is born for nothing. You shouldn’t say this. My father created my siblings and me also for a reason.”

The red-haired girl was shocked. Didn’t she deserve to be abandoned, to be hated? And yet Naruto didn’t care; she was Rumiko, his sister, and he loved her. It was that simple. Kurama even was not at all disgusted by her and tried to console her…maybe…maybe…she shouldn’t be so hard on herself…

After she had calmed down, Rumiko, Naruto and Kurama had talked long into the night, but it had been worth it. She had felt better finally telling someone the truth about herself and being accepted fully. Together the three had talkend what they should do now, what they could change.

But what had been most amazing…Naruto showed Kurama his goodwill and told him he would rip the seal off. The Bijuu had been speechless. Naruto had trusted Rumiko's words, believing they could really be friends with him, the most powerful tailed beast. He couldn’t betray this trust; this was just honourable.

So Kurama swore to be their ally and friend and allowed them to use his name.

“I don’t wanna be a spoil, but we should probably wait a bit to rib the seal off,” Rumiko warned. “If we do this just now, the whole village will surely feel the immense chakra, and we are busted. How are we going to explain all these? We have to be smart. All think Kurama is evil incarnate; just saying he promised to be good will surely not be believed.”

Kurama and Naruto had agreed, so for the time being, Nine-Tails had to stay in his cage. But Kurama promised to lead Naruto his chakra, the best he could when he needed it. So the blond Uzumaki going on a rampage in his jinchuriki form was out of the window.

One worry less.

In the end, Rumiko found her hope and worth again, thanks to the acceptance of Naruto and Kurama. The three together would do their best to make the world a better place.

The first step will be taken tomorrow, when the Uzumaki siblings become Genin.

(*)

I hope you liked how I wrote this. I'd rather explain what happened in little flashbacks.

And yup, the Uchiha massacre happened qwq

And Shisui also died qwq

But we will see him in flashbacks, I am 59% sure :D

Anyway, hope you had fun with this chapter and noted all the little changes :3

Till next time :D

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not try to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write the comments in your own language!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Credits to Rezhokun from Ao3 who spoke about one of the possibilities to stop the Uchiha Massacre.

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

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(*)

Chapter 3: Senpai and Kohai

Three days after her talk with the Hokage, Rumiko made her way early in the morning towards one of the training fields of Konoha. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous about who her tutor would be. It could be one of the canon ones for all she knew! But then again, would she be that lucky? Maybe it would be just some randomly named Jonin.

This seemed more likely.

She just hoped that whoever trained her wouldn’t be an asshole!

She reached the training ground first, sitting down on a log, kicking her legs and looking up at the sky. The sky was grey, barely any sunshine, but it wasn’t cold, thankfully. Absentmindedly, she fixed the cuffs of her jacket, wondering if her training outfit, made out of a shirt, some capri pants and the standard ninja shoes, would be okay. She and Naruto  didn’t have the money to go to a ninja tailor for specialised gear, so she had to make do with old clothes she owned.

Maybe that's why Naruto wore in canon that hideous orange suit? Well, Rumiko would make him wear something different for sure. Kill-me orange was a no-go!

“Ah. You must be my cute little student, right?” a male voice suddenly spoke up from beside her.

Poor Rumiko let out a surprised shout, unelegant hitting after him.

“Whoa, calm down, whirlwind,” the male chuckled, effortlessly holding her flailing arms still. “If you’re that jumpy, you will never be a good ninja.”

“I was just surprised! Who just creeps up to a little girl?!” Rumiko shot back, pissed. Who was this guy?!

Finally, she took a good look at him, only to gap in shock. No…was she really that lucky?

“Hey now, that wasn’t my intention.” Shisui Uchiha grinned, letting go of her arms. “Just testing your awareness, and  don’t take it badly; you suck!”

Immediately, Rumiko stopped gaping to give the Uchiha a pissed look. The nerve of the teen! “What kind of sensei are you? Shouldn’t you motivate and nurture me?”

Shisui just chuckled more, patting her head. “I’m not someone to sugarcoat things, whirlwind. But you got spirit, that I can admit!”

Rumiko just deadpan at him. Of course, her fangirl side was freacking out meeting Shisui, but her adult side? That wasn’t impressive at the least. He was way too cocky!

In Shisui's case, he grinned brightly down at the little redhead. She was a firecracker, all right! Tutoring her would be just as fun as training with Itachi, he supposed. He was glad he took this assignment from Hokage-Sama, since he was damn curious how someone younger than his cousin was also hailed as a genius.

For now, her reactions were hilarious! She looked like a little displeased mother! Ha!

“Anyway.” Shisui began, toning down his grin. “Uzumaki Rumiko, I’m Uchiha Shisui; from today on, your tutor. You may well call me senpai!”

“I’m calling you an idiot; that’s what I'm gonna do.” Rumiko sassed back.

She had hoped Shisui would get huffy at least, but he just laughed and patted her head again. She forgot how laid-back and down-to-earth he was. Sass was just repelled by him.

“The fire in you is strong, Kohai.” The Uchiha hummed pleasantly. “Now how about we start with training. First things first, of course, a little theoretical stuff. Tell me, do you know what Chakra is?”

“Chakra is created by combining two different kinds of energy inside a person's body: physical energy built up through training and exercise and mental/spiritual energy gained through experience and willpower,” the Uzumaki began, under Shisui's surprised black eyes. “Once a person creates chakra, they can channel it through their body and release it, often by using specific hand signs. This release is what allows them to perform superhuman feats, like walking on water, creating fireballs, or summoning giant creatures. Just like blood flows through veins, chakra flows through a system in the body called the chakra circulatory system. It travels through chakra points (or tenketsu), which act like valves that control how much energy is released at once. Every ninja has a limited amount of chakra. If they use it all up without resting, they become exhausted and can even die. Therefore, a big part of being a successful ninja is learning how to control your chakra efficiently so you don't waste it. Satisfied, Senpai?”

Shisui let out a long whistle. “Well, well, well, my Kohei is well informed. Impressive. You’re a smart cookie, aren’t ya?”

In answer, Rumiko just smirked and was secretly happy she remembered this from the Databooks.

“Are you now gonna teach me something, Senpai?”

“Eager are we.” Shisui hummed, picking up a leaf from one of the trees. “You need to crawl before you walk, so we will start with this little exercise. I want you to stick this leaf on your forehead, holding it there only with your Chakra. Got it?”

“Got it.”

Well, what should Rumiko say…she had giant problems sticking the leaf on her forehead! First, she needed to feel her Chakra, which had been the simplest part since Shisui guided her and told her how to do it. It was when she needed to stick it with only chakra on the forehead that she failed spectacularly.

It was incredibly hard!

Rumiko used way too much chakra, making the leaf fly away.

“Trouble regulating it, I see,” Shisui murmured thoughtfully, while Rumiko let out a frustrated shout as the leaf once again burst away.

Wanting to check something, the Uchiha activated his Sharingan, looking at her chakra. Of course, a Byakugan would be more accurated, but Shisui still could easily see what Rumiko's problem was.

“Okay, Kohai, take a break,” he told her.

Frustrated, Rumiko looked up at the Uchiha. In the anime, it looked so simple to mould chakra, but in real life, it was a pain in the ass!

Shisui crossed his arms, giving her a small smile. “I know you’re frustrated, but I found out what your problem is. You have way too much chakra for someone your age. The bigger the chakra pools are, the more difficult it is to mould the precise amount of chakra.”

Oh, that made sense! Rumiko facepalmt internal. Of course, she was an Uzumaki! Even without being a Jinchuriki like Naruto, she had huge chakra pools like all of her family. She totally forgot that!

I need to write down what I remember of this world, so I don’t forget it…Rumiko decides.

“So…what are we going to do with my big chakra pools?” Rumiko asked curiously.

“Well, Kohai, the only real thing we can do is pratice. You need to feel for yourself what the right amount of chakra is.” Shisui explained. “This only happens if you do the Leaf Exercise regularly. But know your limits! I don’t want you to die on chakra exhausted.”

“Yes, I got it.”

“Alright. For today, we stop the Leaf Exercise and begin with the physical training. You ready?”

“Yes, senpai!”

Shisui first showed Rumiko how to stretch herself so her muscles wouldn’t cramp up during or after training. The Uzumaki noted how flexible she was in the face of her old life…but okay, she had been 32 when she died, and children are general like gum.

Damn, being so young has its benefits, no doubt!

After they stretched themselves, Shisui and Rumiko ran a good round around the training field. Again, the Uzumaki noted a difference from her old life: she didn’t have asthma. It was a revelation running without the terrible need for air. She wanted to go even faster, but Shisui stopped her.

“No need to overdo it, Kohai,” he told her. “This isn’t a competition.”

So she geared down her speed.

Next up were physical exercises. Squats, push-ups and planks. Rumiko was still in disbelief at how easy she could do it. In her old life, she hadn’t been sporty at all; now she had the energy and a healthy body to do so.

Even though she was still three, going on four years old. She was getting tired. Her muscles started to burn, and she was so thirsty. She could drink a whole lake!

Without saying anything herself, Shisui declared the training over, leading her through the after-training stretches.

“Well done, Kohai. You have good stamina for a little girl. Not a lot of three-year-olds can keep up.”

“Thanks, I just did my best.”

“And you did well.” Shisui praised her and held out his hand to help her up. “When you go home, don’t forget to take a warm bath and massage your sore muscles, or you will regret it tomorrow.”

Rumiko let Shisui help her up to her feet. “Okay, I will remember it. So when will the next training session be?

“Well, we will see each other tomorrow at the same time as today, alright?”

The girl nodded.

“Before I forgot. I’m still an active ninja, so I will take a mission which will take me out of Konoha, and on these days I want you to keep training alone. Do what we did today, till I say otherwise, got it?”

“Yep, yep, got it, Shisui-Senpai,” Rumiko said with a little smile, which made the Uchiha coo in his head over the cuteness.

She looks like a little tomato, so cute!

As if she read his thoughts, Rumiko frowned at him. “Why do I have a feeling you are making fun of me?!”

“What, me? Never, Rumi-Chan.” Shisui grinned with raised arms. “I will take my leave then, bye. Be careful on your way home!”

With that, he made his name as Shisui of the Bodyflicker honour and, well, bodyflicker away from the training field.

“Show-off,” Rumiko grumbled, dusting herself off. She could swerve; she heard Shisui laugh in the wind, so she deadpannend hard.

Kids these days!

When she arrived home, the first thing Rumiko noted was the delicious smell of ramen before Naruto glomped her happily.

“Ane! Welcome home!” her brother chirped, making her smile.

“I’m home, Naru. Say, is this really ramen I smell?”

“I picked up from Ichiraku! I thought you must be too tired to cook after your first training.”

Urgh, that was so considerate and sweet that Rumiko nearly turned into a puddle. Her brother was such an angel!

“Aww, thanks, Ototo. I’m indeed tired.” Rumiko admitted while lovingly stroking his blond spiky hair. Naruto enjoyed this greatly, closing his eyes and leaning his head more into her hand. “Let’s eat before it gets cold!”

“Yuhu! Let’s eat!”

The siblings sat down at their little kitchen table and formally inhaled the ramen. Gosh, Rumiko had loved tonkotsu ramen (Pork Ramen) in her first life already, but the one Ichiraku dished out was truly divine. She completely agreed with Naruto that it was the food of the gods. The rich broth, the cooked noodles, the delicious meat! Oh, she was in heaven!

“Say, say, Ane!” Naruto began between slurps of noodles. “Who is training you? Is he or she a cool, powerful ninja?”

“Naru, how often! First chew and then speak.” Rumiko reminded him with a frown, making the blond Uzumaki smile sheepishly in apology.

“Sorry, Ane! I will try to remember.”

“I hope so. That isn’t good manners for a future Hokage.”

The familiar warm feeling spread through Naruto's body. His sister truly believed he would make it as Hokage and supported him in any way she could. He was thankful for her love, her support and her unshakable belief in him. This made him feel like he could truly fullfill his dream, against all the scoffs of the villagers when he shoutend his dream into the air.

“Anyway, it’s a boy named Uchiha Shisui. He is a good teacher from what I experienced today.”

“What did he teach you? Any cool jutsu you wanna share with your Ototo?”

“Oh, Naru.” Rumiko chuckled, shaking her head. “You don’t just learn jutsus the first day. You have to prepare your mind and body for it first . Remember when I explained Chakra to you? It was mostly chakra exercises and physical ones.”

This made Naruto cutely pout, and his sister wished to have a camera to take a picture.

“Aww, really? So no spitting fire?”

“No spitting fire, no.”

“Oh, man.”

Thoughtful, the blond took a bite of his noodles before he asked: “So what are these exercises like?”

He wasn’t impressed with the Leaf Exercise, nor with the physical ones.

“Are you sure he isn’t playing games?”

“I am Naru,” Rumiko said, amused. Ah, to be  mentally also a child! “I will show them to you later, after I take a bath and relax, okay?”

“Sure, don’t worry, Ane.” Naruto then murmured something about stupid leaves, which made Rumiko snort. Oh, her brother was such a clown sometimes. She was happy that her Naruto still had this character trait like the canon Naruto.

After they finished lunch, Naruto volunteered to do the dishes, so Rumiko took her well-earned bath. Her whole body cried out in happiness, feeling the warm water soothing the heavy muscles. With a soft sigh, the girl leaned her head back, closed her eyes and just enjoyed her bubble bath.

However, not long, since her mind wandered. She actually had wanted to wait to write it down, but she could already plan.

The fact that Shisui was her tutor opened up possibilities. If she won his trust, perhaps she could tell him about the future Uchiha massacre? The problem was, what proof did she have? Maybe telling him some Uchiha secrets she could only know from watching the series in her past life? This could work.

The biggest problem was Danzo and his fucking stolen Uchiha eye. He could at least cheat death once with Izanagi…would Shisui be strong enough to kill him two times? Maybe with Itachi's help?

One thing was clear: the Uchiha shouldn’t be alone at any time with the old war hawk, or he would die, Rumiko was sure.

Then again, who knew what shady things Danzo kept in his hand?

Rumiko had thought about going to the Hokage, telling him, lying a bit, how she remembered a masked man with a red eye who killed her parents in a dream… problem was, if they wanted proof, they surely would do a Yamanaka mindwalk into her brain, and then they would know she was reincarnated!

She just knew that this would endanger her and Naruto. Someone with her knowledge was the ultimate weapon and the ultimate weak point. Who knew what would be, what could come, was an unpredictable variable! Rumiko had zero faith in Sarutobi to protect her from Danzo, since he spectacularly messed up by letting the old war hawk spread rumours about Naruto's Jinchuriki status.

No! He would probably hand her over to Danzo, into ROOT, for safety or some shit the Shimura would spin!

It was all damn risky!

Surely it was egostical but Rumiko wanted to live and not to be turnend into a lifeless doll. She wanted to change the world beside her beloved brother Naruto and not leave him alone to face the future.

“Damn it!” Rumiko cursed quietly, grasping her chin-length red hair. “So this is it? The Uchiha need to die? I wanna help them, I truly do, but I have a gut feeling it will happen anyway with Danzo in the picture!”

Hot tears from helplessness and stress streamed down her cheeks, falling into the bathwater with soft plob-plob sounds. It was not fair. It truly wasn’t, but Naruto was her priority, and she couldn’t do anything that could jeopardise their situation.

“I have four years…” Rumiki murmured, wiping away her tears. “Four years…Sasuke was seven when the massacre happened, and a year before it,Shisui died, so three years actually. Three years to make a plan. Fuck, can I really do it? I’m so not a strategist!”

She may be in truth an adult, but right now, she felt more helpless then ever. She felt truly like a child in front of a big new world full of danger.

“What a fucking shit-show…”

The redhead knew she couldn’t relax anymore, so she just got out of the bathtub and started to dry herself. She would put this all far away in her mind; Naruto needed her, expected a ninja lesson, and she would provide.

This was the only thing she truly could do: be there for her brother. Raise him, teach him!

Perhaps she was reborn solely for this reason. To give Naruto the love and support he deserved. Did she really need to be a world saviour?

No.

This was an incredibly difficult task for a defenceless child, which she bodily was, even with her adult brain, what could she do logically?

That wasn’t a fanfiction; this was her and Naruto's life! She owed no one an explanation.

May the gods judge her, but she would be egotistical.

Her mission was to be the best big sister, not to save this world. She wasn’t the chosen hero. She was a supporter, a side character.

And she would fulfil her role dutifully.

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write the comments in your own language!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Ane means Big Sister. ^^

Enjoy this chapter :3

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 2: A Home for Us

The year the Uzumaki twins celebrated their third birthday, Rumiko packed their small belongings in a backpack, took Naruto by the hand, and turned their backs forever on the orphanage.

Time had passed at a snail's pace. Three years had felt like three decades to Rumiko! Her only saving grace had been Naruto. Taking care of him fulfilled her in a way she had missed in her first life.

From teaching him how to walk to the long nights of pain as his teeth grew and to forming him into a good human, she felt more like a mother than a sister. Well, she was mentally reaching her forties, so no wonder!

Naruto gave her so much love back. He truly was sunshine incarnate, but also a gloomy cloud. Mostly, when the other orphans ignored him, the caretakers were just assholes in general.

“Just ignore them, Ototo.” Rumiko always said. “They aren’t worth your time.”

“But…I wanna play also like the others, Ane!” Naruto then always said back with wobbling lips and tear-filled eyes.

She could only hug him  and distract him then. Be it with a game or a story.

The Uzumaki twins truly only had each other.

And well, Lord Third.

Naruto loved the old man truly like a grandfather, calling him affectionately Jiji, while Rumiko was stiff, using Hokage-Sama. She was still bitter that this idiot had to blab about Naruto’s jinchuriki status, so she kept her distance. He didn’t deserve her affection.

In her first life, she had been pretty neutral about Sarutobi, but as Naruto's sister, she couldn’t be objective. The anime and manga didn’t show how truly devastating the hate of the villagers was to Naruto's poor soul. Anyone in canon should thank the gods that Naruto didn’t turn evil. Rumiko sometimes felt the need to burn down this whole fake-ass poser village.

“Ane?” Naruto's voice interrupted her musings.

They were walking hand in hand the streets of Konohagakure, ignoring as best they could all the hateful, cold looks.

“Where are we going?”

“To see Hokage-Sama,” Rumiko answered, turning a corner towards their destination. “We’re big enough to live on our own. I refuse to let you stay in this shi- I mean in this stupid orphanage.”

Yeah, she still had trouble not cursing like a sailor.

Her twin blinked up at her, pretty sky-blue eyes full of wonder. “Can we do that? Just leave? What if someone wanna adopt us?”

Poor innocent baby still had this hope.

“Naru…I don’t think anyone will adopt us. Well, not right now.” she lied for his sake. She didn’t want to totally crush him. “But neither of us is happy there, right?”

“Right…”

“So, just us, alone, in our own flat sounds better. No matrons who punish you for nothing, yeah?”

Naruto bit his lip before facing forward. Rumiko gave him time to think this over. Her brother was actually pretty smart; you just had to nurture him right and give him his space. She had the suspicion that Naruto had ADHD, which would explain a lot.

They had reached the Hokage-Tower when Naruto admitted how nice it sounded not to be put in time-out anymore over nothing. Happy, he agreed with her, Rumiko walked like a businesswoman up to the secretary of the Hokage.

“Hello, miss. Uzumaki Rumiko and Naruto. We want to speak with the Hokage,” she cleared up in her best no-nonsense voice.

The secretary gaped a bit in shock, not expecting such a little girl to talk so eloquently. This made her even overlook how the Nine-Tails Container was with her.  “Erm, young miss, Hokage-Sama is very busy. I don’t think he has time to receive you.”

“We will wait,” Rumiko stated, leading Naruto to the waiting couch, both sitting down.

“Oh, erm, alright?” the secretary mumbled, rubbing her neck in confusion. She should make the kids just go back where they came from, but… the eyes of the little girl. These were the eyes of someone far older than a child. Someone who would not take a no for an answer.

Well, she could humour them. Even if the girl seemed older than her years, these were kids. They surely would get bored soon and leave from alone.

However, five hours later, the Uzumaki twins were still there. The secretary named Anzu was just in shock. The female acted more like a mother to her brother than a sister, and the boy actually listened to her. Rumiko, if Anzu heard right, kept her brother entertained with little games, stories and even made him take a nap on the couch!

What was going on?

Anzu had heard through the grapevine how the Nine-Tails container was a nuisance in the orphanage, but this sweet sleeping child right now seemed more like an angel than a demon.

She probably would have stared more, if not for the moment Lord Third stepped out of his office.

“Anzu-San.” Lord Third said to her, hands behind his back. “I will take a walk and visit the Uzumaki Twins. Can you hold down the fort till I’m back?”

“Oh well, Lord Third-”

The secretary was interrupted by the awake Uzumaki.

“We’re here, Hokage-Sama.”

Surprised, Hiruzen turned around. Indeed, on the waiting couch sat Rumiko with Naruto's head in her lap, the boy sleeping soundly, while she seemed ready to go to war.

“Rumiko-Chan? What are you and Naruto-Kun doing? I was just on my way to give you your birthday present.”

“We need to discuss matters, Hokage-Sama.”

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. He was used to Rumiko's clipped tone, her mature speech, but right now she seemed decades older than she was.

Your daughter is a curious little thing, Minato-Kun.

“Well, then way don’t we go to my office?” he hummed, waving the kids over with a grandfather smile.

As always, Rumiko just deadpanned at him, making him sweatdrop, while she woke Naruto up. A few minutes later, the Hokage and the Uzumakis sat together in the office, Rumiko bringing forth their wish.

“I see.” Lord Third murmured, taking a drag from his pipe.

“Please, Jiji!” Naruto begged in his sweetest tone. “The orphanage sticks! I'd rather be with Ane all alone!”

“What my brother wants to say is simple: We aren’t treated well. I don’t know why, but this isn’t important. Important is how our mental health is suffering. The matrons treat us as criminals, and for the other children we’re lower than scum. So it would be the greatest birthday gift if you gave us a flat to live in.” Rumiko explained.

Lord Third signed, tapping his desk. “I’m always surprised at where you know such words from, Rumiko-chan, and even use them correctly.”

“The matrons may not talk with us, but with each other, and I listen.” Rumiko lied swiftly. No one could know about her whole reincarnation!

“Yeah, yeah! Ane is so smart, Dattobayo! She is also teaching me these big words.”

A soft chuckle escaped the Hokage as he looked at his honorary grandchildren. He had hoped someone would adopt them, and if this didn’t work out, he had planned to give them a flat, but in a few years! But now they sit before him, making clear they would rather live on the streets than go back to the orphanage. The determined look in their eyes reminds him so much of Minato and Kushina, and he just knew they would do this.

He couldn’t let this happen. First, because he worried for their safety on the streets and second, Naruto, as their jinchuriki, was their biggest asset. If word came out he lived on the streets…Hiruzen didn’t want to think about what could happen.

Swiftly, he ignored it as his thoughts wandered to Danzo and his ROOT, focusing back on the children.

“Well, I suppose it can be arranged. But can you kids truly take care of yourselves?”

“Don’t worry, Hokage-Sama.” Rumiko answerd calm, as Naruto beside her jumped up from his chair in joy. “You will not regret it.”

“I will take you by your word, Rumiko-chan.”

It took a few signed documents before Rumiko and Naruto followed Lord Third to their new home. A simple one-bedroom apartment, so the Uzumaki twins had to share a bed, but that was nothing new.

Like a hyperactive ball of sunshine, Naruto ran and jumped around their new living space, ooh-ing and aah-ing, while Rumiko took note that it was at least clean. So she had to worry only about meals today. At least something.

After Lord Third gave them their monthly allowance, Rumiko got Naruto down from the bed, where he was jumping up and down, and placed their few belongings together around the flat. It was not much. A few knick-knacks, a pretty stone Naruto had found for her, an old notebook with some pressed flowers and their set of clothes.

“Jeez, we need not only food and cleaning products but pretty much anything a home needs,” Rumiko grumbled before she turned to Naruto. “Say, Ototo, you up for some shopping?”

Naruto nodded, excited. “Yeah, Ane! Can we also buy snacks? I always wanted to try this chocolate.”

Frowning, Rumiko counted the money they had. They got a good allowance, no questions asked, and had saved up the ones from the months before, so…

“If we spend our money smartly, then I don’t see why not,” Rumiko told him.

“Oh cool! Chocolate!”

The red-haired girl chuckled, taking Naruto by the hand, leaving their home to start their shopping trip. Since they were still children, she calculated that they would need to make a lot of trips to bring groceries and items up to their flat.

Indeed, Rumiko was right. They had walkend how many times back and forth from the convenience store to their flat? Maybe a 100 times? Jeez, she couldn’t wait till they learned Kagebushine! Shadow Clones would help them. She and thankful Naruto were blessed with a lot of stamina, so beside been careful of not been ripped off, shopping went well.

Incredible how the grocery store owner also tried to sell them anything way pricier! However, one thing Rumiko had learned was that when she showed how smart she was, how she could read and count, people were so dumbfounded that they let her be.

The clock struck six in the evening when they finally finished their shopping trip. Both lay down on their couch, just staring at the ceiling.

“Shopping is stupid, Ane,” Naruto grumbled, burying his head into the cushion.

“It’s necessary, Ototo. But I believe we don’t have to do such a big one for a long time. We have all the basic stuff.” Rumiko assured, yawning.

Then a loud growling was heard before Naruto admitted sheepishly. “I’m hungry…”

“Yeah, me too.” Rumiko stood up. “Come. We bought these prepared bentos. A good enough dinner for tonight.”

They eat in happy silence the tasty bentos. Finally, some food which didn’t look or taste like a lump, before Rumiko showed Naruto how to clean dishes. He did a pretty good job of drying them. Since they were so tired from the whole day, the Uzumaki twins just got ready for bed.

For the first time in their life they fall asleep without the cold looks of the matrons and the disinterest of their peers. It was just them, in their big fluffy bed and the moon shining outside.

A better birthday they couldn’t have had.

(*)

Living on their own was a blessing for the Uzumaki twins. Sure, they fought sometimes over whose turn it was to do the dishes, and Rumiko had to remind Naruto to pick up after himself, but nonetheless, they enjoyed it greatly.

Their home was a safe haven from the village's hate and dismissive nature. Here they could just be themselves, which Rumiko took advance off. Finally, she could act like a true adult and give Naruto the proper nutrition and teaching he needed.

Naruto took it with a blast. For him, it was nothing new how grow up his sister was. Well, sometimes he did wonder how she knew so much about cooking, cleaning and managing money, but Rumiko was just that smart! She always had been.

In contrast, the visiting Lord Third was each time in awe of how Rumiko handled anything. She seemed like an adult trapped in a child's body, but that was a silly thought. The red-haired Uzumaki was surely just a genius, no wonder given her parentage.

So, on a rainy day, Hiruzen had a private talk with Rumiko, while Naruto decided to take a walk around the village.

“The ninja academy?” Rumiko repeated, a tad surprised. “You want me to enrol already? I’m not even four years old.”

Careful, Hiruzen took a sip from the jasmine tea Rumiko had prepared for him, giving the young child a smile over the kitchen table. “You’re smart beyond your years, Rumiko-Chan. Such talent needs to be nurtured.”

“I thought we stopped sending children to war?” she shot back, crossing her arms.

“It’s not that we would send you to the field already, no.” Hiruzen began to explain. “You would just get a head start. We would wait till your twelfth birthday before graduation.”

Rumiko pursed her lips and took a sip from her own teacup. Damn, she had wanted to join the academy with Naruto, so she could keep an eye on him, but…this opened up opportunities which could greatly benefit them. If she already learned the ninja arts, she could then teach them to Naruto at home and turn him into the little badass he was.

Also…it could also open a way to help a certain clan. If she learned to transform, she could perhaps secretly reach out to Itachi and Shisui and warn them? Or something similar.

The point was she couldn’t waste this chance!

However…!

“I’m not saying no, Hokage-Sama.” Rumiko started, placing her cup down. “You know Naruto wants to become a shinobi and then Hokage, and I support him, but that’s the point. I support Naruto. I stay with my brother. It seems unfair that I get this chance and he does not.”

Lord Third rubbed his chin in thought. He got where she was coming from. She and Naruto were way closer than normal siblings. She was his anchor in this storm of life, so separating them may not be the best. It could also lead to tension in their household if Rumiko already becomes an academy student while Naruto has to wait for their sixth birthday.

What to do?

“How about this, Rumiko-Chan. I can arrange a private tutor for you, who will teach you anything you need to know, and then when you and Naruto are of academy age, you will go there with your brother. How does this compromise sound?”

Surprised, the red-haired Uzumaki blinked. Okay, that was reasonable, she had to admit. It would give her access to the ninja arts and ensure she would still be with Naruto.

So it was a no-brainer to agree.

When Naruto, in his cute little frog rain jacket and frog umbrella, returned home, Rumiko had to listen to how her brother had found the food of the gods. Ramen from Ichiraku! She had wondered when he would meet Teuchi and was glad he now had another place where he felt welcome.

Since he had already eaten a strong meal, Rumiko made Soboro Don (Ground Chicken Bowl). Fluffy steamed rice topped with brown chicken, yellow eggs and green veggies.

It was still wondrous what a healthy appetite her brother had. He ate the rice bowl with gusto as if he hadn’t eaten a big bowl of Ramen before.

Rumiko was glad that Naruto took her own news with grace. Even more, as she promised to teach him what she learned. She had worried he would be annoyed and jealous, but her brother showed once again what a sweetheart he truly was.

Okay, this is all going well. Rumiko thought relieved. Maybe I can save more lives than just Naru’s, but I will be careful. He is still my priority.

(*)

A bit of a short chapter, but we needed to estabilsh a few things and I didn’t wanted to drag it out :D

Bye!

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

I’m taking a little break from Tensura to just live my dream of raising poor baby Naruto!

But difficult mode. XD

Enjoy!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 1: 10th October

The transition from peacefulness to absolute chaos was shocking.

One moment, she is floating in warm water, hearing the soothing heartbeat of her mother, feeling the presence of her sibling beside her, before she gets pressed out of the birth canal and cries her new lungs out.

It was uncomfortable.

It was too cold.

It was too damn bright!

She understood now why babies cried during birth. Such a shock was nerve-wracking. No one should remember their birth, but she wasn’t so lucky this second time.

She felt herself being cleaned and then swaddled in a soft blanket; however, she was just so pissed at anything and kept on crying.

She cried over the sensory overload and the realisation that she had been truly reborn.

Fuck!

She hadn’t asked for this! She was Catholic; reincarnation wasn’t part of her belief system! She had expected to go to heaven, not to begin anew.

Awesome, she thought in frustration. I have to endure another meaningless life like before. I didn’t do well the first time; why should I do well now?

She knew it was a pessimistic thought, but she didn’t see a chance to make anything better; she saw a giant fucked up life again, only in other colours.

The nurse or doctor who held her placed her in warm arms and ohh! That heartbeat! She knew it. It was the background news since she gained awareness… so this was her new mother?

Mother may be sweaty and tired, but she smelled wonderful. Like Ocean breeze and love, if it made sense.

In her arms, she automatically calmed down and could finally listen to what the adults around her were talking about.

“Hello, my beautiful girl.” Mother cooed, placing a kiss on her tiny forehead. Aww, Mother was such a sweetheart. “Hello, my Rumiko.”

Rumiko? A Japanese name.

Okay, ironic.

She had been an avid anime/manga fan in her first life, and now she was Japanese? Well, that was a plus point to her second life. She could now get manga earlier!

“She is beautiful,” a male sobbed, possibly her father. She felt a gentle, warm hand stroke over her tiny head. “Look, Kushina, she has your beautiful hair.”

…Kushina?

“Aww, Minato. Look at her cute cheeks. She has whiskers, Dattabane!”

Minato?! DATTABANE?!

“Alright. We still have one more baby to go, Lord Fourth, Kushina. We will place little Rumiko in the bassinet.”

“Of course, Biwako-Sama.”

Only half-heartedly, the newly named Rumiko felt how she was taken from her mother and then placed in a soft crib. She was busy freaking out.

For a moment, Rumiko had thought maybe her parents were just really dedicated Naruto Fans, but that the wet nurse also had the name of Kushina Uzumaki, one? No, impossible.

I’m in Naruto?! Rumiko cried out. Kushina and Minato are my parents?! And the baby I felt with me can only be Naruto…I’m Naruto’s twin?!

What kind of fucked cruel joke was that? Rumiko had nothing per se to be reborn into the Four Shinobi Nations, but as Naruto's twin?! Why couldn’t she have been…Rin Nohara twin and somehow nap Obito Uchiha for herself?!

No, of course not! The only guy she had a huge crush on will be the reason her parents die, and she and Naruto will become orphans.

Also, he is what, 14 years older than her and a terrorist with a sickass plan for the world.

She knew her second life would be shit too!

Just my luck. God or whoever screwed me over! Alone in my first life and in my second too! Well, at least I can be there for Naruto and raise him. Also, I get to meet Hinata and become a super cool aunt to Boruto and Himawari.

If she thought about it, this was actually nice. Rumiko had been an only child; she always had wanted a sibling, now she had, and in the future, she would have a family. Add also how she had always wished to help Naruto, to raise and nurture him; then it wasn’t THAT bad of a second life.

Rumiko decide she will just make the best out of this situation. More she couldn’t do.

Absentmindedly, she put her little fist in her mouth, sucking on it, waiting for Naruto to join her and for Obito to appear, so this canon event could take place. Of course, she wished she could save Kushina and Minato, but she was a fucking baby! What can she do against a dangerous Ninja like the Uchiha?

Drool and poop on him?

Oh yeah, that will get him running!

It didn’t take long for Naruto to be born, his shouts showing what a loud boy he would be one day. Rumiko felt dread in her stomach, sucking her fist more. Kushina and Minato were so happy; they now had two healthy babies, and Naruto was just an innocent baby, and no one knew what a catastrophe would happen.

Rumiko felt herself being lifted, staring with her best displeased look at the masked visage of one of her anime crushes, noting how there were two Obito. A shadow clone for sure. If the Uchiha held two babies in his arms, he couldn’t treat their parents. Naruto was in the second Obito's arms, crying his little eyes out, as poor Biwako and Taji fell down dead.

“Fourth Hokage Minato,” Obito growled in his best Madara Uchiha voice. “Get away from the Jinchuriki. Otherwise, these children’s lives will end in one minute.”

You could cut the tension in the room with a Katana, so thick it was. Rumiko chewed with her gumless mouth on her little fist, wishing this whole day was already over.

Watching it on TV had been nerve-wracking, but being part of it? No, she wanted a vacation!

She heard how poor Kushina cried out: Kurama’s Seal was breaking!

“Wait! Calm down!” Minato begged.

“Speak for yourself, Minato,” Obito answered back. “I’m as cool as can be.”

Yeah, while you hold a kunai to my and Naruto's throat, you sexy asshole! Rumiko grumbled.

That was the moment both Uchiha and his clone threw Rumiko and Naruto up, ready to impale them with Kunais, their poor mother screaming for them. Good thing, like in canon, Minato not only caught Naruto but also Rumiko and then teleported them away with his Hirashi-Jutsu.

Lying in her new father's arms with a crying Naruto beside her, Rumiko grasped her brother's little hand, trying to calm him down, while she babbled at Minato.

“Damn, you’re so cool, Minato or Dad or whatever!”

Of course, Minato only heard his daughter making baby noises, while his son seemed to calm down, feeling Rumiko's touch.

“You’re such a brave girl, Rumiko.” Minato cooed in wonder at her. “Already taking your job as big sister seriously, mmh? I’m thankful you and Naruto aren’t hurt.”

In another flash, they were now in one of the safe houses of Minato. Gently, the Hokage laid his twins into the bed, tucking them in, smiling bittersweetly at how Rumiko refused to let go of her brother's tiny hand. He felt in his gut how outstanding Rumiko was.

Other parents may be worried why their baby was so quiet, but Minato saw in her blue eyes a rare, strong soul.  

“You’ll be safe here,” he told his twins. “Naruto, Rumiko, just wait awhile. I have to go and save your mother.”

Rumiko met Minato's eyes, trying to tell him how she would protect Naruto. He would be safe with her.

“I know you don’t understand a thing I say, but Minato, Dad, as long as I live, Naruto will not be alone. It’s not fair that I have to send you off to your death; you should raise us, but I will do my damnest that Naruto knows you and Kushina, you and Mom!”

She enjoyed how Minato stroked her baby's hair and Naruto's little cheek, before their father vanished in a flash to get to their mother.

The red-haired Uzumaki sighed, hugging Naruto as best she could as an uncoordinated baby.

“It’s okay, Otōto,” she murmured, clumsily kissing his whiskered cheek. “I’m here, and Onee-Chan will be forever by your side!”

Naruto calmed down, even letting a little yawn out and snuggled up closer to her.

Again, a flash appeared, and from it, Minato, with Kushina in his arms, came. Carefully, he laid his wife down beside their children. Rumiko couldn’t help her own tears, as Kushina hugged Naruto and her to herself, crying. This would be the only time the three would ever cuddle.

Damn you, Obito and fuck you, Madara and die in a ditch, Black Zetsu!

Time was relative in this moment. Rumiko knew it would end soon, sooner than she wanted, but it also passed slowly. She tried to memorise anything she could about Kushina. Her smell, her touch, her voice, her love, so she could give it back to Naruto.

Then it ended.

She was back in Minato's arms, Naruto beside her and Kushina to his side outside the safe house, Kurama howling in the background. Rumiko could only look on and hold Naruto's hand as destiny took its course.

“I need to put up a barrier.” Minato groaned, weak from his use of chakra.

“I can still do it, Minato,” Kushina said before her golden Adamatine chains sprang from her back, trapping Kurama, holding him still.

This woke up Naruto, so Rumiko squeezed his hand, while Kushina was sorry to have woken up her son.

“I’m going to draw the Nine-Tails with me to my death.” Kushina declared. “So we can delay the revival of the Nine Tails. I’ll be able to save all of you with what little chakra I have left. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Minato.”

“Kushina, it’s because of you that I’m the Fourth Hokage. You made me a man! And you made me these children's father. And yet…!”

Kushina could only smile, and Rumiko's heart broke into a thousand pieces. Life was such an unfair bitch!

“Minato, don’t give me that look! I’m happy that you loved me. And today…is our children’s birthday. If I were to imagine myself alive and our future together, the four of us as a family…I can’t see us having anything but a happy life. If I were allowed just one regret, it would be that I won’t be able to see Naruto and Rumiko grow up. How I wish I could have seen that.”

“Kushina, there is no need for you to die with the Nine Tails.” Minato began, tears streaming down his face, but he smiled as his daughter's little hand patted his cheek. “Preserve the little chakra you have left for a reunion with our children. I’ll seal all of your remaining chakra inside Naruto. It will be part of an Eight Signed Seal. Then I’ll take the Nine Tails with me with the only Sealing Jutsu I can do since I’m not a Jinchuriki, the Reaper Death Seal.”

“But the caster that uses that jutsu…!”

“And one more thing. I will only seal half of the Nine Tails. Sealing a power this immense is physically impossible. It’s also stratigically unwise. If you take the Nine-Tails and its seal with you when you die, there won’t be a Jinchuriki around when he reemerges. That will upset the balance of power between the Tailed Beasts. The Reaper Death Seal will seal half of the Nine Tails with me forever. As for the other half of the Nine Tails…I will seal it inside Naruto with the Eight Signed Seal.”

Kushina gasped in shock.

“I know what you want to say. But remember what Master Jiraiya said about world upheaval. And the calamities that would follow. Two things were confirmed for me today. That masked man who attacked you today is a harbinger of disaster. And the ones who will stop him are these children.”

Huh? What? Rumiko believes she heard wrong. Did Minato-Dad use the plural? But Naruto is the child of prophecy? What’s going on?

“These infants whose godfather is Master Jiraiya. He will open up the future as a Jinchuriki, and she will guard it as a protector. I don’t know why, but I’m convinced of this.”

Gently, Minato laid, under Kushina's protests, the twins down on the ground. Rumiko frowned, not understanding why her father had called her a protector, why she seemed to be part of the prophecy; it didn’t make sense at all, as Minato fast made the hand sign to call for the Reaper, aka Shinigami.

Oh god! Shinigami is in a real, even scarier! A shudder passed over the female infant.

“Let’s put our trust in these children. They’re our son and daughter, after all!” the Fourth Hokage declared. “When I’m finished with the Reaper Death Seal, I will seal your chakra inside Naruto. When he tries with Rumiko’s help to control the Nine-Tails ’ power as a Jinchuriki, I want you to help him out.”

“Our son…our daughter…” Kushina repeats, looking at her precious children, meeting the intelligent blue eyes of her daughter. It seemed like her little Rumiko wanted to tell her that all would be good in the end. “He is our son, which is why I don’t want to put such a terrible burden on them. They will have each other, yes, but they shouldn’t carry it alone! And also, why use the Reaper Death Seal? If it’s just so I can meet grown-up Naruto and Rumiko, even if it’s just for a short while, there’s no need for you to die! I want you to stay with Naruto and Rumiko as they grow up and protect them. I don’t get it. To keep the balance of Tailed Beasts? For the sake of the nation and the village? Why must Naruto be sacrificed?! Why must you sacrifice yourself for me?!”

“To forsake one’s nation and one’s village is the same as forsaking one’s child. Your own homeland was destroyed, so you of all people should know…” Minato remind soft but stern. “The harsh life that awaits those without a country. Besides, our family is…shinobi! And finally, even if I were to live, I’m no match to you. Even though you won’t have much time with them, there are some things only you, as their mother, can tell Naruto and Rumiko. Things that I can’t. That’s a mother’s role. I’m not doing this just for you; I’m doing this for Naruto and Rumiko.”

Minato picked the twins back up. It was nearly time; if Rumiko remembered right, now she really couldn’t help but cry silent tears. Her father kissed her forehead and then Naruto’s. His lips were a bit dry; however, Rumiko felt the love in the gesture like a giant tidal wave sweeping over her, for a moment washing away the horror of the night.

“My brave girl. Don’t cry. Your brother will need your strength,” the blond-haired man cooed. “I will gladly die for my children. It’s my duty as their father.”

Kushina and Minato shared a long, meaningful look before Shinigami's hand got through Minato's body, towards Kurama, pulling at the Nine-Tails ' essence.

“Seal!”

Kurama let out the loudest roar Rumiko had ever heard in all her life, then the Yin-Chakra was sucked inside Minato's body, sealing it. The Fourth Hokage made the stone altar for the Eight Signed Seal appear, laying Naruto and Rumiko onto the soft cushion. Rumiko kept a strong hold on her brother's fist as destiny took its course.

A loud wail left Rumiko's lips, watching, not capable of changing the fate of her parents. Both used their bodies, so Kurama's claws couldn’t hurt Naruto and her, their blood raining down on the children.

Fuck, like it’s a fucking slasher movie. Rumiko whimperd.

“I said that it was the father’s duty.” Minato gasped in pain.

“Then all the more, since I’m their mother!” Kushina grinnend with a bloody smile. “This is the first time I lost an argument. Okay, I understand that you’re determined to do this.”

“Thank you, Kushina.”

Fast Minato summoned Gerotora, so the toad could give Master Jiriaya the Sealing Formula’s key, which the Uzumaki twins would need in the future. Of course, Gerotora did as he was asked, and as fast as he appeared, he vanished.

“Kushina, my time is running out.” Minato warnend. “I’m going to start the Eight Signed Seal. I want to put some of my chakra in Naruto, too. It’ll be quite a while before we can see him and Rumiko. Let’s tell them what we want to say.”

“Naruto…Rumiko…” Kushina started in the most loving and calm voice, making Rumiko listen, remembering every word her mother would say. Even if she technically knew what Kushina would say. “Don’t be picky. Eat lots and grow strong. Make sure you bathe every day and stay warm. Also, don’t stay up too late. You need lots of sleep. Care for each other, protect and support as siblings do. Tell each other regularly how much you love your sibling. If you fight, make sure to make up, talk with each other, and don’t hide behind hurt feelings. And make friends. You kids don’t need a lot of friends. Just a few…ones you can really, really trust. I wasn’t very good at it, but keep up with your studies and pratice your ninjutsu hard. Remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. So don’t get too depressed if you can’t do something well. Respect your teachers and upperclassmen at the Academy. Oh, and this is important. It’s about the Three Prohibitions for a shinobi. Be extra careful about lending and borrowing money. Put your mission wages into your savings accounts. No alcohol until you’re both twenty. Too much can ruin your health, so drink in moderation. Another Prohibition is men and women. I’m a woman, so I don’t know too much about this but…All you need to remember is that this world is made up of men and women. So it’s only natural to take an interest in the opposite gender or the same. But just don’t get hooked on bad people. Find someone just like me and your father. Speaking of the Three Prohibitions, be wary of Jiraiya Sensei, Dattabane. Naruto, Rumiko, from now on, you’re going to face lots of pain and hardship. Be true to yourself. Have a dream and have the confidence to make that dream come true! There’s so much…Oh, so much more that I want to pass on to you two. I wish I could stay with you longer. I love you. Minato, I’m sorry I used up your time.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” Minato assured her. “Naruto, Rumiko, my message to you kids is…I guess it’s the same as your nagging mother’s. Eight Signed Seal…”

(*)

It sucked major ass being a baby! Rumiko wished nothing more than to be her 32-year-old self, so she could pick Naruto up and just… well, just take care of him truly!

It had been a few days since their catastrophic birth, and Rumiko was ready to kill anyone! No, truly. The nurses in the hospital take care of her, yes, but she noted how Naruto only got the basic health care cause Lord Third had to open his mouth and tell anyone and their mother how her ototo was the Nine-Tails container.

So she tried her best to put Naruto to sleep when he was fussy; she held onto his hand; she even tried once changing the diaper, only to realise how she was practically a worm now and couldn’t even sit up.

Then came the day when they were put in an orphanage, and the Uzumaki Princess planned to establish her own Akatsuki. The sheer difference in how their caretakers handled her and Naruto made her sick. Naruto could lie in his ruined diaper for hours, crying his little eyes out, if she didn’t make a horrible, loud ruckus to get the adults moving.

Rumiko learned fast that her screams and cries from hell did wonders to give her brother what he needed, so she turned herself into a nuisance of the extra class.

Lord Third came sometimes to visit, then all worked really well, but Rumiko was petty and burped up her milk on the Hokage when he held her. That pretty much stated what she thought of him.

As soon as we can walk and talk, we are out of here. Rumiko growled angrily, as Naruto was once again ignored for feeding. I can raise Naruto on the streets surely better than here!

Not all their visits were a burp-up milk festival.

One time, even Kakashi showed up. Rumiko wanted to hug the poor small teen, who couldn’t even look at them, since they looked too much like their parents. He had tried; she recognised how the Hatake truly had tried to be there for them, but he left not even a half hour into the visit and didn’t visit again.

What was surprising was that Mikoto Uchiha came a few times to see her and Naruto. Once even with Itachi and Sasuke. Gosh, Rumiko couldn’t help but coo at adorable little Itachi and itty-bitty Sasuke.

It had been a nice visit. Naruto and baby Sasuke had rolled around on the floor, while she had sat on Mikoto's lap and played with Itachi's hair.  

Rumiko's priority would always be Naruto, but…maybe she could somehow help the Uchiha Clan? Just how was the question. She didn’t want Shishui to die, Itachi to kill off his clan, and Sasuke to become an avenger, but how could she prevent this when she had to put all to protect and raise her twin?

That was the first time she had got a headache in her new life, which sucked major ass without aspirin!

Anyway, the Uchiha didn’t turn up again after that visit. Rumiko had a feeling it had something to do with the tension between the Uchiha Clan and the village as a whole. Then not forgetting Danzo, that piece of crap, with his Anti-Uchiha Policy and boom, all saw the villains in them.

An Uchiha was responsible for this whole mess, yes, but Obito, that sexy bastard, was rough and believed to be dead. Also, don’t blame a whole group of people because of one asshole, god!

Common sense was lacking in the Ninja World.

The older Uzumaki Twin signed, pulling the blanket Naruto and she shared up to her brother's shoulders, making sure he was warm and felt her love.

All was such a giant shitshow, damn, and she was just a reborn baby. Fanfics made it easy to change the plot, but now, in reality and realistically speaking, how can one child save this whole damn world?!

She couldn’t risk dying early or vanishing into ROOT when it meant leaving Naruto all alone! Not in this life. Rumiko realised…she had to be pragmatic.

She had sworn to Minato and Kushina not to leave Naruto…and maybe for that she had to keep a mostly low profile.

Maybe the price to stay with Naruto was to sacrifice the Uchihas…because how could she prevent the massacre?

Talking to Itachi, to Shisui, warning them?

Telling Lord Third he should kick Danzo out of Konoha?

All this was sure to gather attention she didn’t need.

No…it seemed cruel…it was heartless…but for Naruto to not be alone…a whole clan had to die…if she didn’t find a way to be discreet.

Rumiko was never a strategist…that was way over her head!

And yep, there was the headache again!

Letting out a loud groan, the Uzumaki closed her eyes. She was tired. Sleep would help her aching head. For now, she should only focus on getting fit enough to care for Naruto and herself.

It had to be enough.

(*)

I chose Rumiko as the first name because it sounds nice with Naruto, and it also means: child of flowing beauty, which fits the Uzumaki theme :D

Also, Rumi as a nickname is so cute >///<

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this first chapter!

Bye :3

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

One/Two/Three/Four/Five/Six/Seven/Eight/Nine/Ten/Eleven/Twelve/

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

*wiggles eyebrowns and makes finger guns*

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 16: The Question

The days in the newly named capital of Rimurith were rarely boring. First, a delegation of Demon Lord Carion arrived in the city. But it wasn’t a friendly visit. Phobio the Black Leopard Fang, one of the Three Beastketeers, acted like a giant dick, let’s be real. So Aerith had been glad when Milim smashed his stupid face in.

Then, delegations from the Kingdom of Blumund and the Kingdom of Falmuth arrived, bringing old and new faces to Tempest. At least they acted civilly. They wanted to make their own picture of the monster nation, which wasn’t a problem for the monarchs.

No, this was all easy to handle. What made Rimuru flip out internally was his plan for Aerith. It was time, he was sure, and he hoped with all his soul his beloved felt the same. Rimuru would ask for her hand in marriage.

The diplomatic dinner had finally concluded, leaving Rimuru with a singular, terrifying objective. Once the last envoy had departed, he retreated to his private office, paced three times, and then—feeling his nerves spike—called for an emergency meeting.

The room filled quickly. Shuna and Arisu arrived first, eyes sparkling with sudden intuition, followed by the Kijin trio, and even a slightly confused-looking Gobta, who had been dragged along by Rigurd.

"We need a secret operation," Rimuru announced, leaning over his desk, his slime-self currently shifted into his most earnest human form. "Code name: Operation Forever."

"A banquet?" Arisu asked, though she already knew better.

"No," Rimuru said, taking a breath. "A proposal. I want to ask Aerith to marry me, and I want it to be perfect. Something that shows how much this nation—and her—mean to me."

The room erupted into controlled chaos. Benimaru looked uncharacteristically thrilled, immediately volunteering the best spot in the forest for a private setting, while Shuna began listing logistical requirements for a specialised, intimate dinner that would be "strictly off-limits to everyone."

"I shall prepare the finest silks for her gown," Shuna declared, already mentally sketching designs. “I will ask Christina to help design the perfect engagement gown!”

"I can arrange for the security perimeter," Souei added, his shadow-clones already calculating the safest, most romantic route to the clearing.

Even the Great Sage—or rather, the presence in his mind—felt a rare hint of support. « Analysis: Suggesting the inclusion of light-based atmospheric magic for ambient romantic lighting, » the voice echoed in his head. « And perhaps excluding Shion from the cooking process entirely. »

Rimuru let out a small, relieved laugh. As his friends began to argue—politely—over the best way to craft the perfect moment, the crushing weight of the diplomatic week vanished. For the first time in a long time, the King of Tempest wasn't worried about trade deals or monster politics. He was just a guy, standing with his family, planning the most important question he would ever ask.

"It’s going to be perfect," Rimuru murmured, catching Benimaru’s determined grin. He knew with Aerith by his side, the future wasn't just safe—it was going to be theirs.

The planning session in the office continued, the air buzzing with a mixture of professional duty and genuine, heartwarming excitement. Rimuru felt his shoulders relax as his friends leaned into their roles, their individual strengths becoming the pillars of his romantic scheme.

"If the dinner is to be truly intimate," Shuna added, her eyes narrowing in thoughtful concentration as she tapped her chin, "we must ensure no atmospheric magic disturbs the quiet. I shall oversee the placement of the sound-dampening wards, and I’ll ensure the table is set with the most elegant of our locally crafted porcelain."

"And the food," Benimaru interjected, shooting a knowing look toward the door. "I’ll handle the kitchen logistics personally. I'll make sure Shion is... adequately occupied with a secondary, non-edible task far away from the preparation area."

A collective, relieved sigh went through the room at that suggestion, even from the Great Sage within Rimuru’s mind. « Analysis: Agreed. The probability of a successful proposal increases by 98% if Shion is not involved in the culinary process, » the cool, analytical voice confirmed, earning a quiet chuckle from Arisu.

Gobta, who had been listening with wide, slightly confused eyes, raised a hand timidly. "Um, Master? If you need someone to run supplies to the clearing without anyone noticing, I can do it! I can move fast, and I’m pretty good at staying quiet when I want to be."

Rimuru smiled warmly at the hobgoblin. "I’d appreciate that, Gobta. Your speed might be the key to keeping this a surprise."

As the plan solidified, the initial panic that had gripped Rimuru began to fade, replaced by a steady, glowing warmth. He looked around his office—at his Kijin, at the dedicated staff of his nation—and realised he wasn't just planning a proposal; he was sharing a part of his life with the people who had helped build his world from the ground up.

"Thank you, all of you," Rimuru said, his voice quiet but firm. "I’ve spent a lot of time as a king, focusing on the survival of this nation and the well-being of our citizens. But tonight, I’m just Rimuru. And I want the person who has been by my side through all of it to know exactly what she means to me."

He stepped away from his desk, the weight of the throne room feeling much lighter.

"Let's make this happen. For Aerith."

With a series of determined nods, his friends dispersed to begin their secret work. As the room emptied, Rimuru remained behind for a moment, looking out toward the balcony. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the bustling capital of Rimurith. The future, for once, didn't feel like a series of political hurdles. It felt like a promise. He took a deep, steadying breath, his heart racing with a mix of nervous energy and pure anticipation for the night to come.

(*)

Something is going on, Aerith just knows it.

Milim tries way too hard to act like her normal childish self, while grinning like she knows an awesome secret. Arisu is the delightful maid, but Aerith caught her dapping her eyes. Then Shion and Shuna, who are dolling her up with Christina, as if a grand ball is happening.

It certainly isn’t. She would know as the queen.

“You’re hiding something from me,” Aerith states bluntly, making all beside Milim chuckle nervously.

“We just wanna make you extra pretty for Rimuru!” Milim chirps, her legs kicking excitedly from her seat. “Is that not what you do when you go on dates?”

“I suppose…”

Still, something is going on! All are acting way too strangely.

“Pucker your lips, Your Majesty.” Shuna hums as she delicately paints Aerith's lips a ruby red.

Aerith sighs, though she can’t suppress the fluttering sensation in her chest—not just from the pampering, but from the electric energy filling the room. Shuna’s focus is absolute, her movements precise and elegant as she finishes the final touches on Aerith’s look.

“There,” Shuna says, pulling back to admire her work with a satisfied smile. “You look radiant, Your Majesty. Rimuru will… well, he will certainly be speechless.”

“That is the goal, isn’t it?” Aerith teases, standing up and smoothing the folds of her gown. It is exquisite—crafted from the finest Tempest silks, light and ethereal, shimmering with a soft, iridescent glow that catches the lantern light.

Milim leaps from her chair, her wings fluttering with barely contained energy. “Done! Done! Come on, we have to go! We can’t keep Rimuru waiting, he’s probably pacing holes in the floorboards already!”

“Milim, slow down,” Arisu says with a gentle, knowing laugh, steering the impulsive Dragonoid toward the door. “We have to ensure the Queen reaches the designated area exactly when the schedule dictates. Security and pacing are paramount.”

Aerith stops, her brow furrowing slightly as she eyes the group. “A schedule? For a walk in the forest? You are all acting like we are preparing for a summit with the Western Nations.”

“It is a very important occasion,” Shion says smoothly, offering her arm to escort Aerith out. “One that requires the utmost precision.”

“Have a wonderful evening, my queen!” Christina can barely keep her sob in as she waves them out of her shop.

Okay, if this is not sus, then Aerith doesn’t know.

It doesn’t help that Rimurith transformed while they were in Christina's shop. Magical fairy lights float around, the streets are full of roses and cherry blossoms, Aerith's favourite flowers, soft, eternal music is playing, and during their walk to the meeting point with Rimuru, the citizens wave at Aerith, cry in happiness and send her away with words of love and admiration.

Also, System is very quiet, and even Great Sage isn’t offering any answers to the elven queen.

“You leave me here, Your Majesty,” Shion whispers, bowing deeply before slipping away into the shadows with the rest of the girls.

Aerith is left alone at the edge of a clearing she recognises well. It is a spot Rimuru often takes her to when they want to escape the noise of the city—a private sanctuary beneath the ancient, towering trees. But tonight, it looks different. A table, small and elegant, is set for two in the centre, bathed in the soft glow of the floating lights.

And standing near the edge of the clearing, his back to her, is Rimuru. He is still in his human form, but he is uncharacteristically still. Even from here, she can see the slight, rhythmic tension in his shoulders—the way he holds himself with a stiff, anxious grace.

The digital chime of System echoes in her mind, her voice unusually subdued. [Oh, look at that. The boss is malfunctioning. Shall I initiate a 'Confidence Boost' protocol?]

Aerith ignores the internal commentary, her heart starting to race in synchronisation with the quiet thrum of the forest. She takes a tentative step forward, the soft fabric of her gown rustling against the grass.

“Rimuru?” she calls out softly.

Rimuru freezes. He turns around slowly, his golden eyes wide, reflecting the ambient light. For a heartbeat, he doesn't say anything; he just stares, his breath hitching as he takes in the sight of her. He looks less like the King of a monster nation and more like a nervous boy on the verge of the biggest decision of his life.

“Aerith,” he murmurs, his voice dropping its usual casual tone for an intense, grounded earnestness. He steps closer, his movements slightly hesitant before he recovers his composure, a soft, loving smile spreading across his face as he reaches out to take both of her hands in his.

“You look… You look incredible.”

“And you look very dashing.” Aerith purrs, eyeing her boyfriend hungrily. That black suit with the red tie and his hair in a ponytail makes her feel hot inside.

Normally, Rimuru jumps formally into her heat with his own, and Aerith would be naked and thoroughly pleasured right here under the starlight sky, but surprisingly, her boyfriend just blushes and fidgets a bit.

Huh?

“Erm, baby, erm…” he actually stutters under Aerith's astonishment.  “Eat! Yes! Food! Arisu made us a fine dinner?! Are you hungry?”

Aerith blinks, not expecting this, before she chuckles softly. “I could eat.”

“Awesome! Me too, here lemme!”

Like a gentleman, he helps her to her seat before he nearly stumbles to his, making Aerith giggle more.

“Okay, okay! We are here, and here is also food! Awesome!”

“You’re saying awesome a tad too much, Blueberry.” Aerith teases lovingly, and Rimuru rub his neck in embarrassment.

“I do?” he squeaks. “Urgh, I don’t do it on purpose.”

“I know, darling, I was just teasing a bit.”

Loving Aerith takes his hand, rubbing over his knuckles.

“Why are you so nervous, Ri? It’s just us, just me?”

“Just you? You’re my goddess, that’s reason enough to be nervous!” he points out passionately.

A lovely blush forms on Aerith's cheeks, and she leans forward to give him a kiss.  

“I love you,” she murmurs against his lips, licking along his upper lip, and is surprised as once again Rimuru doesn’t jump at the chance to be naughty.

No, he just keeps the kiss soft and gentle.

“I love you more.”

“You always say that.”

“'Cause it’s true.”

“Debateble.”

The couple laughs like mischief children together.

Finally, Rimuru nervs calm down, and they enjoy their dinner. They talk about anything and nothing, what comes to mind and what they never said to anyone else. They knew the others won’t judge them, be there for them and accept them.

Dessert is an amazing chocolate cake, Aerith's favourite dessert and finally Rimuru makes her sit on his lap. While eating the delicious cake, they share kisses in between, and Rimuru gently rubs her pussy, making his beloved mewl and keeping her desire at a constant level.

Aerith is in her personal heaven. The taste of chocolate and Rimuru on her lips, her beloved hands playing with her most intimate part and his sweet, filthy words in her ear are making her ready to just climax on the spot.

“You’re so warm and wet, baby. Always so ready for me, aren’t ya?” Rimuru murmurs while he kisses behind her ear. “My pretty girl, my perfect girl. Mmh, I just wanna lay you down on this table and sink into your warmth.”

Normally, Rimuru adds how soon he will do it, while slipping a finger inside her, but tonight Aerith gasps in surprise as she feels something on her behind. Something burning hot and hard.

“Wha…?” she gasps out and gently rubs against it, making Rimuru surprisingly hiss, one of his hands holding her by her hip, while the hand on her pussy rubs harder.

“Careful, baby.” Rimuru groans. “I’m going to cum into these nice pants if you keep doing that.”

It takes the elven beauty a few seconds before she realises what is going on.

“Is that…?!” she whisper-shouts, cupping his smirking face. “Is that what I think it is?!”

“Mmh? What do you think it is, baby?” Rimuru growls, nipping her jaw, making her mewl.

“You know! Don’t tease me! You did it?!”

“Well, me, Great Sage and System. I had to endure their snarky comments, but yep, I’m not sexless anymore.”

The grin Rimuru gives her is devastatingly beautiful, and Aerith just hugs him tight, showering his face in kisses.

“Oh my god, oh my god! Let’s go home, home, home!”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Rimuru laughs, pulling the already standing up Aerith back before she races back to their house. “This dinner was actually supposed for something else and not me gaining a dick. We got sidetracked.”

“Mmh? What can be possible be better than us finally making love?” Aerith wonders, blinking cutely.

“This.”

Elegant Rimuru goes to one knee before his beloved Aerith, holding a hand in his, smiling up at her shocked face.

“Aerith Tempest. Long ago, I gave you my name, which marked us as a team and started our journey together. This year with you has been the happiest in both my lives.  I love you in a way that scares me, because losing you would simply kill me. But I would rather be death, then not be by your side. You know I’m not very good at making speeches, but you’re not only my soulmate, but you’re the reason I want to be a better slime any day to be worthy of a goddess like you. I think that’s really beautiful. You made me a better person just by staying with me, by showing me kindness and love. Aerith, Monica, I ask both sides of you, as Rimuru and Saturo, will you marry me? Will you be mine forever?”

Poor Aerith's mouth is on the floor, while big tears fall from her eyes. She is utterly speechless. Never, as Monica dared she to hope to be asked this, now, as Aerith, the possibility had been there, but she thought Rimuru would ask maybe in a few years, when things had settled more.

This shows her how eager he is to truly begin a life with her.

“Rimuru…” she chokes out, trying to say beautiful words back to him, but she is a mess. So she only utters one word. “Yes!”

A wave of relief and pure happiness washes over Rimuru. He lets out a shaky laugh, his own eyes shining with unshed tears. He stands, lifting Aerith to her feet, and sweeps her into a tight embrace. For a moment, time seems to stop—just the two of them, lost in each other.

Rimuru gently takes her hand, slipping a delicate ring onto her finger. It glimmers in the light, a perfect fit. "Thank you, Aerith. For saying yes. For being you. For giving me a home."

Aerith looks at the ring, then at Rimuru, her heart full. "As long as we’re together, anywhere is home."

The two stand together, surrounded by love, ready to face whatever the future holds—side by side.

Suddenly, fireworks explode in the sky, surprising the couple, and from all sides their friends appear, shouting and celebrating hard.

“Did you plan this?” Aerith laughs.

“Nah.” Rimuru smirks, hugging her tight. “Seems like our friends couldn’t stop themselves.”

“Damn right, we couldn’t!” Milim shouts, racing up to them and hugging her best friends. “That’s your engagement party!”

“We’re so happy for you, your Majesties!” Arisu cried, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

“One of the most beautiful marriage proposals I overheard!” Shuna also cries, holding onto Arisu.

“This reminds me of when I asked my dear wife!” Rigurd wails manly, his son patting his shoulder. “You can clearly feel the love of our king and queen!”

“Congratulations, Lord and Lady Tempest.” Benimaru smiles, with Souei bowing in respect before them.

“Yeah, let’s party!” Gobta shouts from a appearin table and trankard raisend into the air. “To the best masters around, Rimuru and Aerith. Happy marriage!”

“Hear, hear!” all shout.

Then Shion appears with….maybe a cake? No one is sure, but everyone is nearly pissing their pants seeing this thing let out a screech from the depths of hell.

“I made a special cake to celebrate! I put all my love for Lord Rimuru and Lady Aerith in it!” Shion declares proudly.

Aerith and Rimuru find each other's eyes and sign. Hopeful they can survive this food to actually get married!

(*)

The engagement party is still going strong, as Aerith and Rimuru decide to retire for the night. It is time now for their own intime celebration. Something they have long waited for.

The moonlight filters through the sheer curtains of their bedroom, casting a soft, silvery glow over the bed where they lie side by side. The air is thick with a heavy, charged tension that makes the very atmosphere feel weighted. Both of them are acutely aware of the proximity of the other, the heat radiating from their bodies creating a private microclimate of warmth. Aerith's heart hammers against her ribs like a trapped bird, her breath coming in shallow, uneven puffs as she stares at the ceiling, her mind racing with a mixture of trepidation and intense longing.

Rimuru lies on his side, facing her, his gaze fixed upon the soft contours of her face. He feels a knot of nervous energy tightening in his stomach, a sensation he has never experienced quite so intensely before. The silence between them is not empty; it is heavy with the unsaid, laden with the weight of their shared anticipation. He reaches out a hand, his fingers trembling slightly as he hesitates in the space between them, wondering if he should bridge the gap or wait for her to lead the way.

"Are you... nervous?" Rimuru finally whispers, his voice barely a breath in the quiet room. The sound of his voice breaks the spell of silence, causing Aerith to turn her head toward him. Her eyes meet his, and in that shared glance, the vulnerability of their situation is laid bare. They are both standing on the precipice of something profound, stepping away from the innocence of their past into a world of physical intimacy that they have only imagined.

Aerith offers a small, shy smile, her cheeks flushing a soft pink under the moonlight. "A little," she admits, her voice trembling just as much as his hands. "But it's a good kind of nervous. With you, it will be perfect, I just know." She reaches out, her fingers grazing his forearm, her engagement ring twinkling in the moonlight, a tentative touch that sends a jolt of electricity through both of them. The contact is light, almost feather-like, yet it feels monumental in the stillness of the night.

Rimuru finds his courage in her honesty, his hand moving to cover hers, lacing their fingers together. His skin feels electric against hers, a sudden surge of warmth blooming where they touch. "Me too," he murmured, his thumb tracing the back of her hand in a slow, soothing motion. "I've never felt like this before. It's like everything else has just faded away, and it's just... us."

The tension in the room shifts, transitioning from a nervous uncertainty into a simmering, sweet heat. As they lie there, entwined by their hands and their shared breath, the world outside their bedroom seems to cease to exist. There is only the rhythmic sound of their breathing and the mounting desire that pulls them closer, drawing them toward the inevitable collision of skin and soul.

Rimuru slowly shifts his weight, moving closer until the heat of his body is pressing against her side. He reaches out with his free hand, his fingertips tracing the line of her jaw with a reverence that borders on the sacred. Every touch feels heightened, every sensation amplified by the sheer novelty of the intimacy they are sharing. Aerith lets out a soft, shaky exhale, her eyes fluttering closed as she leans into his touch, her skin tingling wherever his fingers roam. The air between them seems to thicken, growing heavy with a sweet, aching need that makes her heart race even faster.

He leans in, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that is tentative at first, a mere ghost of a sensation. It is a question, a silent plea for permission, and when she responds by tilting her head back and deepening the contact, the answer is clear. The kiss grows more certain, more hungry, as the initial shyness begins to melt into a primal yearning. Aerith's hands find their way to his shoulders, her fingers curling into the fabric of his skin as she pulls him closer, desperate to close every millimetre of space that remains between them.

As the kiss deepens, the world around them seems to dissolve entirely. There is no room, no moonlight, no past; there is only the taste of each other and the rhythmic thrum of two hearts beating in unison. Rimuru's hand slides from her jaw down to the small of her back, pulling her flush against him so that she can feel the strength of his frame and the heat of his body. A soft moan escapes Aerith's throat, a sound of pure, unadulterated surrender that vibrates through both of them.

The vulnerability of their shared first time is not a burden, but a bridge. Every touch is a discovery, every gasp a revelation. As they move together under the silvery glow of the moon, the innocence of their connection transforms into a burning passion, a slow-burning fire that promises to consume them both in the most beautiful way possible.

The heat between them intensifies, a feverish intensity that makes the air feel thick and heavy. Rimuru's hands, guided by a newfound instinct, begin to roam more boldly, tracing the curves of Aerith's waist and the swell of her hips. Everywhere his skin meets hers, a trail of liquid fire follows, leaving her breathless and gasping for air. Aerith responds in kind, her hands sliding down his back, her nails lightly grazing his skin to elicit soft, stifled groans from his throat. The vulnerability of their nakedness is no longer a source of shyness, but a catalyst for a raw, unbridled connection.

As they move together, the friction of their bodies creates a mounting tension that feels as though it might shatter the very silence of the room. Rimuru leans down, his lips finding the sensitive column of her neck, his breath hot and ragged against her skin. Aerith arches her back, her head falling back into the pillow as a low, melodic moan escapes her lips. The sensation is overwhelming, a tidal wave of pleasure that threatens to drown her senses. She feels as though she is floating, suspended in a sea of pure sensation where the only reality is the weight of his body and the rhythmic pulse of their shared desire.

The intimacy deepens as they lose themselves in the dance of skin on skin. Every touch is a revelation, every gasp a testament to the intensity of their bond. There is no hesitation left, only the primal, driving need to be as close as humanly possible. As the climax of their passion nears, the world seems to narrow down to the point where their bodies meet, a singular focus of heat and electricity.

When the release finally comes, it is a violent, beautiful explosion of sensation that leaves them both trembling and spent, clinging to one another in the quiet aftermath, their hearts beating a frantic, synchronised rhythm against their ribs.

They lay still, intervinend, for an eternity it seems, before Rimuru let’s out a soft laugh, kissing behind Aeriths ear.

“Fuck! Now, I know why people love sex…this was transcendent!”

Aerith joins his laugh, nuzzling against his temple. “That was a perfect first time. I don’t know how we managed to come together or at all, but we did it!”

“I was close a few times, I swear,” Rimuru admits, nuzzling his nose against hers. “I think it helped that my cock wasn’t that sensitive or I would have nutted way too soon!”

“So, you still need to work on it?” Aerith ask, her head title cutely.

“Yeah. I’m sure we have better data now to get the optimal result, but baby, what about you? You aren’t hurt or?”

“I bit raw, but in a good way. But…”

“But?”

“Maybe you can make your cock girthy? It felt amazing when I felt full.”

“Noted, baby. So…?”

“Again?”

“Yes?”

“Oh yeah!”

Eagerly, Aerith smashes her lips against Rimuru, who welcomes her into his mouth with his tongue, while his cock, still buried in her pussy starts to get hard again.

They have a whole long life together ahead of them to get it perfectly right.~

(*)

Congrats on the sex, Aerith and Rimuru :D

Oh, and also to your engagement XD

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

This story is part of the LLF Comment Project , which was created to improve communication between readers and authors. This author invites and appreciates feedback, including:

· Short comments

· Long comments

· Questions

· Constructive criticism

· “<3” as extra kudos

· Reader-reader interaction

Thanks to anyone who will comment. I love all of you, and I’m so grateful already!

I want to tell you, I’m happy with every interaction. Even sending an emoticon makes me screech with happiness. :D Also, if English isn’t your first language, just write in your own language the comments!

I speak Italian, German, and English, and for all other languages, there is Google Translate. I don’t mind translating your comments.  ^^

(*)

Here she is!!!!!

(*)

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT, AND FEED THE BEAST AKA ME WITH COMMENTS! :D

(*)

Chapter 15: Dragon Gremlin Milim

The days following the formal birth of the Jura-Tempest Federation were anything but quiet for its new monarchs. Rimuru and Aerith found themselves at the center of a whirlwind of political maneuvers and surprising reunions that kept the capital buzzing with activity.

The first ripple in their peaceful routine arrived in the form of King Gazael Dwargo, who returned to Tempest bearing an unexpected—and heavily repentant—gift: Minister Vesta. Once a man defined by his arrogance and schemes, Vesta appeared before the monarchs as a shadow of his former self. He broke down in tears, offering a desperate apology and swearing his loyalty to the service of Rimuru and Aerith. While the Tempest Couple remained wary of his past transgressions, the firm, guiding support of their trusted artisan, Kaijin, ultimately swayed their decision. They chose to extend a second chance, welcoming the disgraced minister into their fold.

The diplomatic traffic didn’t stop there. Shortly after, Gabiru arrived at the gates with his band of lizardmen, his ego still intact but his ambitions redirected toward serving the growing nation. The situation could have easily devolved into a misunderstanding, but the intervention of his sister proved to be the turning point. She pleaded for her brother’s redemption, asking for a chance to prove his worth despite his well-documented history of idiocy.

Recognising the potential in the alliance, Rimuru and Aerith reached an agreement. Gabiru’s sister—now officially named Souka—and her specialised unit were placed under the direct command of the ever-efficient Souei. Meanwhile, Gabiru and his followers were tasked with a role vital to Tempest’s future: the careful cultivation of the rare and precious Hipokute grass within the depths of Veldora’s Cave. This would ensure a steady supply of resources while simultaneously providing the necessary isolation for Vesta to establish his laboratory, where he could finally focus his talents on the mass production of Hyper-Health potions.

With the borders growing more secure and their workforce expanding, the Tempest Couple felt the foundations of their kingdom solidifying—completely unaware that a much more chaotic, dragon-shaped challenge was about to drop into their lives.

But, of course, neither Rimuru nor Aerith have any idea about this. For them, it’s just a normal day in their new life as monarchs.

Currently, they have managed to sneak a little break in their home.

Lying naked in their bed and coming down from an amazing oral sex session, Aerith just lies completely broken and delightedly happy in Rimuru's arms, who grins in triumph at a job well done.

“I always thought squirting was a porn mythos.” Aerith mumbles, pressing her face harder against her boyfriend's bare chest, kissing his sternum. “I never was so happy to be wrong.”

This makes Rimuru chuckle, giving her a forehead kiss. “Hehehe, glad to help, baby.”

“You’re so smug!” Aerith giggles.

“Of course I’m.” Rimuru joins her giggles. “You practically turned into a waterfall, it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!”

Rimuru is still riding the high of his own smug satisfaction, his arm draped possessively over Aerith’s relaxed form, when a sharp, melodic chime echoes directly into their minds.

« Report, » Great Sage’s voice is, as always, impossibly calm, though it carries a distinct, clinical dryness that feels pointedly judgmental. « Individual 'Rimuru' has successfully executed a biological interaction of high efficiency. Physiological analysis of Individual 'Aerith' confirms extreme hormonal saturation and endorphin release. »

Aerith stiffs, her face flushes an even deeper shade of crimson as she buries her nose into the crook of Rimuru’s neck. A small, muffled squeak of mortification escaped her, but before Rimuru could even open his mouth to offer a retort to his own skill set, a different, far more biting voice cut through the mental link like a serrated blade.

[Correction: The 'biological interaction' was sloppy, inefficient, and frankly, a waste of time.] System chimes in, their mental tone dripping with such palpable, digitised condescension that Rimuru could practically feel them rolling their eyes. [I have been forced to record that data. I am officially filing a request for a memory wipe of that specific encounter. It is offensive to my high-functioning processing power to store such… pedestrian displays of affection.]

Rimuru blinks, his smug grin faltering into a look of sheer bewilderment. "Did... did you just roast our sex life, System?"

It’s Great Sage that answers: >>Correction. System is stating facts, Master Rimuru. For beings like them and me, we find the act of mating is highly inefficient and disturbing.<<

[Yo, I’m with Sagey~ Way too many fluids and pleas to a Deity that doesn’t exist.]

>> Agreeing. Please don’t refer to me as Sagey.<<

[Aww, why, my dear? It fits you!]

>>It certainly doesn’t<<

Aerith and Rimuru stare and blink at each other, wondering the same thing. Are System and Great Sage flirting with each other? Well System is doing the most, while Great Sage acts like a Tsundere, but still.

They always thought of them as supercomputers, but could it be that they actually have self-awareness?

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

The air didn't just grow heavy; it curdled. The playful, intimate tension that had filled their bedroom was instantly obliterated by a pressure so immense, so ancient, and so utterly terrifying that the bedframe groaned beneath them. The temperature plummeted, and the very walls of their home seemed to shudder under the weight of an arrival that ignored every ward, every barrier, and every sense of privacy they had ever established.

“What the?” Aerith gaps, sitting up. “That pressure…! Rimuru!”

“I feel it too, Aerith! Fast, let’s get dressed and see who that is.”

The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on, a suffocating weight of raw, unrefined magical energy that made every hair on their bodies stand on end. Rimuru and Aerith moved with frantic, practised efficiency, pulling on their clothes as the very structure of their home began to protest.

CRACK.

It wasn't a subtle knock or the polite chime of a visitor. It was the sound of structural integrity simply giving up. The sturdy wood and reinforced masonry of the ceiling groaned, the support beams bowing inward with a screech of splintering timber. Then, with a sound like a thunderclap, the roof was torn away as if it were nothing more than a scrap of parchment.

Debris rained down around the bed, but neither Rimuru nor Aerith noticed the wood chips or the sudden influx of bright, afternoon sunlight. Their eyes were locked on the source of the catastrophe.

Hovering effortlessly above their exposed bedroom, feet dangling over the jagged remains of their rafters, was a young girl. She had pink hair tied in two high pigtails and wore an outfit that looked like a mix of ancient, ornate armour and a bikini. She looked entirely too small, too cheerful, and—judging by the massive, concentrated aura radiating from her—too dangerous to be anything else but a calamity.

She looked down into the wreckage of their room, her blue eyes widening with pure, unadulterated curiosity. She didn't look like she had just destroyed a house; she looked like a child who had just cracked open a gift box.

“Nice to meet you. I'm the one and only dragonoid known as the Destroyer,” she chirped, her voice light and musical, carrying effortlessly over the sound of the crumbling roof. “People call me...the Demon Lord Milim Nava.”

Rimuru stood protectively in front of Aerith, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade, though his muscles were tight with disbelief. Great Sage’s voice chimed in his mind, devoid of its usual clinical detachment and sounding almost… frantic.

>>Warning. Target detected. Identity confirmed: Demon Lord Milim Nava. Danger level: Catastrophic. It is impossible to calculate a victory scenario at this time.<<

[Correction: Scratch that,] System added, their voice uncharacteristically sharp and devoid of its earlier sass. [Abort all combat protocols. Do not—I repeat, do not—engage this entity. You are essentially ants to her.]

“I heard that you're the strongest couple in the forest now. So I came to say hello.” Milim then tilted her head, her gaze shifting from Rimuru to the still-flushed Aerith. “You smell like you were doing something interesting!”

This made the poor couple blush red like pepperonies. This Milim might be an all-powerful being, but she seemed too innocent to know about sex in any way!

“Erm, nice to meet you, Lady Milim. I’m Aerith, and he is my life partner, Rimuru.” The High Elven utters out, no way would she explain the smell of ejaculation! “We’re the monarchs of this town.”

“It's pretty impressive that you could tell that normal-looking people like us were the strongest ones here,” Rimuru adds with a crooked smile.

Milim grins sharply, her legs swaying and points at one of her eyes. “Nah, when you're as amazing as I am, gauging someone's strength is easy. See, my draconic Milim Eye can detect the level of magicules in whoever it sees.”

“Oh, this sure comes in handy, Lady Milim.” Aerith tries to butter her up.

Milim hops down from her seat, landing gracefully amidst the splintered wood and broken rafters of the bedroom. The sheer force of her arrival leaves the rest of the house shivering, but her expression remains one of bubbling, almost childish curiosity.

“So!” Milim beams, her eyes darting around the ruins of the room before landing back on Aerith. “You smell like something sweet, too. Like… sugar? And heat? I like it!”

Aerith blinks, then realises she had put on the clothes from earlier while experimenting in the kitchen. A lightbulb goes off in her mind. Being a former Italian, she knows the way to anyone's heart is through their stomach—and if there is one thing she has perfected in this world, it is recreating the decadent, honey-soaked desserts of her past life.

“Actually, Lady Milim,” Aerith says, her voice regaining its composure as her survival instincts shift from 'combat' to 'hospitality'. “I was just preparing something special. Would you like to join us in the kitchen? It’s… much more stable than the roof, and I’d hate for you to miss out on the fresh batch of sfogliatelle I was working on.”

Milim’s eyes light up, literally sparkling with golden light. “S-fogli-what-now? Is it edible? Is it sweet? I love sweets!”

Rimuru catches the flicker of a wink from Aerith. He quickly catches on, sheathing his sword and flashing a welcoming, disarming smile. “It’s got plenty of honey, Milim, so it’s very sweet. It’s a speciality of my partner’s. Why don't we head down before it cools off?”

Ten minutes later, the scene in the monarch’s private kitchen is surreal. The most dangerous entity in the world is currently sitting on a wooden stool, her feet kicking back and forth, vibrating with anticipation.

Aerith stands at the counter, expertly drizzling thick, golden nectar over the flaky, crescent-shaped pastries. Rimuru is busy brewing a pot of strong, aromatic tea. Milim watches every movement like a hawk, drooling slightly.

“Here you go,” Aerith says, sliding a plate over to the Demon Lord. “Careful, the filling is still a bit warm.”

Milim doesn't hesitate. She shoves a massive bite into her mouth. Her eyes widen, her wings flare out in pure ecstasy, and a soft, high-pitched ‘Mmmmmm!’ vibrates through the room. It is as if the world’s most powerful creature has just been tamed by a bit of flour, butter, and Italian culinary heritage.

Just as Milim is reaching for her third pastry, the door to the kitchen explodes inward.

“RIMURU! AERITH! WE FELT A CATACLYSMIC ENERGY SPIKE—”

Benimaru, Shion, and Souei burst into the room, blades drawn, faces twisted in absolute, protective fury. Shion’s eyes are glowing with murderous intent, ready to shred whoever has dared to threaten their leaders.

They skid to a halt. The room goes deathly silent, save for the sound of Milim happily crunching on a crispy layer of dough.

The trio stares in total, absolute stupefaction.

Benimaru’s hand freezes on the hilt of his katana, his jaw dropping so low it nearly hits the floor. Shion looks back and forth between the pink-haired girl—whose aura has completely levelled out to that of a harmless, sugar-addicted child—and Rimuru, who is currently pouring a second cup of tea for their guest.

“Uh,” Benimaru starts, his voice cracking. “Is… is the Demon Lord Milim… eating a cookie?”

Souei, who usually maintains a stoic, emotionless expression, looks physically pained by the scene. He blinks, checking his surroundings as if he has accidentally stepped into a different dimension.

Milim pauses mid-chew, looks at the newcomers, and waves a sticky, honey-covered hand. “Hi! You guys are just in time! These are amazing! You should ask the lady to make more!”

Rimuru leans back against the counter, giving his confused subordinates a tired, smug grin. “Relax, guys. Put the weapons away. Milim’s not here to destroy the town. She’s just… a connoisseur of fine desserts.”

Shion lowers her blade, looking at the tray of sweets, then at Aerith, and finally at the laughing Demon Lord. She looks like she wants to ask a thousand questions, but the sight of the most terrifying being in history wearing a smear of honey on her nose leaves her completely speechless.

Later, the Tempest Couple, Milim and the three Kijin have moved outside to the porch of the house. While Aerith is cooking in their outdoor kitchen, Honey-Glazed Roasted Pork for Milim, the little dragon gremlin hangs formally on her skirt, hugging her and looking with drool at how the High Elven creates another honey masterpiece.

Rimuru and the three Kijin sit on the outside table, looking in disbelief at the domestic scene.

The sight on the porch was one that would likely baffle any scout or intelligence agent in the surrounding nations. The entity capable of levelling entire mountain ranges with a flick of her finger was currently acting like a needy, over-caffeinated toddler, clinging to Aerith’s apron with one hand and pointing at the simmering roasting pan with the other.

“More honey, Aerith! You said the glaze needs to caramelise! It’s not caramelising fast enough!” Milim chirped, her tail swishing behind her with enough force to occasionally whip the air into mini-cyclones.

Aerith, ever the patient hostess, merely laughed, gently patting the Demon Lord on the head. “Patience, Milim. True flavor takes time. If we rush it, the sugars burn, and it becomes bitter. Do you want bitter, or do you want perfect?”

Milim immediately deflated, pouting with such exaggerated sorrow that Shion actually felt a pang of sympathy. “I don’t want bitter. I want perfect.”

“Then wait for the master,” Rimuru interjected from the table, though he was hiding a smirk behind his teacup.

Benimaru let out a long, shuddering sigh, finally relaxing his shoulders. He looked at his fellow Kijin, then toward Rimuru. “Master Rimuru… I don’t think I will ever fully understand the strange gravitational pull you and Lady Aerith have on the most chaotic elements of this world.”

Souei, eyes narrowed as he continued to scan the perimeter even while sitting, gave a rare, barely perceptible nod of agreement. “The aura she emitted upon arrival… it was beyond anything I have ever sensed. To see her reduced to… this… is logically inconsistent.”

“It’s not inconsistency, Souei,” Rimuru said, glancing at the two women by the stove. “It’s culinary diplomacy. Turns out, even ancient, cataclysmic beings have a sweet tooth.”

Shion, who had been watching Aerith’s technique with intense scrutiny, suddenly stood up and walked over to the outdoor kitchen. “Lady Aerith! Let me assist! If I can help speed up the process while maintaining the quality, we can feed our guests even faster!”

Aerith beamed at the eager Kijin. “That’s the spirit, Shion! Watch the heat on the left side—keep it steady, just like a soft breeze.”

Watching his usually fierce bodyguard compete with a Demon Lord for the privilege of basting a pork roast, Rimuru felt the lingering stress of the day finally melt away. He turned his attention back to the mental link, where things had gone strangely quiet.

You know, Rimuru projected, his tone light. For a system that claims to be a high-functioning processor, you seem awfully invested in how the roast turns out.

[Correction,] the System retorted immediately, though the sharp edge had dulled. [I am merely recording the event for posterity. The thermal efficiency of the outdoor oven is… adequate. And the reaction of the target to the sucrose content is statistically fascinating.]

>>And I,<< Great Sage chimed in, sounding almost haughty, >>am merely ensuring the internal temperature of the meat reaches the optimal level to avoid any health risks for our guest. It has nothing to do with the fact that it smells... acceptable.<<

Rimuru chuckled internally. Sure. Whatever you say, you two.

“Say, Aerith, Rimuru?” Milim ask, her mouth smeared with honey, as she devours her delicious pork. “Have you ever thought about maybe becoming Demon Lords yourself?”

“Nah, it honestly sounds like it'd be a pain in the slime,” Rimuru answers, with Aerith sitting in his lap, caressing her inner thigh.

“Huh? Come on, seriously? Aerith? What about you?!”

“I’m with Rimuru.” The elven beauty hums, taking a sip from her aromatic tea. “Do you want us to be Demon Lords, so you can get more of my honey food, Milim?”

Caught, Milim blushed and poked her meat with the fork. “Erm…no? It’s just lots of fun! And, I wanna share it with my friends!”

No one buys it and gives her a deadpan.

“Listen, Milim.” Aerith begins, the Demon Lord sitting up straight to listen. “If you wanna eat more of my food, then no problem-”

“YEAAAAHHHHHH!-”

“-I’m not done-”

“-Oh?!-”

“But you need to behave yourself and act as a true friend. Don’t you agree, Ri?”

“Sure. This also includes not ripping our home or anything in Tempest apart and also not to fight others in any way, got it?”

Milim pouts and then nods. “Sure. I will be good. Can I have more honey pork, please?”

“Of course, you can.”

(*)

And so thanks to Aerith's fantastic cooking, we won an incredibly strong ally for Tempest. 

As my Nonna Elivira always said: Nothing like a good meal can solve problems!

A wise woman, your grandmother, baby. We made Milim an official friend of our nation, and she declared us three best friends.

It actually feels like we just adopted her, since she pretty much clings to me.

Doesn’t help, she declared to make Rimurith her home and practically moved into one of our guest rooms.

Well, we will just make the best out of it, right, Blueberry?

Right, Baby!

But we had no idea that the whirlwind Milim had managed to stir up was only just beginning to gain traction. 

(*)

Totally different EP then canon, it shows hoe Aerith being there is starting to change things :D

We will surely see more and more of this Butterfly Effect ^w^

Till next time :3

(*)

I made a Discord. Does someone want to connect with me?

And I mean connect and talk, and not trying to sell me pictures, comics, etc., like a lot of people do these days, okay?

My answer is ALWAYS  no to this.

(*)

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