#Team Inoichi

[primnroses]

— Explaining Konohagakure’s Intelligence Department from Naruto to Boruto:

The information presented in this post has been checked and revised. My aim is not to hate or to discredit any of the characters mentioned. Please read about me for further information.

This post will contain evidence in picture format directly from the manga Naruto (1999 - 2014) created by Masashi Kishimoto and published by Shueisha in 1999. I will also use information from the official databooks.

This informative post will explain the role and utility of the Intelligence Division from its debut in Naruto to its development and role in Boruto. I will use information present in the novels and the Boruto manga because it includes character development within canon compliance.

This meta is crossposted in AO3.

I give my permission to use or share this thread with informative purposes as long as you credit me.

I do not support the anime or the work of Studio Pierrot in regards to Naruto because I consider it over exaggerated and beyond biased. Furthermore, these fillers include some actions that these characters are unable to do in the canon according to official sources and they also generate unnecessary debate.

This meta does contain anime scenes from Boruto because it is a monthly manga draft that depends heavily on anime for context. 

Please, take this into consideration.

This meta will include a small discussion from my own point of view about the Intelligence Division and its members. There will be strong criticism and complaints, comparisons with other characters, previous leaders, etc. 

Important: I will also refer to this Konoha branch as the “Intelligence Department” to distinguish it from the Allied Shinobi Forces Intelligence Division. This post includes a small discussion from my own point of view about the Intelligence Department and its members. There will be criticism and complaints, comparisons with other characters, previous leaders, etc.

The Intelligence Division (情報部, Jōhō-Bu ), or (in this meta) Intelligence Department (情報部 門 , Jōhō-Butmon ) is an organization formed by shinobi in charge of extracting information from people via interrogation, gather intel or study material that could be useful for the village or the security of the village. The Intelligence Department is part of the “Special Forces”, a group of other major village branches separate from the three main departmental divisions of Konohagakure. 

This branch is currently headed by Ibiki Morino as department head, hailed as a master of interrogation and t0rtur3 in many countries. He is officially known as the “Leader of the Intelligence Division” (木ノ葉隠れ情報部のリーダー, Konoha kakure jōhō-bu no rīdā ) although the translation says "Intelligence Team", versions change depending on who translates. 

Ibiki Morino according to the fourth databook.

HISTORY:

It is unknown for how long this team has existed, but the Intelligence Division/Department officially debuted in chapter 418 of Naruto, at least the organization and its headquarters. The concept of interrogation, t0rtur3 or extracting information directly from a target debuted with the introduction of Ibiki Morino as the Captain of the T0rtur3 and Interrogation Force (拷問・尋問部隊隊長 Gōmon jinmon butai no taichō ). 

Ibiki's early description as the "Captain of T&I before the Intelligence Department was created.

I want to add that the reason why Ibiki was never stated to be the Head of the Intelligence Department was because it had never appeared until chapter 418, so the existence of this Konoha division was unknown. In the fourth databook entry shown above, this division also debuts and Ibiki's profile reveals that he is in charge of this organization and its multiple units. In previous entries like the first databook, he was only described as Captain of T&I because it was the only unit that existed.

Debut of the Intelligence Department in chapter 418 contrasted with the first character description of Ibiki in the first databook ch. 1-119.

The organization, division or department and all of their subdivisions wear their own unique uniforms. Members of interrogation teams wear a dark gray two piece uniform and a black belt, while other teams prefer other uniforms. 

Some members of the Intelligence Department wear uniforms to distinguish themselves from other departments or regular shinobi in a similar way the Medical Department’s Medical Corps wear their standard coats and medical uniforms.  

Naruto:

As soon as Ibiki Morino was introduced in the story, we learn about Konoha’s T0rtur3 & Interrogation Force and their crowded unit; as well as getting a general idea about the presence of a team trained to interrogate targets using various methods. 

However, the existence and the work of the Intelligence Division would not be known until chapter 418 of the manga. Everything else mentioned before was only the name of the team, but not their work.

During the era of the Fifth Hokage, the Intelligence Division was gathered in a building located in an unknown part of Konoha. The headquarters have different rooms dedicated to the different labor each of the teams carry out.

For example, there are rooms for regular interrogation (in the picture reconstructed after the Pain Arc), rooms for mental interrogation with special machinery, libraries for decoding teams, medical rooms for autopsies and a prison. 

T&I Team room, Analysis Team room, Cryptanalysis Team room and Autopsy Room.

The Intelligence Department can be divided into the following teams:

Konoha T0rtur3 and Interrogation Force (木ノ葉暗部拷問・尋問部隊, Konoha Anbu Gomon/Jinmon-butai): Captained by Ibiki Morino (拷問・尋問部隊隊長, Gōmon jinmon-butai taichō), their mission is to gain information from the enemy by t0rturing them or exposing them to arduous interrogation methods. They often work together with ANBU. Some members include Mozuku, Ibiki Morino and chūnin.

Analysis Team (解析班, Kaiseki-han): Previously led by Inoichi Yamanaka. Their role was to take over if the T0rture and Interrogation Force was unsuccessful. Using secret techniques to read the mind, they obtain information directly from the target’s memories. Some members include Mawashi Dokuraku, Kumadori, Tonbo Tobitake and Aoba Yamashiro.

(Medical) Analysis Team: Composed by members of the Medical Department such as Shizune, Sakura Haruno or Ranka, they perform autopsies to obtain information from deceased individuals such as a Pain or White Zetsu. (The name of this team is not Medical Analysis Team but they are included inside the regular Analysis Team. I came up with the distinction to make this list easier.)

Cryptanalysis Team (暗号解読班, Angōkaidoku-han): They are a special team with the mission of decoding secret passwords or messages led by Mitoku. Some members include Shiho, Mitoku and Yurika, as well as Shikamaru Nara and Sakura Haruno occasionally. 

Konoha Aviary: Although it is unknown if they belong to the Intelligence Division, this team collaborates with the Cryptanalysis Team. They receive messages from other villages by hawk, often encrypted or containing secret messages.

T&I Team, Analysis Team, Konoha Aviary, Cryptanalysis Team and (Medical) Analysis Team as depicted in the anime.

Other official teams dedicated to gather intelligence but not part of the Intelligence Division officially include:

Astronomical Team: Introduced in The Last: Naruto the Movie, their role is to study the moon and other celestial bodies and search for anomalies that could threaten Konohagakure. 

Analytical Study (解読班, Kaidoku-han): Founded by Naruto Uzumaki when he became Hokage, this new team is located in the Hokage Residence. It debuted in Boruto: Naruto the Movie. They are focused on deciphering ancient codes such as Ōtsutsuki scrolls and similar objects. According to Kakashi Hatake in Kakashi Retsuden, some members include Shikamaru Nara, Shizune and Sakura Uchiha.

I want to add that the Analytical Study is something Ūkyo Kodachi wrote in the novel that Naruto created out of the blue, without reason. It seems like he didn't know about he existence of the Cryptanalysis Team, a team dedicated to deciphering any kind of code. He must have not read the manga, although this team appears in the movie too, its origins aren't revealed. In Kakashi Retsuden, the writer Jun Esaka reminds us that Shikamaru Nara and Sakura Haruno/Uchiha are part of the Cryptanalysis Team not the Analytical Study. However, since the Intelligence Department make no more appearances in Boruto, I imagine this is the new Analytical Study Team. 

Astronomy Team and Analytical Study in both movies.

Blank Period:

The next time the Intelligence Division or any of its units appear is mainly Sakura Hiden and Sasuke Shinden novels.

Six months after Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was defeated, Sakura Haruno started preparations to create a Therapy Center, a mental health branch for children who are indirect victims of the shinobi world. Two years later, Sakura Haruno successfully founded the first ever mental healthcare institution inside Konoha Hospital ; and other villages like Sunagakure also followed her example. 

However, a former member of ANBU Root, Kido Tsumiki, was plotting against Konoha and undergoing private experiments using Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki’s DNA in order to replicate Sharingan and Kurama’s powers. 

At the end of the novel, when Sakura defeats Kido, he is taken to the Intelligence Department in order to be interrogated by Ibiki Morino. 

Sakura Hiden chapter 8.

Months later, a series of missing Konoha shinobi attacked the village controlled by a jutsu that made their bodies explode. In order to unmask the perpetrator, Aoba Yamashiro, a veteran from the Analysis Team and Inoichi’s successor, read the mind of one of the targets that had been previously incapacitated and was being treated by Sakura. He delved into minds two times successfully.

Aoba Yamashiro becomes the official successor of Inoichi Yamanaka.

He is also the only character that has been shown to be able to reads minds without the aid of the Analysis Team's machine and be successful. He interrogated Kisame Hoshigaki until he broke the jutsu by hurting himself.

Aoba performing Psycho Mind Transmission without a device, a feat only achieved by him.

Boruto:

By the era of the Seventh Hokage, the Intelligence Division does not make any direct appearance, just mentions of one of its units and one of its members, or arbitrary work done by people that did not used to be among their ranks. 

At the beginning of the manga, it is revealed that Ibiki Morino does still conduct interrogations, however, this time he is the only one present from the former T&I, now replaced by the help of Sai Yamanaka. 

The remains of the Intelligence Department.

In the anime, Ibiki debuts with a similar introduction as in Naruto, probably a rendition to his imposing aura and, since it was his anime debut, an honor to his Naruto debut and to the original manga. He introduces himself as the Captain of T&I, just like in chapter 43.

Ibiki's anime debut.

That is the only “relevant” mention and hint about the Intelligence Department in Boruto. There is one more mention about another one of its units in loose episodes but only in the anime, so they do not tie to the original story and can be dismissed. 

Although the Analysis Team no longer exists within the story as a whole, there are characters that fulfill the task of mental interrogation in anime arcs such as Ino Yamanaka in episode 72 and Sasuke Uchiha in episode 151 who after normal interrogation later proceeds to read Shojoji's mind, but they do this as a side ability rather than as part of a team. Characters from the original Analysis Team such as Mawashi, Kumadori, Tonbo and Aoba are no longer in the story.

Ino Yamanaka preparing for mind probing. The interrogators using the help of Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan for interrogation.

How does the Intelligence Department work and what is their role?

Gathering information from targets in order to learn their motives or their people behind their organization.

DISCUSSION:

How important is the Intelligence Department?

The Intelligence Department is of very little use in Boruto compared to Naruto. However, being written out of the story does not equal being less important. 

Like many other teams, the Intelligence Department debuted fairly late into the story, only being fully introduced in the Pain Arc, but it is considered one of the major side supporting branches after the main tree: Shinobi forces, Medical Department/Corps and ANBU. The best example of their usefulness is interrogating Yūdachi from Amegakure, conducting the examination of the Animal Path in order to determine Pain’s Powers and deciphering Jiraiya’s message; all during the Pain Arc. 

The equivalent of the Intelligence Department at the time of the battle against Madara and Obito Uchiha, the Intelligence Division (going by the same name as in Konoha), was also one of the most important support systems during the conflict.

Their function was changed during the global conflict.

Rather than collecting intel from enemies, the Intelligence Division would receive messages from the several teams scattered across the battlefield such as the emergence of a new enemy, casualties, infiltrations, etc. They would also relay battle tactics from the Chief Strategist to the different divisions. 

One of the most important moves of this division was when the White Zetsu infiltrated the Logistical Support & Medical Division in order to take down the main battle support and their most skilled medics, as well as other battle divisions. It was thanks to Sakura Haruno, who defeated the White Zetsu and figured out their plans, and later contacted the Intelligence Division in order to alert the rest of the divisions, saving everyone from death as early as the first days.

Sakura Haruno defeats White Zetsu and relayed the intel to the Intelligence Division.

The Intelligence Division would receive and relay, not search info for themselves. Like a Communication Division with multiple members and machinery.

The difference between the Intelligence Division and Konoha's Intelligence Department.

The current problem of the Intelligence Department?

In Boruto, the Intelligence Department suffered a downgrade compared to previous appearances, so vast that the notion of the branch has almost completely disappeared. It is now down to one single member left and filler interrogations that serve no purpose to the real plot. 

The downgrade is in relevance and build-up.

We used to see Ibiki Morino, Aoba Yamashiro or Inoichi Yamanaka performing interrogations on targets who would invade Konoha or trespass Konoha with dubious intentions. 

The role of an interrogator has been simplified, with only brief mentions of Ibiki performing said interrogation sessions off-screen. Nothing of what we used to see in the past, but, of course, in peaceful times or times when the information about the enemy is on full display, there is no need for interrogators or intel gathering. There are other teams and individuals in Konoha, such as ANBU or Sasuke Uchiha, collecting information.

On the other hand, when it is needed or should be used, it is not. 

The Intelligence Department in itself is not a failure, nor do their ranks fail at doing their job or need other people to step in for them. The failure comes with the writing quality in the sequel compared to Naruto, rather than the organization itself. 

Could they be redeemed?

The Intelligence Division does not need to be redeemed or rewritten, the problem lies in how they are projected in the sequel. 

Their functionality is perfect, at least in Naruto. They have the world’s best interrogator as their leader, several members of the staff and many specialized units.

Some of the things they could do are:

Interrogate enemies and former Kara outers such as Amado Sanzu, so before letting them do as they please they would go through Ibiki Morino, or Aoba Yamashiro if needed, first.

Recuperate bodies of the enemy if possible in order to be studied by the Medical Analysis Team and other medics such as Sakura Uchiha and Shizune.

Considering Konoha is the most powerful shinobi village and the Intelligence Department has resources, the usage of their staff leaves much to be desired in the script.

Note: The Fourth Shinobi World W4r has been replaced by global conflict to avoid mature content flags. T0rtur3 has also been censored.

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[chronicangel]

Sinking

Link to this fic on AO3. Words: 2088 Date posted: September 22, 2019

Summary: "He left us, Chōji!" She doesn't see it, but based on his sharp inhale, she can picture the way his eyes widen and his breathing pauses for a moment. "He didn't even say goodbye. Didn't he know how much that would hurt?"

He leaves.

Without even giving her a real goodbye, he leaves, on a mission to Suna that she is told may take anywhere from a week to an entire year. She runs to the gates at five in the morning on the day that she knows he is due to leave with Temari, but Izumo and Kotetsu just frown at her with furrowed eyebrows and explain that they left an hour ago. The irrational, over-emotional part of her brain questions, Was he that desperate to avoid seeing me?

For the next month, she goes to the gates every day, sitting with her knees pulled to her chest and just waiting for him to show up.

She hasn't skipped a meal in nearly a year, but it's so easy to settle into the routine of not eating breakfast to head to the gates first thing in the morning and just wait for hours. For the first week, she allows Chōji and Asuma-sensei to drag her away for lunch or dinner, though it is almost always only one or the other. On the last day of the week, she eats so quickly to get back to the gates that she makes herself throw up right in front of Izumo and Kotetsu and the two of them finally send her home, telling her to rest so she doesn't make herself sicker. She spends the whole time worrying that this will be the day that Shikamaru gets back and he will find that she wasn't waiting for him.

After that, she doesn't let Chōji or Asuma-sensei drag her away anymore. It is wasted time, and perhaps her stomach is grumbling by the end of every day and perhaps when she gets home she passes out from how much her stomach twists and burns with the desire to eat, but if it means that she will not miss when Shikamaru returns then it is worth the discomfort. After the third day in a row of Ino refusing to go to lunch with Chōji, he hesitates a moment and then sits on the ground next to her, and she stares at him with wide eyes because Chōji has never turned down an opportunity to eat in his life-- she knows because she's been there for all of it.

They settle into a routine, shortly. He will come with an armful of bags of chips, of which she will only eat a handful while he happily munches on the rest, and he will walk her home when the sun has been set for hours and she will let him because the chances of Shikamaru arriving in the middle of the night are rather slim, anyway.

"So," he says around a mouthful of chips, and she doesn't have the energy to make a face this time at his lack of manners. You're the one from a noble clan, why are you the most socially clueless one on this team? She grumbles to herself in the back of her head. "Why do we do this every day, anyway?" He asks, and she opens her mouth to answer immediately but he cuts her off. "I mean, I know it's so we can greet Shikamaru when he gets back from his mission and all that, and that's cute and sweet and whatever, but why are we doing that? He's gone on missions without us before and we've never bothered." She doesn't know how to explain that it's because she's maybe-probably in love with their teammate, nor does she particularly want to, so she just stares silently at the horizon for a long time while thinking about what she can say.

Eventually, she settles on, "He's never been on a mission that could take an entire year before, though, Chōji. Imagine if he came home and he thought... he thought that for that entire year we'd just forgotten about him." It leaves a sinking feeling in her stomach, and it doesn't feel wholly like the truth, but it is enough to settle Chōji and stop him from asking questions for the rest of that evening.

A couple of weeks pass and Chōji meets her at the gates every morning. Then, he misses a day. Misses two in a row, then three, and then he doesn't meet her at all anymore, and she furrows her brows and curls up at the gates but does not say anything.

After the first month ends, she stops going to the gates. Shikamaru does not even write to her. It has been an entire month and she hasn't received a single letter from him, a single scroll. Why does it matter if we've forgotten about him, if he doesn't even pretend that he's thinking about us? Why should I care about him when he doesn't extend the same courtesy? She tells herself that's why she stops going, but it doesn't feel quite right. The first morning that she decides not to go to the gates, she runs into her father downstairs, and he seems legitimately surprised to see her. "Oh, is Shikamaru already back from his mission? That's funny, I was just talking to Shikaku earlier this morning and he didn't mention anything..."

"No, he's not back from his mission, Dad," she says, inwardly cringing. "But, y'know, I'm a ninja too and I figured it was time to stop wasting my days waiting around for Shikamaru when I could be training or getting missions of my own from Tsunade-sama. Speaking of which, I should probably go now. Love you, Dad!" Her father just nods after her as she rushes out the door, and she doesn't realize until she's already reached the training grounds that she totally skipped breakfast. Well, it's too late now, she decides, and instead focuses all of her attention on training, throwing every kunai and shuriken she has on her person at the training dummy, and once she's out of those, throwing kicks and punches at the wooden figure until her knuckles bleed.

The days continue like this for a long time. She begins to develop callouses on her hands from how often she punches the wood, and subsequently loses more and more body weight until she's all muscle and bones. Occasionally she goes on missions with Asuma-sensei and Chōji, but it's mostly errands. After all, the Hokage has no use for two-thirds of the InoShikaChō trio. They train together even more infrequently-- Asuma-sensei seems to have taken this as an opportunity to see more of Kurenai-sensei, and Chōji has always hated training just as much as Ino did when they were younger, so he doesn't exactly do it when their sensei isn't making him.

Shikamaru has been gone for three months the first time she passes out while training. One second she is throwing a kick and only a little light-headed, and the next she is on the ground. She had forgotten, apparently, how much energy is sapped out of her when she isn't eating. Still, it doesn't mean she starts again. When she wakes up, she launches herself right back into training, punching the wood over and over again until she is panting and her knuckles have split open again despite the rough callouses on them.

She had been eating once every week or so, after training with Chōji and Asuma, but now at least forces herself to have a few bites of the leftovers of whatever her father has for dinner every couple of days, when she plans to do any particularly intense training. It is not really enough to sustain her, but it is enough that she doesn't die, enough that she doesn't pass out whenever she spends more than an hour training, and that is all she needs.

Two more months pass like this. Shikamaru has been gone for six. She ends up in the hospital.

A full day passes before she wakes up. She doesn't even know what she is doing here. She only knows that when she wakes up, Chōji is the only other person in the room, and she stares at him with bleary eyes that are already filled with tears. Her stomach burns. "What were you doing?" He says without even looking up at her from where he stares at his hands, his voice dangerously low.

"I was training," she says weakly, defensive despite how tired and guilty she feels.

"You were starving yourself," he corrects, finally lifting his eyes to glare at her, and she winces. "One second Asuma-sensei and I are preparing to throw kunai at you because you told us, you swore to us, that you could catch them right out of the air, and the next second you're on the ground." She glances down at herself for cuts or scrapes before he says, softer, "We hadn't even thrown them yet, Ino..."

She sniffs and tries to ignore the thousand silent questions he is asking her, tries to ignore the pleading look in his eyes. She has never been very good at ignoring Chōji though, really. Not on purpose. He is too warm, fills the room with his presence too well. Really, he is one of her best friends. Not as close to her as Shikamaru or Sakura, but a constant presence in her life nonetheless. She doesn't know what she'd do without him any more than she does Shikamaru.

She can feel her own tears trailing down her cheeks, hot and wet and entirely too salty, so much so that they make her eyes sting. She squeezes them shut to compensate as she sobs, "He left us, Chōji!" She doesn't see it, but based on his sharp inhale, she can picture the way his eyes widen and his breathing pauses for a moment. "He didn't even say goodbye. Didn't he know how much that would hurt?"

"He never says goodbye before a mission, Ino. He probably doesn't even think about it."

"But this one was different!" She cries, finally prying her eyes open to see Chōji's brows furrowed in concern. They are the two emotional members of their team. Shikamaru always thinks with his head, going through life with an almost lazily logical approach. It's like emotions just take too much energy and so he has opted out of them. Asuma-sensei, on the other hand, is likely a balanced being of logic and emotion, but he's also very private. She has never seen their sensei cry, nor has she ever seen him particularly angry. Chōji is the one who is so violently emotional, and he's the one who's always understood her depressive episodes and her quick temper and her... everything. Shikamaru completes her, balances her, and Chōji guides her, motivates her to be better by being the same and better all at once.

He has his fists clenched at his sides now, and she doesn't know if he is angry with Shikamaru or her but she doesn't know if she wants to. She has seen Chōji truly angry so few times in their lives. He has always been jubilant. Always been happy and kind. She is hot-headed, but he is simply warm. Simply pleasant. He offsets the both of them, Shikamaru and Ino. He brings out the best sides of both of them. It is easy to whisper her true fear to him. "Were we not good enough? Was I... Was I not good enough?"

He stomps closer to her and now she stares up at him with wide eyes even as she knows he would never do anything to hurt her. Would never even upset her on purpose. Still, he grips her shoulders with bruising force and she stares at him in fear because she has no idea what he is going to do.

"Are you stupid?" He murmurs after a moment through gritted teeth. She flinches. "Is that why you've been doing this? You've been starving yourself and training 24/7 because you think that's what Shikamaru would want?"

At this point, she can see tears welling up in Chōji's own eyes, and she can't nod or shake her head or say anything because really, she doesn't know why she's been doing this. It was just so easy to fall back upon. When she did not have Shikamaru to comfort her, she could comfort herself by becoming better. She could always be thinner and stronger and just... better. When she just stares at him for a long moment, eventually he squeezes his own eyes shut and lets his tears spill over and pulls her close.

"You idiot..."

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Pokemon Journey

The seventh badge has been secured, but it cane at the cost of one pokemon and some mistakes

By mistakes, i mean that i was battling the gym elader (and getting my ass HANDED to me) when i put it down to go do something. In my absence my kiddo decided they wanted to watch pokemon on my switch and ended up closing my game in the process 😓😓😓

Mistake #2 was that Kabuto the skunktank TECHNICALLY died but listen, listen. I allowed him one revive in sport of the fact that he’s named after a dude who legit got a second chance at life and i felt it appropriate

But in the gym battle we did lose Haku the snowrunt and he shall stay dead, a sacrifice i thought would survive a blizzard attack but… well, obviously he didn’t

[httpino]

hiii! no one asked but i wanted to post my team 10 related headcanons. again not canon compliant at all n its very college au :D

Team 10 Headcanons

- choji has to start using everyone else as his taste testers because ino n shikamaru are sick of his food

- like don’t get them wrong they love it normally but after choji cooks the same hidden cloud dish for the millionth time (he’s preparing a home cooked meal for karui), they’re tapped out

- one time there were rumors that shikamaru n ino were dating and ino almost tf passed out

- she was wondering where she went so wrong

- it was the most embarrassing week of her life and to this day, she can’t think about it without being annoyed

- they drunkenly got matching tattoos

- ino has instigated every single fight to happen in her 4 years at konoha academy

- and trust n believe she got those fight videos too

- ino taught choji and shikamaru all about flowers

- they didn’t gaf that much but they start to find it interesting how many different things can be conveyed with flowers

- especially when they started dating their respective girlfriend

- ino is dramatic and cannot go out with choji n shikamaru if they look messy (in her eyes)

- she’ll see a wrinkle in shikamaru’s shirt and she makes him take it off and shows him how to iron it

- ino damn near threw up when her dad made a joke about her marrying shikamaru or choji

- she called them her brothers n inoichi never bothered her again

- choji brought up his n karui’s 6 month anniversary and shikamaru n ino are like “??? who??”

- choji remembers that he actually forgot to tell them lolz!

- it wasn’t on purpose, after choji went on an extended trip to the hidden cloud n met karui, he just wanted to keep her to himself for a bit

- speaking of dating, shikamaru n choji tried the whole “if you hurt her we’ll kill you” spiel on sai but he was so unphased that they were embarrassed

- they realized their worry was unneeded after sai made a girl who was nasty to ino cry

- when shikamaru tells them that he’s officially dating temari, he watches choji begrudgingly slip ino a twenty dollar bill

- appalled they were betting on him but mainly that choji was betting against him

- they’re all very very comfy with one another

- i’m talking they had sleepovers up until the age of 17 and after they graduated, they moved in together

- no one can really guess what vibe these mfs be on, the only people who truly understand them is them

- their ideal days all consist of spending time with one another

- ino really doesnt play about these two

- they’re her blood (in her mind) and anyone who slights them have slighted her

- which is terrible for shikamaru n choji’s opps because you never want ino fucking yamanaka mad at you

- very unserious trio, we love you inoshikacho!

[nonbinary-itachi]

The first time Mikoto noticed anything amiss, it was in the bright eyed way Itachi described his new friend, Shisui. Shisui was four years older and already a genin (which she knew meant he'd already seen the horrors of the war). She considers briefly that he was simply an imaginary friend, but Itachi had never had any before and she recognizes that name as the current Uchiha prodigy.

Well, crap.

At least Itachi wouldn't be alone and isolated the way she had been.

When she finally meets Shisui, her opinion stays the same. He's a polite boy with eyes far too knowledgeable for a mere nine year old. Her investigation had revealed that he'd not only seen the war, but fought in it, losing his entire genin team in the process. He was later taken on by Inoichi Yamanaka, and remained with him to this day.

She knows, the moment she sees Itachi look at him with those big doe eyes he'd inherited from her, that one day, she'll be fighting tooth and nail to allow him to marry the boy he so obviously loves.

A few months later, a girl stops by asking about Itachi. They're classmates in the Academy, and she was hoping to do their homework together. Watching them work together, she has a brief moment of hope that he's different. Unlike her, he won't know a life of sneaking around, stealing kisses in back alleys to avoid people's judgment. However, she doesn't see the same light she does when he talks about Shisui, and she resigns herself to her fate.

Itachi would not be forced into a marriage against his will the way she had been. Not as long as she was alive to stop it.

(Not that she hadn't come to love Fugaku in her own way, but she'd never love him the way she'd loved Kushina once. A long time ago.)

As Itachi ages, she realizes she's right. The light he held when talking about his new friend never dims, and in fact grows stronger and stronger. All she has to do is mention his name, and Itachi will perk up no matter how rough a time he's having. No matter how distracted he is.

She knows he loves Shisui just as much, if not more than, she'd love Kushina, and it hurts her heart to think about the trials he'll face because of it.

When he's fourteen, Itach sits her and Fugaku down at the kitchen table, Sasuke away at the Academy. He seems unusually anxious, and she suspects she knows what this is about. Has been waiting for his day since he was four years old.

"Mother, Father. I-" He starts, hesitating. He glances at them both anxiously before ducking his head so his bangs cover his eyes. She glances at Fugaku, who she suspects also knows what he's trying to say. Itachi swallows. "I'm... gay. I-I don't like girls. Not... not that way."

She smiles warmly at him, considers telling him she's the same but doesn't want to take way from his moment. "That's okay. It doesn't change anything."

Beside her, Fugaku nods. "We still love and support you."

Itachi's shoulders sag in relief as he processes what they've just said. "Thank you." If his eyes look glossier than usual, she pretends not to notice. If her own feel the same, well, hopefully he'd extend the same courtesy.

Four years later on Itachi's eighteenth birthday, she throws the same elaborate clan wide party she always throws despite knowing how much he hates it. It's too loud with too many people, and it overwhelms him, but the elders insist on it. Just like every year, Itachi insists on making himself scarce during it.

This year, Sasuke's genin teammates are here, and she's distracted by all the chaos Naruto brings with him. Just like Kushina all those years ago. The thought warms her heart.

The crash that sounds from her living room a few seconds does not.

A few hours later, even she's overwhelmed with the amount of ass kissing she's had to do among the elders. She steps out onto the backporch, breathing in the warm June air. It wasn't unbearably hot this time of night, and the cool air feels pleasant against her flushed skin.

"-go somewhere else?" She hears Shisui's voice, softer than usual. A short pause later, she hears, "You sure? We can sneak off off to my place. No one will be none the wiser." There's a touch of annoyance in his voice, and she can't blame him. For something that was supposed to be celebrating Itachi's continued existence, the guests aren't paying much attention to him.

"I know," she hears Itachi reply, just as soft. "But this technically my party. I don't want Mother to feel bad if she notices our absence."

She peeks around the corner and finds the boys entwined on the porch, Itachi's head against Shisui's shoulder. Their fingers resting together between them. She considers coming out of hiding and telling them to go, that she'd distract anyone looking for them, but she finds herself rooted in place, feeling like she wasn't meant to be hearing this. Seeing this.

Shisui hums, tilting his head to press a kiss against Itachi's head. She leaves then, not listening to anymore of their conversation.

Now that Itachi is of legal age, she suspects it won't be long before Itachi announces their relationship. After all, despite the Mangekyo, Shisui wasn't blind yet, and Itachi was a very attractive young man. They're already close, so it feels like it's just a matter of time.

Four months later, she's seated across the table with Fugaku yet again, though this time Shisui is with them and looking anxious as all hell while Itachi stares more defiantly. Mother, Father," Itachi starts again, just like that day four years ago. "Shisui and I are dating." If Shisui scoots away from Fugaku, she pretends not to notice.

Beside her, Fugaku blinks. "Well, it's about time you told us," she says before he can interject.

Both give her an incredulous look. "What?"

"How long has it been?" She asks, directing her gaze at Shisui.

"Uh," he looks at Itachi, who simply smiles reassuringly. "Three months?" He tenses, prepared for her or Fugaku to blow up at him for dating their precious son.

"Uh-huh."

"Well, congradulations," Fugaku finally says.

She suspects Shisui would look less surprised if someone told him the Nidamine had been resurrected and wanted to take him on as an apprentice.

As the boys leave, she takes a sip of her tea. "How long have you known?" Fugaku asks once they're out of hearing range.

Mikoto smiles. "I don't know what you're talking about." At his unimpressed looks, she rolls her eyes. "Fourteen years. How did you not notice?"

While he struggles to reply, she thinks about how to broach this subject with the clan elders. She refused to have Itachi forcibly wed to someone he didn't love, but how was she going to win that fight?

Three years, a war, and too many close calls later, Mikoto puts the same hairpin she'd worn on her own wedding day in Itachi's hair. It'd been a long, painful three years, full of hardship and suffering, but it was worth it.

She puts her hands on his shoulder and lean in to press a kiss against his cheek. "Are you ready?"

He looks up at her and beams. Genuinely beams. It was a look she never thought she'd see again on him after Shisui was nearly killed on a mission. "I've never been more ready."

She smiles warmly. She'd known this day was coming for decades now, yet she still feels tears in her eyes as Itachi and Shisui recite their vows together. Beside her, Fugaku's eyes look just as watery. She doesn't think she's ever been more proud of her baby boy.

[foxxy-sensei]

In the end, there was no hope.

The lands were ravished and most of the people were gone. Not even the animals seemed to be spared.

The goddess wanted her chakra back and she was determined to have it. The remaining few knew there was nothing left to do, but give in. But what are humans, but bodies filled with egos, determination, and desperation.

There were very few of them left.

Many of her friends had died before the goddess was even released. Neji, Tenten, Choji, Gai, Inoichi, Shikaku Tsunade, and Gaara… Friends and family lost to the initial war. It only got worse from there. Slowly, but surely, the rest of her chosen family started to disappear from her life. Stolen from her by a selfish and vindictive woman.

She had just lost Lee a few days ago as he fought off an army of white Zetsu so that the rest of them could escape. He told her he was okay with this death. It would allow them to live and he would be able to see his beloved team again.

Naruto sighed tiredly. She wished she could say she cried, but she had no more tears to give. Only a prayer that what her friend wanted, came true in the end.

But that was a few days ago.

Now, the only ones of her precious people that were left were Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Hinata, Kurama, Obito, and the reanimated body of her father. And she knew that, soon, she would probably lose them as well.

For now, they had made their great escape. With the help of a makeshift boat and some seals, they had made it to the waters of Wave Country and crossed the perilous, whirlpool filled waters into Uzushiogakure. The only thing that truly kept them safe was Hinata and Naruto’s affinities for water chakra and Naruto’s Uzumaki blood. She had gripped the edge of the ‘boat’ so tight that the wood bit into her palm and caused her to bleed. The waters seemed to calm a bit after getting a taste. It was then that most of them realized that the destruction of Uzushio had to have been either an inside job or something far more sinister.

They stepped off their boat and onto the beaches. And while the others went on ahead to scope out the ruined village for suitable shelter and food, Naruto and her father were left standing in the sand, the Jinchuriki trembling with rage. Minato laid a comforting hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

“No one could be bothered to come here and lay the dead to rest.” Uzushio had been destroyed. The village was left in ruins… The dead were left in the sand. When her precious Konohagakure had been destroyed, Naruto had risked her life to go back and lay who she could to rest in a funeral pyre. But Uzushio was Konoha’s sister village and no one had bothered, in all of the years, to make sure that their fellow shinobi and citizens had seen a proper burial. Just left them to the sands and sun.

Minato hung his head. “I’m sorry, Naruto… Kushina. If I had known the Sandaime hadn’t seen to it himself, I would’ve come here personally to have it done.” He felt like he had failed his wife and daughter… More than he already felt, anyway.

Naruto bent to kneel in the sand and carefully picked up the skull of what seemed to be a fallen Uzushio shinobi. She was quiet for a long while, just wondering about who the poor soul could have been before they died. Finally, she spoke up.

“I will collect the remains of the dead and lay them to rest in a pyre on the far side of the island. Please let the others know that I would like to be left alone until then.” She created a few clones that set out to work. But before the real her could start the task as well, she felt her father’s gentle hand on her cheek, turning her head to make her look at him.

“I will never leave you alone. Not again. We will do this together.” He placed their foreheads together for a brief moment before pulling away and moving to sift through the sand for bones to collect, creating a few clones himself.

They worked quietly throughout the day and well into the evening. The rest of their group were scarcely seen except for when they were handing off scrolls with bodies that they had found themselves. No words were exchanged. Just quick, mournful glances. Shikamaru always seemed to be able to find the real Naruto when he was handing over scrolls. He would always brush his fingertips against the backs of her hands before disappearing into the shadows again.

The two had gotten closer during the war. They had spilled their souls to each other, surprising themselves about their choice in confidante. Shikamaru had a more analytical mind, so he always thought he would end up breaking down to Kakashi, as he was someone who was logical and reminded him of his father some, and would be able to talk him through his troubles. And it was no secret, Naruto’s love for Sasuke. He was her best friend and her brother. It was more likely for her to turn to him with her woes. Or at least Sakura or Hinata.

But that’s not what happened. They chose each other. No matter how unintentional.

They were out hunting for possible food and scouting for white Zetsus when they were suddenly surrounded. Shikamaru had taken a hit and was trying to convince Naruto to just leave without him and she ran with him hanging off her shoulder. He told her that he would hold them off. She was their powerhouse. He knew that she and Kurama were important pieces to survival. He needed them to live. But Naruto thought the opposite. Shikamaru was their tactician. Even if she could not go on, she knew he could help the others through anything. To her, he was one of the most important people. So it enraged her to hear him speak of sacrificing himself.

She created a clone and was quick to hand off the dark haired shinobi, mumbling about a cave system she knew was not too far from their current location. Shikamaru started to argue, getting angry himself, but Naruto would hear none of it.

She turned to give the shadow user a scathing look. “We will discuss this later.” She said with a growl in her voice.

Shikamaru was surprised, but said nothing more. He just nodded his head and surrendered himself to being whisked away. It was only hours later, after his wounds had been cleaned and the clone was able to feed him, did Shikamaru get to see the real blonde again. She looked tired and singed, but unwounded. Her clone handed over what little food and drink was left before dismissing itself. She was able to eat it quickly and in silence before the man who sat across from her finally just snapped.

Words were exchanged between the two that were surely regretted later on, but words were also spoken that they both needed to hear and say. Shikamaru spoke of his regrets, fear, and feelings while Naruto spoke of her own fears, anger, and dwindling self-worth. They both spoke of the hopelessness that they felt.

They found solace in each other that night. And what started out as clumsy hands and desperation, slowly turned into lingering touches and the budding feelings of love. Which is how Naruto ended up curled into a ball with her face shoved into the dark haired shinobi’s chest with his arms wrapped securely around her as she slept after the funeral pyre.

They had found shelter in what used to be a library. It was one of the only buildings that didn’t seem to be in complete ruin. They had set up what few bedrolls they could find around a small fire that they had created in the center of the room, ventilated through a hole in the roof. Naruto and Shikamaru shared a bed roll while Kakashi and Obito also laid side by side. Sasuke looked surprisingly content laying between Sakura and Hinata as they rested their heads on his shoulders. Minato, being a reanimated corpse, had no need for sleep and took post against a shelf as he read through what scrolls were left in the room. They were resting quietly for a bit, but the silence was eventually broken.

“We cannot continue on as we have been. Resources are limited and Kaguya will find us again soon enough. There is nowhere to run on the island. Nowhere to truly hide. And even if we stood our ground and fought, even if we were able to defeat her, who is left in this ravaged land that we have to fight for besides each other?” Obito spoke in a quiet tone as he sat up to stare into the fire. No one seemed to have an answer for him, but everyone seemed to hold each other a little tighter.

After a moment of quiet, the room suddenly started to get hotter and Naruto squirmed a bit in Shikamaru’s hold as Kurama’s chakra spilled its way out of the seal, forming itself into a miniature version of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. He had done this many times in the past after Naruto unlocked his seal so that he could come out and speak to the others freely.

The little fox stretched and brushed his body against Naruto’s back before turning his attention to the older Uchiha.

“Ever since her escape from the moon, my siblings and I have been discussing the matter.” Kurama’s deep voice coming out of the little fox always sounded weird to the Konoha shinobi, but they were used to it by now. “She was powerful. Too powerful. The Sage feared her and made sure we all knew how truly terrible it would be for her to roam this world again. Long ago, before we were all captured and turned into weapons for you humans, we had come up with a plan. One that would work in theory, but would take a significant amount of chakra to pull off and would only be succeeded by one or two of us.” The fox pawed at the locks of Naruto’s golden hair that had grown to about the same length as Hinata’s as time had passed. Once he was sure he had every awakened shinobi’s attention, he settled down against Naruto’s back and huffed in contentment when Shikamaru buried his fingers into soft fur to pet it. “We contemplated the possibility of time travel. Of using space-time ninjutsu to stop the rabbit goddess from coming to be again. Chakra is easy to send away and we believed that it would work, but then there was the possibility that it wouldn’t. That one of us would make it back to the appropriate time and would be overwritten by our younger selves and that the task would have been for naught.” He sighed. “So, then, we contemplated sending a shinobi back. If they went back far enough, they would not be interfering with their own existence and would maybe be able to succeed. But then we were captured and our hatred for your kind increased and we gave up on this plan… Until now.” He lifted his head to look back at his host and her, lesser in his opinion, boyfriend. “We have been talking and we would do it for her. For Naruto.” He turned to look at Minato. “But we could never complete the how of what we were trying to accomplish. But we are here in Uzushio now. Where the world’s greatest Fuinjutsu users originated and made it their business to complete impossible tasks. And we just so happen to have the leading expert in space-time seals and ninjutsu here with us today. I’m sure, with the help of your daughter and any leftover scrolls here in the village, you can create a seal that can accomplish this feat. And I, and my siblings, will power it willingly. Even if there is only a portion of our power left, I’m sure it would be enough to send one and maybe two of you back a significant distance.”

There was a moment of silence before Obito let out an angry huff. “Thank you for that fantasy of a bedtime story, fox. I’m sure to sleep well knowing that tomorrow may as well be my last.”

Kurama growled. “As much of a fantasy as your dead sensei sitting in the same room as us now. As much of a fantasy as you becoming the Juubi Jinchuriki and surviving its extraction. As much as a fantasy as the malevolent goddess who roams the land with her plant minions, hoping to drain your chakra away from you.”

Minato let out a distressed laugh before standing abruptly and heading towards the door. “You all get some sleep. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

Obito glared at the fox. “You’re really having Sensei waste his time with this?”

Kakashi let out a sigh and pulled the blanket up and over the Uchiha’s head. “Just go to sleep, Obito. Besides, Sensei has all the time in the world.” And with that, nothing else was said for the rest of the night.

***

It was a couple of months before anything was actually discovered.

They trained and cleaned up the island, but tensions were high. It felt odd that Kaguya hadn’t come for them yet. Everyone was driving themselves crazy with the thought. Was she toying with them or did she really not know where they were?

Naruto found a few hidden, underground rooms that only opened up to her Uzumaki blood on a seal and was able to find a ton of scrolls and books on Fuinjutsu that she happily showed to her father. She created clones and the both of them studied to their heart’s content. Naruto even found scrolls on the barrier that protects Uzushio. Apparently, it harnesses sage energy to keep the whirlpools going and puts up a type of force field around the island that hides chakra. It was designed so that enemies would never know what type of forces lay in wait on the other side, which may explain their small reprieve. It was also made so that the only people who could get through were the families that made up the island and anyone whose blood was keyed in later.

Which meant there was definitely foul play when it came to the destruction of the island and its people. Naruto wondered if she even wanted to know who the betrayal lay with. Wondered if it would do her mental wellbeing any good. So she threw herself into her Fuinjutsu studies and helped her father search for any clue on what Kurama spoke of being viable.

They caught a lucky break when Naruto found another hidden room in the Uzukage’s tower. It held many secrets and told the history of Uzushio and each family that called the island home.

Naruto looked into the Uzumaki first, of course, and learned that the last Uzukage, Uzumaki Arashi, was forced to marry his distant cousin, the daughter to the daimyo, in a political marriage after his first wife and child died by poisoning. His second marriage is what resulted in the birth of Naruto’s mother, Uzumaki Kushina and her younger brother Uzumaki Ryu.

Minato was surprised. He never knew that Kushina had a brother. He actually wondered if the woman knew herself and if that’s why she never told him. But he and Naruto were even more surprised to learn that the woman who was Arashi’s wife before the political marriage. Was a woman who went by the family name Namikaze.

Namikaze was definitely not a family name for any of the islanders. In fact, Minato knew that his lineage lay in a village not too far from Kumo. Maybe the Uzukage had met a one off member of Minato’s family and gotten married. They put the thought aside with the promise to come back to it later.

They learned more about the Uzumaki clan being related to the Senju and Uchiha clan through the Otsutsuki clan and about how Uzushio and Fuinjutsu were created.

They caught a lucky break when the second family they looked into was the Hoshizora clan. Or more importantly, Hoshizora Sora, the creator of the offshoot Uzumaki clan who specialized in seals meant for transportation. In other words, a specialist in space-time ninjutsu and seals. Coded copies of his journals were found in the hidden room where Minato sat for hours to read through them while his daughter followed along at a slower pace. She was, by no means, stupid, but she was not as quick with learning and reading as her father. She also got tired, unlike the reanimated man. There were many nights where Shikamaru, Hinata, or Sasuke had come looking for them and found Naruto asleep with a book hanging loose in her hand and her head on her father’s lap. The man would slowly untangle his fingers from her golden hair and set the book aside so that her friends or boyfriend could take her to bed. He would give a quiet thank you before continuing his reading.

A few weeks later was the first night in a while that the group had Minato actually join them for dinner. They sat on the beach under the stars with the fire cooking the fresh fish they had managed to catch that day. The entire group glanced up and gave small smiles when they heard the barely there steps in the sand from the former Hokage. He sat down gracefully next to his daughter and bumped shoulders with her as she picked at the fire in front of them with a metal stick. Naruto huffed and leaned into her father’s side. Shikamaru, on her other side, didn’t seem to mind at all.

There were quiet murmurs as everyone talked amongst themselves until Minato finally decided to speak up.

“I’ve figured it out. A seal that can help us traverse through time. Just like Kurama said.” His voice was quiet, but it was heard by all of them. They group stopped their conversations and looked at the blond man over the fire. Even Kurama came out of his seal to settle himself into Naruto’s lap and listen. Minato sighed and ran his fingers through his thick hair. “It’s a seal that has only been used by the Hoshizora clan once and is confirmed to work. The downside is how much chakra it takes to attempt. The amount is so significant, that the one person who used the seal went into a coma and almost died. And even then, they only succeeded in sending someone back to the day before. The seal was then labeled a Kinjutsu and locked away to keep anyone else from attempting it.”

Kurama huffed. “Well I have a significantly more amount of chakra than you worms. And I’m ready to give it all up. My siblings have their portions that they’ve provided to Naruto as well. You will get to where you need to.” He blinked lazy eyes at the blond. “So…what are the rest of the conditions?”

The slight building of excitement in the group at the thought of the out-of-the-box plan possibly working simmered down quickly with Kurama’s question.

“You wouldn’t be here explaining this to us with such little enthusiasm if there wasn’t something else involved. So what is it?” Kurama grumbled.

Minato was quiet for a long moment as he stared into the fire. He knew his daughter had high morals. He knew what he was about to say might hurt her a bit. He felt like crap for even having to bring up the suggestion. The only thing that pulled him out of his spiraling thoughts was a hand reaching over to grab his own and intertwine their fingers together. He looked down at his cracked, pale skin, and compared it to the smooth, tanner hand of his daughter’s. He gave a squeeze back and steeled himself for the rest of this discussion.

“If we were sending someone like Kurama back, then we wouldn’t have to worry about this other condition. He is already only made up of chakra. There’s no body to be involved. We would just send him back and he would just assimilate with his past self and that would be the end of it. But as we’ve discussed, we can’t take this option because it would take the majority of his own chakra to send him back far enough to make a difference. By the time he got to that point, he wouldn’t have enough chakra to merge with himself and be the more dominant soul. He would just be absorbed and this would have all been for naught.” Minato started to fiddle around with Naruto’s fingers. “So, we would have to send one of us back. But the issue is that we are not made up of only chakra and a soul. Neither now or at any time in the past. We cannot just send ourselves back and hope for the best. The only way to do this right would be to send us back to our past bodies. And the only ones who could do that and actually make a difference are either me, Kakashi or Obito.” He let out a chuckle. “And I don’t know about the two of you, but I enjoyed the way I lived in the past. To have to take that life away from myself… To essentially take away my own life. I can’t do that. It may not have been the longest or the best, but it was fulfilling.

Naruto squeezed her father’s hand again and there was a moment of silence before Kakashi decided to speak up.

”I agree with you, Sensei, but is there any other option for us?” They all looked at the undead Hokage solemnly, but eagerly.

“There is one other option.” Minato said quietly. This is the part he knew his daughter would disagree with. He turned his head so that he could look at her in her blue eyes that were the exact same shade as his own. “Naru-chan, do you remember when we first started looking into the families that lived on the island before the fall? And how we found out that the Uzukage was married to a woman by the name of Namikaze before he married your grandmother?” With her confirming head nod he continued on. “If you remember, they had a child together, but both the mother and child died from some type of poison. If we send your soul and chakra back to right before the child dies, I’m sure your chakra would burn the poison away and you would be able to overtake the body.”

Naruto recoiled and let go of her father’s hand. “Overtake the body? Take over someone else’s life?”

“A life that was already lost. Don’t think too hard on this, dobe. It sounds like a solid plan.” Sasuke spoke up from seat across the fire. “You would be older than your parents then. Which means you would be in a time to stop the destruction of Uzushiogakure. You would be able to help stop the beginning of the Third Shinobi War. You would be able to keep your mother from having to be Kurama’s reluctant Jinchuriki. Don’t think of this as you taking someone’s life. If you need to, think of this as you being reincarnated as this person.”

Naruto wanted to argue. She really did. But she had nothing to say. It was all logical, even if she didn’t like it. She gave her friend a pout and crossed her arms over her chest. “I hate that when you decide to speak in more than undecipherable sounds, it’s to call me an idiot and be logical.” Sasuke rolled his eyes at the girl. Naruto decided to let it be. “So… The rest of this lies on me, huh? The idiot of the Leaf Village.”

Minato frowned and opened his mouth to disagree with her words, but Shikamaru beat him to it. The dark haired shinobi reached out and pulled at her hair with a stern tug.

“Don’t talk about yourself like that, Naruto. You are not an idiot. You’re strong, brave, loyal, an excellent tactician on the fly, and one of the smartest people I know. I can look at seals and know that it takes more than a little bit of intelligence to be able to learn the art and make it work. You’ve been learning with your father for less than a year and I’ve seen you do some amazing things with it. Imagine what you can accomplish growing up on an island full of people who know and teach the art. You’ll be a seal master in no time.” Shikamaru leaned forward to kiss her cheek, causing the blonde to blush. “I know you can do it.”

Minato watched the interaction with a fond smile on his face before clearing his throat and sitting up straight.

“And, Naru-chan, because of how much chakra we all have to spare, it wouldn’t be impossible to say that we wouldn’t be sending you back alone. We’d have enough chakra to send back another person to around the same time. The only problem would be figuring out where to place them.” He looked around at everyone else. “I know it’s highly improbable, but does anyone know of any deaths at a young age that would fit our needs?”

Naruto frowned, not likening the way it was worded, but looked around at her friends, hopeful.

Obito and Sasuke shook their heads. “There were, obviously, many deaths in the Uchiha clan, but I don’t know of any actual young deaths from the time we’re thinking about.” Obito mumbled.

Kakashi sighed and leaned into the older Uchiha. “The only death I knew about around that time was my mother. But she was older, so that won’t work.”

Sakura folded her arms over her chest. “My family have always been traveling merchants. There’s not much I would be able to do even if I knew of anyone who had a young child who died.”

Shikamaru had his hands sitting in his thinking position, a habit he couldn’t kick. “I think… I remember my father telling me the story of how I got my name. There was a Shikamaru before me. My grandfather’s younger brother. My father told me that the clan documented that he had been born on the night of the new moon and had died not too long after suddenly and unexpectedly. My grandfather had been devastated about losing his little brother and had named my father Shikaku in his memory. My father, in return, named me Shikamaru with permission from my grandfather.”

Sakura spoke up quickly. “Lady Tsunade used to tell me stories about how babies would sometimes be born with blocked chakra networks and would die suddenly due to it and no one knew what it was for a while. She actually told me that story because of Lee. She said it was a miracle that he lived to be the shinobi that he was.” A tear fell down the pink haired girl’s face that she swiped away very quickly as she continued to speak. “That is more than likely what caused the sudden death of your great uncle and sending your chakra and soul back would more than likely be the influx of chakra needed to unblock those chakra passages and allow for the body to live.” She gave Shikamaru a hopeful smile.

Shikamaru looked at the Hokage. “So we have another possible candidate.” He suddenly flinched, turning his gaze towards Hinata. “Unless you know of someone as well, Hinata?”

The lavender eyed woman had been quiet the entire conversation, deep in thought. She gave the shadow user a bright smile. “Even if I did know of someone, Shikamaru-kun, I would not say it now.” Everyone looked at the Hyuuga, confused. “This war has been tough. And we have all had many losses, but we have also found something here with each other that we’ve never thought possible.” She looked towards where Kakashi had his head rested on Obito’s shoulder and how Sakura held tight to a Leaf Village headband that was attached to a red cloth. Lee’s that he had gifted to her before his sacrifice. And then looked down at how Sasuke held tight to her own hand, probably not even realizing it completely. “Yes, we have all made new connections here. And you, Shikamaru-kun, have the most obvious one with Naru-chan.” The blonde and shadow user blushed. “And I can easily say that I would rather lay down my life here for the opportunity to send you two back together so that you can, one: save our world, and two: be with each other for the rest of your days, surrounded by the people you love and without worry. Please allow us to do this for you two.” Hinata bowed her head, stunning the young couple.

Kakashi gave his closed eyed smile from across the fire and bowed his head as well. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, Hinata-chan.” There were hums and nods of agreement from everyone else around the fire.

Minato smiled and gave a sudden clap. “Then it is decided! I will work on the seal and then, we will do what was thought to be impossible.” He stood and ruffled his daughter’s hair gently before making his way back towards the Uzukage tower.

Kurama huffed at the humans in his life and turned around to face Naruto, having been quiet the entire time. “You better make sure that I’m your Jinchuriki again, brat. I quite like how you treat me.” Naruto gave Kurama a sad smile that slowly transformed into a bright one as she reached her arms around the fox to give him a tight hug. “Don’t squeeze so tight, human.” He grumbled, but didn’t dare to move away.

***

It only took three days of sketches with Minato and Naruto going back and forth about the seal before they were able to paint the official seal on the floor of an intact sealing room in the tower.

Three days of the others meditating and trying their best to not waste any excess chakra. Three days of making peace with themselves and saying their goodbyes.

Naruto was, obviously, the one hit the hardest with the situation. She was about to lose the rest of her friends and be stranded in a time she knew nothing about. Alone until she could be reunited with Shikamaru again. When her father wasn’t bouncing Fuinjutsu concepts off her, she was spending some time with the others.

She had been forced to take lunch with Hinata and Sakura on the first day, listening to the girls talk and try to teach her small, quick things about medical ninjutsu, chakra control, and how to be a real lady and kunoichi. Things she had been neglected in learning when she was much younger.

That same night, Obito sat next to her at dinner and was adamant with talking to her about how she couldn’t become a stick in the mud like Kakashi used to be. The silver haired man had rolled his eyes from across the fire at that. He told her that even though her past hadn’t been the best, and he was mostly to blame for that, that he wished she would use this new life as a new opportunity to live the way she was supposed to the first time around. Naruto had just patted his head and force fed him some of the fish that was cooked for dinner to shut him up. Kakashi laughed outright at the Uchiha’s stunned expression.

Sasuke had woken her up early the next morning to go out to the beach and watch the sunrise on the other side of the island. And he had decided that he would teach her how to handle a sword while they were there. Naruto whined about how she wasn’t going to learn Kenjutsu in a morning, but her broody brother didn’t care. He made her create clones so that she could at least learn the katas. “I’ll have to learn this all over again, Sasuke. I’m not sure why you’re insisting on this.” Naruto had mumbled as the Uchiha corrected her leg positions.

“Because I hope, dobe, that the techniques will imprint themselves on your soul and your chakra. Because if it does, just a little, that’s just one step closer to you being able to protect yourself without me there.” the Uchiha said before stepping away to make her do the move again. Naruto wanted to mention how she had been without him for a while now, but she kept it to herself. If it made him feel better, she was not going to ruin it.

Once she was able to escape the impromptu lesson, she was with her father for the remainder of the day until Shikamaru came to pull her away and feed her dinner on the roof of a mostly intact building. Now, if their small dinner turned into a make out session as well, Naruto wasn’t complaining. But then soft and playful touches and kisses turned into bruising holds and desperation. Like most of their intimate moments. It often made Naruto wonder if they would have ended up together in a different life. If the war had never happened. If they weren’t some of the last few people left. Every one of their intimate moments felt like a last goodbye, but that was the life of a ninja. Maybe she was just overthinking it. Later, before they went back down to join the others, Naruto draped herself over Shikamaru’s body and ran her fingers through his soft hair as he stared up at the sky. “Shika, you know I won’t hold it against you if we get to the past and you didn’t want anything to do with me.” Naruto whispered, putting out all her insecurities in that one simple sentence. The shadow user stopped breathing for a moment before he let out a full bodied laugh, jostling the blonde and making her give an irritated huff.

“You troublesome woman.” Shikamaru wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled them so that he was pinning her to the roof with his body. “You won’t be getting rid of me so easily. We Nara may be lazy, but once we have something or someone, we keep them.” He leaned down to give her a kiss.”And I plan on keeping you, Naru. For the rest of my days.” The blonde blushed and gave her boyfriend a small smile before pulling him down to kiss her again. They never ended up back with the rest of the group that night.

Naruto would have spent her lunch with Shikamaru the next day, but Kakashi was quick to swoop in and take her away to a secluded spot in the woods not far from the tower. He whistled and sat behind her, brushing and braiding her hair. It was a habit that he had started with the girls not long after running for their lives from Kaguya. It had started with Naruto after her hair had grown long enough to start getting in the way while she was trying to fight. She was about to hack it all off one night, but Kakashi stopped her and made her sit patiently as he conjured up his memories on how he used to braid Kushina’s hair back when she was pregnant. Naruto had smiled at him and gave him a small hug, asking if he could do it again for her every once in a while. It eventually turned into him braiding Hinata and Sakura’s hair as well and he did it all happily.

Naruto sat quietly as she nibbled on some fish while Kakashi worked. When he was done, he rested his head on her shoulder so that she could see his eye smile. “All done, Naru-chan.” Naruto sighed and leaned back into the man that she had come to think of as her older brother. Their relationship was weird and strained at first as it seemed like the silver haired man wanted nothing to do with any of his students and then he started to focus on one. Naruto had resented him for a while, and after Sasuke had left, she downright hated him because Kakashi had all but disappeared from her life. But then she left with Jiraiya and when she came back, she was mostly indifferent about her old sensei, if not a little excited to see him, or anyone that she had known, really. He was, technically, still her sensei after all of that, but she slowly started to see him less as that and more of a weird older brother who didn’t know how to truly interact with other people. She had told him as much and he had huffed with a blush on his cheeks and demanded she call him Aniki, which she had refused for the longest time until after they lost a lot of their forces after the initial battle with Madara and then Kaguya during the war. They had been hiding in the mountains of lightning country and Kakashi had had a fight with Obito, so he was huddled close to Naruto as they tried their best to stay warm. Naruto had grumbled and hid her face in her knees as Kakashi had, essentially, draped his body over hers as she was kind of a furnace. “I love you. I really do, Kaka-aniki, but please don’t use me to hide from your boyfriend.” Kakashi had blushed and tried to make excuses as his sensei, Naruto’s father, had laughed from his seat not too far from the both of them. But then Kakashi had realized what Naruto had called him and he held her tighter then, trembling. Naruto ignored the tears that she could feel seeping into her shirt as the man hid his face against her back.

“Thank you, Aniki. Do you want the rest of the fish? I’m not very hungry.” Naruto asked, reaching up to tug at the silver haired man’s mask. Kakashi swatted at her hand and bumped his head against hers.

“I know you’re stressed out about everything that’s about to happen, Naruto, but please at least try and finish your food. You don’t want to make bad habits.” Kakashi let out a dramatic sigh and tossed himself back against the ground. “Geez, what are you going to do without your dutiful aniki in the past? You’ll starve or train yourself to death.”

Naruto rolled her eyes and slapped Kakashi’s leg. “Stop being so dramatic. Besides, I’ll have you again eventually.”

Kakashi let out an amused huff and sat back up. “But then you’ll be the oneechan. I won’t be able to big brother you.” He said with a pout. He tugged a little at her braid.

“From the stories Obito tells from when you were kids, I’m sure you’ll find a way.” She giggled when Kakashi pouted and threw himself back on the ground again while calling her mean.

Not too long after lunch, Naruto and her father had completed the seal. Naruto wanted to wait until the next day to try activating it, but the others, once they learned about it being complete, did not see the need to wait. They all joined the two blonds in the sealing room and Minato explained how it would all work. The seal essentially pulled chakra from any source that wasn’t the chakra or soul being transferred until it eventually drained it. Once all of that was complete, and the seal had built up enough energy to do what it was designed, it ripped the chakra and soul from the intended travelers and transplanted them to where they needed to be. Which means that Naruto and Shikamaru would have to concentrate on their own tasks of leading their energies exactly where they needed to go after they ended up in the correct time.

Minato explained that the seal would not hurt the others, but would more than likely put them to sleep before they died of chakra depletion. Naruto bit her lip and trembled as her father approached her and Shikamaru and drew seals on their foreheads that would help guide them and keep the seal from draining their chakra as well. Minato had seals painted on his hands as well so that he could keep the seal going until the very end.

There was no need for goodbyes in the moment either, as everyone had already made peace with what was about to happen. Naruto had as well, reluctantly. But that didn’t stop her from crying tears that she hadn’t in a while. Shikamaru turned to her and wiped them away before giving her a kiss and whispering that everything would turn out fine.

Right before Minato was about to activate the seal, Kurama released himself from Naruto’s seal and pulled as much chakra with him that he could compress into a slightly larger form without invading the entire room and without completely pulling it all from Naruto. “I’m counting on you to make yourself my Jinchuriki again, brat. Do not disappoint me.”

Naruto let out a choked laugh and bowed her head. Of course those would be Kurama’s parting words with her. “You got it, fuzz ball.” The Kyuubi huffed and they all turned to Minato to begin the seal. The man nodded and began a long sequence of hand signs.

”Remember, Naruto and Shikamaru, concentrate on your intended vessels and where your souls and chakra should migrate. Do not waver.” They both nodded, determined, and Minato quickly finished off the rest of the hand signs. “Fuin!”

Immediately, the others began to feel it. One by one, the seal drained the chakra from the remaining shinobi in the elemental nations. The more chakra they lost, the more the seal began to glow. They were all sitting down already, but Sakura was the first to wane and eventually fall over onto her side, asleep then gone, as she was the one with the least amount of chakra. Hinata was next. Naruto had to close her eyes tight to keep from seeing her family die. But she could still feel them leave her. Her body trembled so hard that Shikamaru had to wrap his arms around her and hold her close, whispering to her that everything would be okay.

Kakashi, as dense as his chakra was, was the next to falter. He reached out to take Obito’s hand before falling unconscious. The Uchiha took him into his arms and held him close as he and Sasuke followed the others into death not too long after.

Kurama’s chakra would take the longest to drain, but it was draining surprisingly fast. The fox shifted uncomfortably as he pulled more chakra from Naruto’s seal to compensate before there was almost none left to pull. He left that there so that his Jinchuriki didn’t die before the sealing was complete. Eventually, he became small enough so that he could curl up against Naruto and Shikamaru and let the girl bury her fingers and face into his warm fur. He let out an amused huff, but said nothing more. No words were needed right now.

When Kurama’s chakra was finally gone, Naruto was a sobbing mess. Shikamaru held her as tight as he could and told her it was time for her to concentrate. They didn’t have time for tears. Naruto slowly pulled herself together as the seal started to pull away at her father’s chakra.

Just then, off in the distance, the two blonds could feel the Uzushio sage shields break and then they felt her. Kaguya. She had finally found them.

Minato let out a loud and vindictive laugh as more Edo Tensei cracks began to form across his borrowed body as his chakra left him. It was too late for the goddess. By the time she arrived, the seal would be complete. He smiled and looked up at the two travelers.

”Good luck to you both. I love you so much.” He forcefully pushed his remaining chakra into the seal and his body crumbled apart.

Naruto and Shikamaru gripped each other tight as they could feel the seal pulling at them, ripping them apart. The last thing Naruto heard was the vicious scream of the rabbit goddess in the distance before everything went dark.

***

Light, colors, and sounds slowly came back to her. Everything felt odd as she tried to move around and realized that there was no actual body holding her together. She looked around and noticed that she was in a room where attendants rushed around and what looked like doctors tended to a pale woman with long, curly, golden hair who held tight to an equally as pale baby with red tufts of curls on its head. Both of their breathing was labored and they didn’t look like they would be alive much longer.

This, Naruto realized, was her vessel. She slowly floated down towards the child and the woman, probably its mother, opened her eyes and seemed to look right at her. A gasp escaped the woman and she used trembling arms to hold the baby up to Naruto.

“Please,” she whispered. “Please save my baby girl.”

The doctors sighed and tried to make her put the child down. “We have someone still working on it, Uzumaki-sama, but the poison is something new from Suna. It’s not anything we’ve seen before.” The doctor didn’t sound particularly sad, but he knew this was a lost cause. Their Uzukage would not be happy.

The woman shook her head and held the baby closer to Naruto. “Not you. The angel. Please save my baby.” The doctor thought that the woman was hallucinating and marked that down as a symptom of the poison, but Naruto knew the truth. The woman could see her and thought she was an angel. With pure determination, she forced her chakra and soul to take on a more human form. Naruto reached out her hands and covered the woman’s hands on the baby, giving a slight squeeze before she shifted them to gently stroke the baby’s head. Naruto could feel the seal that her father painted on her shift around until it settled itself on the baby.

This was it. She was about to take over this child’s life. She understood, realistically, that the child would not survive much longer without her intervention, but it still pained her to have to do this.

“Thank you.” The whisper startled Naruto out of her thoughts and she glanced at the woman as she started to feel her chakra being absorbed into the small body. “Thank you for saving her. My little Tsubaki will grow stronger than the rest. She has an angel on her side.” The woman’s face looked pained, but she was still smiling. She slowly lowered the baby back to her chest and started to hum a song. Color returned to baby Tsubaki’s skin as Naruto’s essence started to burn away at the poison that was ravaging the body just moments ago.

The doctor was stunned and called for aid as it looked like the child now had a fever when just a few seconds ago she was ice cold.

The door to the sick room slammed open and a man with long red hair ran into the room. He fell onto the bed next to the woman and reached out to touch her pale cheek. “Nikko! I came as fast as I could.” He looked over his wife before turning his attention to their baby. “No one explained anything to me. What happened to my wife and child?” He said with a growl, turning his attention to the doctor. Uzumaki Arashi, the Uzukage, was not a man to be trifled with. He had a reputation that made people tremble if they saw him in battle. He wasn’t just named after the storm. This man was a storm.

The doctor looked away, wondering where his help was. “It is poison, Uzukage-sama. Something from Suna that we’ve never seen before. There seems to be nothing we can do, but your child has started to develop a fever and your wife is having hallucinations. We have them marked down as more symptoms of the poison.”

Arashi snarled and stood. “If you are not going to do anything for my family, then what is the point of you?” The doctor flinched away, but Nikko lifted a weak hand to take her husband’s. And just that quickly, the storm faded and the man returned his attention to his love. As dangerous as a shinobi this man was in his daily life, he was always a gentle soul to those that he loved. Naruto, who was just barely finished with being assimilated into the child, was getting a bit of whiplash from the swinging emotions in the room.

“Arashi. I’m sorry that I have to leave you.” Nikko whispered as her husband came closer. The man tried to shush her, but she just shook her head and brought their baby closer to him. “You won’t be alone though. An angel has saved our Tsubaki. Raise her well. Raise her to be strong and brave.” She gave him a weak smile. “Raise her to be a warrior far more tenacious and powerful than any Namikaze before her.”

The Uzumaki’s hands trembled as he reached up to stroke his wife’s hair out of her face. “I promise, Nikko. Tsubaki will want for nothing and she will be the fiercest woman anyone will ever encounter. I promise.”

Naruto closed her eyes, giving the two their last moment together just as she was finally absorbed into the body of the baby. She opened her eyes to a white room with a small bundle laying on the floor not too far from her. She slowly approached and looked down to see a small baby girl with curly red hair and blue eyes just slightly darker than her own. She did not look well either. Silent cries came from the child and her face was scrunched up as if in pain. Naruto got down to her knees and reached out to lift the baby. When they physically touched, the sound of the cries hit Naruto like a slap to the face.

“Tsubaki,” she whispered. “I am so sorry, little one.” She rocked the baby gently in an attempt at comfort. It seemed to work as the cries started to quiet down and got softer. “I’m so sorry that this has happened to you.” She pulled the baby into a soft hug. “Rest now. Everything will be okay.”

On the island nation of Whirlpools, a baby opened ocean blue eyes to the world to see the blurry form of a red haired man leaning over her and crying. The baby let out a little gurgle to try and tell the man that everything would be okay. A gasp escaped the man and the baby felt large hands scoop her up and left her against a solid chest.

“Oh Tsubaki. Thank the gods. Nikko was right.” He nuzzled his cheek against hers. “Your mother was right. You were saved. I promise this will never happen again. Papa will keep you safe, okay?”

The baby, Tsubaki, just let out a little sigh and closed her eyes, too tired to do anything but sleep.

***

Not too far away, in the Land of Fire, a certain shadow user had significantly less time than his counterpart to come to peace with what was about to happen.

His chakra and soul took shape in a small room that was familiar, but foreign at the same time. A small medical room inside the Nara compound. A place he did not see often from before.

Inside the room a woman with dark brown hair was having a difficult time with coming to terms with what the doctor was trying to tell her.

Green glowing hands hovered over her youngest son. A precious life that she had only just brought into the world the day before. She was told that he didn’t have much longer to live.

”His chakra passages are blocked, my Lady. No matter what I try, I am only prolonging the inevitable.” The doctor said with much sadness in his voice.

The woman stood and glared at the man with tears in her eyes. “What use are you if you cannot save my son?” She asked with a hiss, forcing the doctor out of the room. She knew she wasn’t being completely fair, but her heart was breaking. She returned to her child’s side and whispered to him that he would be okay. That she would take care of him forever.

Shikamaru watched this and let out a small chuckle. Troublesome woman. He reached out and placed a hand on the baby’s head, wishing he could alleviate some of his grandmother’s pain, but he was more concerned about assimilating himself with his vessel in hopes that it would survive. He hoped that what Sakura said was true and that his chakra would force the body’s coils unblocked.

As soon as he laid his hand on the child, he could feel the seal transfer itself and he heard the woman let out a gasp. He glanced over and saw her looking right at him with tears in her eyes.

“Please don’t take my baby.” Shikamaru was confused at first, but if he thought about it he knew how this must look. If she would see him, she was more than likely seeing him as a wavering light. She had just heard that her baby was in a dire situation. He must look like an angel or a grim reaper, come to take a soul. Unfortunately, that was half true.

He reached out his hand to the woman who hesitated at first, but lifted her own to touch it, making a shiver run down her spine. She seemed to relax though, as if feeling something familiar. The Nara may be an underrated clan in the village, but there were things about them that not everyone knew. The clan were shadow users because they were born with shadows in their souls. The blessed children of Daikokuten, the god of great darkness. Their chakra was easily recognizable to any other Nara in the vicinity because of this. They used the shadows because they were born from the shadows. He didn’t understand the lore of his clan at first, thinking it was just a silly story, but he knows now. Has lived the lore for the remaining days of his previous life. Shikamaru’s soul and chakra, by now, were enriched in darkness.

His great grandmother recognized him for who he was. A shadow. A Nara.

The woman nodded her head, not knowing exactly what was going on, but knowing what must be done. Shikamaru nodded his head as well and turned his attention back to the baby, placing both hands on it and forcing his chakra and soul into the vessel, hoping that the intense influx of chakra would do what it needed to.

Shikamaru opened his eyes to darkness and found himself laying on his back, his fingers just barely brushing against something small and shaking. He turned his head and could make out the small, frail shape of his vessel. The original Shikamaru’s soul. He could hear little pained breaths as the soul reflected the body’s ailment.

He rolled himself over and brought his body closer so that he could wrap around the baby and touch his cheek with a gentle touch.

”I’m sorry that you didn’t have more time in this world, but I thank you for everything you’re giving me.” He placed a kiss on the baby’s head. “Rest now, Shikamaru.”

In the dark of the night in the middle of the Nara compound, a woman held her breath as she watched as color returned to her baby’s skin and a thick shadow settled into the corners of the room. Her hand trembled as she reached out to give him a gentle touch and let out a relieved sob when she felt a strong fluttering heartbeat under her fingers. She picked up her baby and held him to her chest as she cried and thanked the ancestors and gods for sending someone to save her son.

”You are so strong, my little fawn. My Shikamaru. And you have a family full of shadows who will protect you and make you stronger.” She whispered to him as she rocked the boy back and forth, smiling when he let out a little sigh. “Such a Nara already.”

She stood and moved to the door to introduce her little deer to his older brother and the rest of the clan.

[team7-headquarter]

Thinking about Team Asuma and how they were portrayed as lazy, vain and glutton, but none of it was a valid reason for them not to become some of the strongest shinobis around.

"The Akimichi boy only cares about food", "how can he be eating all the time", "Inoichi's daughter cares too much about her looks", "she'll never be a good kunoichi if she keeps being sooooo shallow", "Shikamaru is just a lazy boy", "with that actitud he'll never reach his full potential".

And then turns out Shikamaru is such a genius, he is so observant on the daily basis, that he can get easily bored by the complicated nature of life. The love for food is a big part of the Akimichi culture, something that make them stronger, that brings them together. Young Ino was in fact developing her skills as a kunoichi by trying to learn and use her charm, using their prejudices on her favor to deceive, but most important she can be pretty and powerful and they'll have to stay mad.

Just saying, I love that they have their little vices, even Asuma with his smoking. The shinobi life is so dangerous and full of grief, they stablish early in life the vices that are gonna help them survive. And again, it doesn't matter. None of it can get in the way of their career.

[backgroundcharacterno5]

More of the ice skating AU!

Shikaku, Inoichi and Choza were part of an ice hockey team, but Inoichi also did pair skating where he met Ino’s mom.

[x-authorship-x]

New Fic Alert

From The Shadows

Fandom: Naruto

Tags: Prequel to No Tomorrow, ANBU Culture, Worldbuilding, Team as Family, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, Yamanaka Inoichi, Hatake Kakashi, Namiashi Raidou, Tenzo, Shiranui Genma

Summary: "The one who protects from the shadows, that’s the mark of a true shinobi.”

ANBU were entrenched in the darkest recesses of Shinobi life. They had no faces, no names, no desires but the completion of their mission and the preservation of their village.

Squad Two was as devoted as any unit, perhaps even more so than most.

…And yet-

They changed everything.

Series: HOPE AU: I hope you'll reach those places

Chapter One: ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS

Summary: Academy students took exams to graduate to Genin. They took exams, pitched against their fellows and foreign-nin alike, to earn a Chuunin vest. It took time, dedication, and experience to achieve a promotion to Tokubetsu, let alone Jounin. It took an impressive mission history and a Bounty reputation to be known as an Elite.

ANBU was different. You didn't 'aim' for ANBU.

They called.

And you answered.

[issybee06]

Because…

Part I

Warnings: swearing, underage drinking, smoking, talking about war, trauma dumping

Phosphenes

(n.) the colors or “stars” you see when you rub your eyes.

……………….…………………………………………………………

“Tadaima…”

Genma looked up from his scroll, wrinkling his nose, “Shit, Hime…what is Inoichi doing to you?”

I scoff, pulling the bag of groceries through the door before closing it, “thanks, you sure know how to flatter a girl.”

Genma smirked proudly, getting up from the couch, “my pleasure.”

He began rummaging through the bag, “did you get the sake?”

Glaring, I hit his arm with a carrot. Like a baby, he whined dramatically and I pulled out the sealed bottle, “yes I did, and you should have gotten it earlier today when you got off your shift!”

He groaned flopping on a chair, “but I had to get the cake!”

I give him a sharp glare, “do you know how hard it is to get Sake the day after new years? I had to go to 5 different stores, Genma, 5!”

He waves his hand dismissively, and I continue to put away the food in the fridge, “besides, I thought we were getting Gai new weights.”

Genma gave a dry laugh, “Fucking Asuma already got him that.”

I sigh, putting the last of the food away, “what times the party?”

“Didn’t you help Kurenai with the invites? It’s at 7.”

Nodding, I pull off the grey TI jacket and head to my room.

“I’m gonna shower-don’t! Eat the cookies!”

He whines, putting the cookie back, “it’s not like anyone’s gonna notice!”

“I will.”

………………………………………………………………………….

5 years ago, on October 10, the Nine tails was released from my Jinchūriki sensei, Uzumaki Kushina which resulted in the death of hundreds of Shinobi, including my sensei and our Yondaime Namikaze Minato.

And for the past 5 years, I have been working in the TI building under Yamanaka Inoichi along with one of my close classmates Morino Ibiki. While Ibiki shined in the torture part of the department, I working in the more intelligence part.

The poison department…wasn’t what I had gone for initially, I had wanted to be a field medic that actually got to go out of the village, but my medical Ninjutsu was mediocre and mediocre gets people dead.

It wasn’t like I was disappointed, medics don’t actually engage in combat and my mother said my talents in jutsu would be waisted sitting on the sidelines.

But I guess sitting in a lab all day making and looking at the components of poisons is so much better. Either way I’m still not out there.

It’s still winter in Konoha, and despite being in the land of Fire, it got fucking cold.

Snow licked at our feet as Genma and I walked to Gais apartment, which was already booming with music and people talking.

I sighed, a large cloud of air coming out of my mouth. Genma wrapped an arm around my shoulder, squeezing me.

“Hey, easy up Hime. Let’s have fun getting shit faced with people we like.”

I laughed, “whatever you say, Baka.”

We walked up the first flight of stairs, heading to Gais second story apartment. Genma knocked on the door, giving two crisp knocks before being interrupted when Gai all but ripped the door open.

“MY OLD TEAMMATES!! YOU MADE IT AND JUST IN TIME FOR KARAOKE!!”

Genma and I smiled, and I wrapped my arms around Gai as he picked me up in a hug almost crushing the cookies, “happy birthday Gai-kun, sorry we’re a little late.”

“Nonsense! You’re here! That’s all that matters!”

Genma passed Gai the Sake bottle, smiling, “Happy 19th, Gai.”

Gai had always been the baby of our team, with me being a year older and Genma being 3years Gais senior, we as the older two took it in our power to baby Gai as much as we could…but now he was 19 and a full fledged Jonin.

Gai grinned at the Sake and then at Genma, “Genma! You sly dog! Where’d you find this?!”

I rolled my eyes as Genma gave me an apologetic look before nudging me in so that we wouldn’t freeze to death. Gai, the ever social butterfly, had invited not only our graduating academy class but also many other shinobi.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as soon as I pulled my coat off, “Since you’re late, you own two shots!”

I laughed, taking the small shot glass and swigging it. It burned like a mother Fucker, shinobi alcohol has always been made stronger, but the feeling was familiar.

I couldn’t count all the times I had snuck off with Genma and/or Gai with a bottle of the cheep stuff when we were younger.

Genma and I got used to it quick, but poor Gai had never been able to get over being a lightweight…but boy was he a fun drunk.

Asuma two years ago had convinced Drunk Gai to run from the village gate to the stone head completely butt naked, and he had raised that challenge by doing it while running backwards on his hands.

No one could stop laughing for two days.

Gai laughed loudly, shaking the apartment with his booming voice, “now that you’re here, WE CAN START THE DRINKING GAMES!”

It had been an hour since Genma and I had arrived, and the alcohol and bright lights of the party was starting to get to my head.

I slipped out, opting to stand on the outside balcony. It was cold, like I had thought, but it was calming compared to the heat of 20+ shinobis crammed into Gais apartment. I enjoyed parties, I really did, but sometimes it all got too much.

I blame Asuma for this habit I think as I pull outa pack of cigarettes. Pulling one out, I place it between my lips as I search myself for my lighter.

Nothing. No lighter, meant it was in my fucking jacket at home.

Sighing, I run a hand through my hair before raising my hands to start weaving the all too familiar signs , when suddenly my body stiffened.

This chakra….

Fuck.

“Those things will kill you, you know.”

Turning my head, I look up, eyes softening at the source of the voice.

“You’re late, Kakashi. Party started at 7.”

The dog mask with the red painted on smile tilted, and the moon caught the soft glow of his lone Sharingan. He slowly and silently moved down the roof to be in the light, and I turned to face him fully.

“Oh? The time must have…slipped my mind.”

I frown, the cigarette dangling from my lips, “you should have come earlier. He’s your best friend, Kakashi-”

“Inu, (Y/n), I’m not off right now.”

My frown deepened, and I sigh,“Right.”

His mask tilted more, almost comically, “New haircut?”

I scowl, knowing he was being an ass. Stupid Genma a week ago had made a wrong swipe of his kunai during training, ending with me getting a free cut. Now, the hair curled just shy of my shoulders.

“Shout out to my barber.”

“Maybe I should see if Genma does men.” he evenly spoke and found a second there I could have sworn his tone was teasing.

I hum, weaving a few hand signs before blowing a small flame to light the cigarette And he hops down from the roof silently.

He stands fully, and I forget how tall the once shrimpy silver-haired man was when we were kids.

He’s still lean, not muscler like Gai, but he’s toned and I can’t help but press myself further away from him into the railing with a blush I convince myself that is from the alcohol.

Kakashi…ever since that day had barely showed his face around the village, opting to stay in the shadows. But every now and then, people were graced with getting a glimpse of him. It had been a good 2 years since we’d been this close, and that was in a room full of our comrades and in front of the council.

This, despite having all our friends a plate of glass away, was different.

“Those things will kill you.”

He repeated, tone commanding. I furrowed my brows until it clicked on my head that he wasn't some Anbu subordinate anymore, but a captain.

Still, I had never listened to him when we were kids…why start now?

I make eye contact as I take my first drag, and let the smoke swirl around me when I blow it out. I feel his eyes narrow, and I smirk with all the grace my drunk ass could muster up in front of Hatake Fucking Kakashi.

“If I die because of this, then that means I didn’t die a gory death in battle…and I’d say that’s a pretty good death for me.”

*let's see if you guys like this! If you do I'll write more!*

[primnroses]

— Explaining Konohagakure’s Barrier Team from Naruto to Boruto:

The information presented in this post has been checked and revised. My aim is not to hate or to discredit any of the characters mentioned. Please read about me for further information.

This post will contain evidence in picture format directly from the manga Naruto (1999 - 2014) created by Masashi Kishimoto and published by Shueisha in 1999. I will also use information from the official databooks.

This informative post will explain the role and utility of the Barrier Team from its debut in Naruto to its role in Boruto. I will use information present in the novels and the Boruto manga because it includes character development within canon compliance.

This meta is crossposted in AO3.

I give my permission to use or share this thread with informative purposes as long as you credit me.

I do not support the anime or the work of Studio Pierrot in regards to Naruto because I consider it over exaggerated and beyond biased. Furthermore, these fillers include some actions that these characters are unable to do in the canon according to official sources and they also generate unnecessary debate.

This meta does contain anime scenes from Boruto because it is a monthly manga draft that depends heavily on anime for context.

Please, take this into consideration.

This meta will include a small discussion from my own point of view about the Barrier Team and its members. There will be criticism and complaints, comparisons with other characters, previous leaders, etc.

HISTORY

The Barrier Team (結界班, Kekkai-Han) is an organization formed by sensor-type shinobi and regular shinobi in charge of maintaining the Sensing Barrier, a giant sphere surrounding Konohagakure and its outskirts, which detects any foreign chakra that crosses the border of the village. Many years after the Fourth Shinobi World War, it has been mechanized and transformed into an automated sensing system composed of a few sensor-type shinobi and led by members of the Yamanaka clan (although right now that is up for discussion, as it is self-sufficient by the Hokage's orders).

It is unknown for how long this team has existed, but the Barrier Team debuted in chapter 415 of Naruto. Based on its development, Konoha has kept a Konoha-wide exclusive sensing technique through the ages and, among their ranks, they count with sensor-type shinobi like Hyūga clan members.

This team also has their own unique crest in the shape of an inverted triangle with three circles inside, worn by their members in their clothes in armbands or hats.

Sensing Barrier and Sensing Water Sphere according to the fourth databook.

Naruto:

During the era of the Fifth Hokage, the Barrier Team was a rather small team located inside a room (most likely inside the Hokage Residence) where the large Sensing Water Sphere was guarded and monitored by three sensor-type wearing Shinto robes. According to the fourth databook, Kakoi, one of the sensor-type Shinto priests, was the leader at the time of debut. 

The Sensing Water Sphere represents the invisible Sensing Barrier around Konoha, and the role of the Shinto priests was to inform of any unfamiliar chakra signature that crossed this barrier. When someone or something charged with chakra bypassed the barrier, the Sensing Water Sphere rippled around the area where the aura had been detected; a team of stationary chūnin were automatically sent to the location of the disturbance to investigate the threat.

Unofficially, the Barrier Team used to be divided in two groups:

The Detection was the division formed by the sensor-type Shinto priests.

The Interception was the division formed by chūnin, with Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane among these shinobi, in charge of investigating the threat and fighting the intruders. 

The Barrier Team headquarters and both divisions.

The Sensing Barrier extends from the small portion of forest before the very entrance and walls of the A-Un gate, to the portion of land behind the Hokage Rock, according to the view the manga offers, from the right side. This means that anyone entering the barrier will be detected before they reach the proper gates of Konoha, but not if they halt before the start of the barrier itself. Only Pain could come undetected to the very limit of the barrier due to the visibility his Rinnegan granted him; however, it is to assume the exact spot of the barrier is unknown to non-Konoha shinobi.

According to Pain, it is revealed that the Barrier Team has a special jutsu to get through the barrier without being noticed applicable to ANBU and probably Konoha shinobi, which allowed Kisame Hoshigaki to enter with Itachi Uchiha without alarm.

The view of the full sensing dome from the right angle (Hokage Monument to the right, A-Un Gate to the left).

The Sensing Water Sphere, the Sensing Barrier and the sensor-type Shinto priests, or more specifically Kakoi, and all the staff members in the Detection group in the current era, are symbiotically connected with each other. This means that Kakoi’s sensory range and the rest of the staff, only correspond to the range of the Sensing Barrier and not farther, just confirmed by the presence of Pain and his summons by the limit, undetected. This detail also applies to future leaders who are currently replacing Kakoi.

Kakoi's symbiosis with the Sensing Barrier when he only detects Chikushodo (Animal Path) upon bypassing.

The role of the Barrier Team has remained the same through the eras, meaning that their job is to sense disturbances detected by the Water Sensing Sphere and inform shinobi teams to attack the possible threats. The Sensing Barrier has always remained Konoha–wide too. 

Although the Barrier Team does not appear again until the Blank Period and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, we could see a similar version of it during the global conflict but on a greater scale. 

Ao, a former ANBU and outstanding sensor-type from Kirigakure, was appointed the captain of the Sensor Division during the conflict. Alone, he could detect the presence of the reincarnated shinobi among the hundreds of White Zetsu clones in every division of the Allied Shinobi Forces through his Sensing Water Sphere, including natural energy which only a few selected sensors can perceive.

Ao maintaining the Sensing Water Sphere and sensing the White Zetsu army.

Blank Period

The next time the Barrier Team appears is in the Sasuke Shinden and Sakura Hiden novels:

According to Sasuke Shinden, after Pain’s attack, Konoha set up a more powerful barrier. However, the exploding humans could bypass the Sensing Sphere because they were Konoha shinobi, and thus, they are not considered intruders. The novel also confirms that the Interception group still exists and they also send messenger shinobi to alert the Hokage.

In Sakura Hiden, we notice a few modernizations. After Sakura Haruno defeated Kido Tsumiki, Kakashi arrived at the scene but was shortly cut by an instant Mind Body Transmission message from the Barrier Team alerting him of ANBU leaving the village.

Sasuke Shinden (above) and Sakura Hiden (below).

This detail is key to the development of the Barrier Team in Boruto, as telepathy via Chakra Transmission Communication Device becomes one of the most used tools by the team.

Boruto

By the era of the Seventh Hokage, the Barrier Team has continued to function the same was as before, with the exception of a few changes:

Although there are not any significant changes in headquarters, the Hokage Residence was reconstructed after Pain's invasion and so was the Barrier Team chamber. The location of the team has been confirmed in the anime inside the Hokage Residence.

The room has decreased in size and the area for the Interception Team has been replaced, in favor of a new Detection Team about the same size as the previous one and with the same amount of people monitoring the Sensing Barrier, although instead of Shinto priests, the staff is composed of regular chūnin.

In the manga, the room only takes a corner of an unknown location in the Hokage Residence. The automated sensing sphere has been replaced by monitors instead.

The Barrier Team headquarters in the anime and the manga.

According to Kashin Koji, Konoha used to have a Sensory Team led by members of the Yamanaka clan. However, this information is false. 

Kashin Koji explaining the "role" of the Yamanaka clan.

The Yamanaka clan, or at least the only member of the clan in Konoha (apart from Ino) was Inoichi Yamanaka, who was in charge of the Analysis Team by performing Psycho Mind Transmission on targets that could not be interrogated by Ibiki Morino. There are no Yamanaka clan members aside from those two in Konoha, as Inoichi’s subordinates in the Analysis Team are all shinobi of other origins such as Mawashi Dokuraku, Tonbo Tobitake and Aoba Yamashiro. The latter being the only person other than Inoichi capable of performing Psycho Mind Transmission as seen in chapter 507 and Sasuke Shinden.

(I personally want to remind you that the Yamanaka are not known to be sensors of that calibre. They use Yin Release to control other people or even animals to take advantage of their senses. Masashi Kishimoto described this as a form of sensing in the third databook. By using Mind Body Switch, Ino controlled a bird to find the Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu even though they were nearby, meaning she does not have sensing skills past her surroundings. Mind Body Transmission does not use sensory skills to connect people either as it is a telepathy area like Bluetooth. Telepathy works by sharing their chakra with others as stated by Inoichi.)

Ino's sensing through controlling other species and the Mind Body Transmission range.

Moreover, the people in charge of the Barrier Team were Kakoi and his team of Shinto priests. This information was fixed in the anime, acknowledging the presence of the Shinto priests and Kakoi after Ukyō Kodachi rewrote the history of Konoha. 

Kakoi described as a predecessor of the Barrier Team.

Ukyō Kodachi has renamed this team as Sensory Team or Sensory Unit, although it is still called by its original name, Barrier Team, in manga and anime.

To shed more context into the new era, according to Ino Yamanaka, the Barrier Team has been mechanized and modernized to replace sensor-types with an automated sensing. The Sensing Water Sphere has been replaced by a Scientific Ninja Tools sphere that detects intruders automatically and sends an alarm to the headquarters of the team.

In the manga, the Sensing Water Sphere has been replaced by screens and the area only takes about a room corner.

The new automated system also includes a database with the imprint of Konoha shinobi memorized in it, so anyone not registered within the system will be spotted.

Ino Yamanaka explains the new sensing system made by Katasuke Tōnō.

The range of the Sensing Barrier has decreased drastically, to the point of only covering from the gates to the Hokage Monument, instead of adding the portion of forest like previously established.

This is confirmed by Delta and Kashin Koji speaking on a tree branch by the A-Un Gate and passing undetected by anyone, even though they were within the previous range established by Kakoi in the Pain Arc. As soon as Delta crossed the walls, she was detected, but not before.

The new Barrier Team did not think about erasing the chakra signature of the deceased Jiraiya either, therefore, Kashin Koji, a Jiraiya clone, is able to come and go in and out of the village undetected.

Delta and Kashin Koji (to the left) right by Konoha's main gate, A-Un, undetected.

Led by Ino Yamanaka herself, the Barrier Team only counts with the Detection group, formed by three chūnin in charge of sensing, or rather, looking at the screens for any intruder and informing anyone they must. According to Shikadai Nara, the Interception group has been disbanded, now only informing Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha of danger so they can take care of it themselves. 

The new Detection group informs via telepathy using the Chakra Communication Device, a tool used by the Allied Shinobi Forces to connect each division scattered across the map with each other. This device can cover greater distances than Inoichi or any Yamanaka, therefore we see him, as well as his assistants from the Intelligence Division and other members of each division, wear it. We also see Ino wear it during The Last: Naruto the Movie to receive messages from other villages, clearly outside her range.

The new Chakra Communication Device from the Barrier Team is a much more modern version of the previous one used by the Alliance. Moreover, all communications performed by the Barrier Team, the content of all mind transmissions, are stored in their own database in order to be analyzed or monitored. The Chakra Communication Device is connected the the rest of the automated sensing system to save all images, chakra prints and telepathy relays.

The telepathy device has a stationary version and two portable versions. Ino using it in the Blank Period and the modern version used by Barrier Team.

As aforementioned, the role of the Barrier Team continues to be that of detecting unfamiliar chakra signatures and informing teams to go and investigate. This time, as soon as someone is detected, Ino contacts headquarters to ask them if the presence is registered by the database, and, if not, she will contact Naruto and Sasuke to investigate.

Moreover, they can only detect things charged up with chakra, but not objects like Delta’s drones or shinobi erasing their chakra. This is pointed out by Kawaki, who can fool the Barrier Team by erasing his chakra signature and complains that they are “incompetent” and “only rely on sensing chakra”. This hinders Konoha's protection. 

Delta sneaking a drone in Konoha to search for Kawaki. Kawaki complaining about Konoha's sensing system.

It seems that the new modernized version has not only decreased the sensory range of the Sensing Barrier of Kakoi’s time, but it also appears to be unable to deploy a boosting sensing system. In fact, Boruto was flaring his chakra on purpose while he was still inside the village. However, nobody in the Barrier Team was able to pick this up.

Not only does this inaptitude make it impossible to predict upcoming danger before bypassing the A-Un Gate, but it also makes it an impossible task to follow enemies when they have fled away from the borders.

Ino explains they are unable to trace anything beyond the gates or erased chakra.

For this same reason, Naruto Uzumaki had to step in and track Kawaki and Boruto by himself with Sage Mode.

When Kawaki and Boruto Uzumaki left the village, the Barrier Team could not detect them 40 kilometers outside Konoha because they were too far away from their limits. However, Naruto could finish what Ino or headquarters could not, even despite not having Kurama’s power for the extra boost.

Boruto flares his chakra to no response. Naruto detects Boruto in the battlefield against Code around 40 kilometers away with his sensing skills.

One of the most interesting details about the new Barrier Team is that they are self sufficient and automated because they possess technology to detect chakra imprints without the use of sensor-types, as well as being able to perform telepathy via Mind Body Transmission thanks to their Chakra Transmission Communication Device without the need of Ino Yamanaka. 

This clearly makes the role of their leader very questionable.

We have already witnessed the Barrier Team function perfectly without Ino Yamanaka. Not only during Kakoi’s time, whose job and abilities are the same and above the current Barrier Team, but also during this era.

During the cohabitation mission with Team 7 and the cyborgs Eida and Deimon, as well as during Code’s invasion, the automated sensing and the staff detected (or undetected Kawaki) chakra signatures using their alarms and their screens, and also contacted Shikamaru Nara through telepathy using their Chakra Transmission Communication Devices.

As of chapters 77, 81 and 88 (and future chapters) of Boruto, Ino Yamanaka is deemed not necessary for the Barrier Team, her role taken over by the staff wearing telepathy devices and monitoring the sensing screens at all times.

One worker of the Barrier Team detecting the Grimes and Boruto and alerting Shikamaru Nara. Other worker also contacts Shikamaru about Kawaki erasing his chakra.

How does the Barrier Team work and what is their role?

Detect chakra signatures that bypass the Sensing Barrier.

Inform the Interception group and send them to investigate. In the new era, inform Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha telepathically.

DISCUSSION

How important is the Barrier Team?

The Barrier Team has experienced a surge of utility in Boruto compared to Naruto. However, being written into the story does not equal being more important.

Originally, they were introduced quite late in the story. Konoha has experienced invasions since Orochimaru infiltrated during the Chūnin Exams disguised as the Kazekage, although their role during Pain’s invasion was decisive to demonstrate that Konoha has countermeasures against enemies looking to enter the village. 

Masashi Kishimoto created a group of shinobi exclusively to lead the Barrier Team. This was neglected by Ukyō Kodachi, and he also made it that any sensor-type could replace Kakoi and company.

The equivalent of Konoha's Barrier Team was the Sensor Division. They worked in tandem with Mukta Aburame to discover that the enemy possessed an army of White Zetsu ready, and their captain, Ao, was also responsible of discerning the reincarnated Edo Tensei from the White Zetsu and informing Darui that Ginkaku and Kinkaku were among the ranks.

Ao senses the White Zetsu among the Edo Tensei and the presence of the twins.

So, the Barrier Team is essential to safeguard Konoha from the inside. Detecting anyone on the spot that has entered is one of the first steps to keep its villagers safe.

In Boruto, the Barrier Team suffered a downgrade compared to the previous appearance. Also counting 15 years of technological advancements that could have been implemented within their ranks, but have not happened. Because of Kara’s interests in Kawaki, who is currently protected by Konoha, they must maintain their Sensing Barrier in top condition to detect enemies.

A mistake made by Ukyō Kodachi, who made the Yamanaka clan, or rather, Ino, the leader or responsible of this team, is that he made someone without sensing feats in Naruto, a representative of sensor-types in Boruto. Choosing someone that cannot at least equal, maybe not surpass because it is impossible, Naruto’s sensing techniques granted by Sage Mode even after “nerfing” him, leaves much to be desired about Konoha’s resources and their range of sensor-types.

The failures of the Barrier Team

One of the reasons behind the surge of importance of the Barrier Team is due to Kara’s interests in Kawaki and Code’s desire to destroy Konoha. However, they also shine for their lack of resources and skills; and their lack of applying experience to reforming the new system learning by previous mistakes.

After fighting a large scale global conflict with reincarnated bodies and White Zetsu able to imitate shinobi chakra signatures (i.e White Zetsu impersonating Neji Hyūga to assassinate Sakura Haruno), Konoha’s new automated database and sensing system has not flagged chakra imprints from deceased shinobi like Jiraiya, prompting Kashin Koji to walk into the village as he pleases. 

Sakura Haruno discovers White Zetsu's way of copying unique chakra imprints to fool sensor-types.

Moreover, they rely solely on detecting chakra, making shinobi like Kawaki and Boruto, who can erase their chakra flare thanks to their Karma, and Karin, who can erase her chakra at discretion, to be able to enter or escape the village without being detected by the system or lookouts who are extremely apathetic. Not to mention none of the gates have lookouts like the ones in the War or use other sensing methods like Inuzuka clan, Hyūga clan (who used to be members) or Aburame clan alternative sensing skills that do not require sensing chakra. 

Hyūga with their eyes, Inuzuka with their noses and Aburame with their beetles being pivotal in tracking and sensing.

The sensors working for the Barrier Team are very limited to sensing only what is inside the Barrier, making their sensory feats only Konoha-wide or Sensing Barrier-wide. This sensing symbiosis with the Sensing Barrier is a problem, which means that sensors' skills scale to a machine rather than having abilities of their own. This problem results in them only sensing people when they have already entered Konoha, but not their approach, thus not preventing anything. If the enemy masks their chakra, these efforts are useless because they will not be detected.

This is more apparent for Ino Yamanaka, who was made into the leader of a sensing team and given prominence as someone that can potentially have above average sensing skills, but has failed to compel.

After having no sensing feats in Naruto, she is given a Konoha-wide sensing range equal to the Sensing Barrier’s Konoha-wide sensory to increase her importance. This way, her sensing power scales to a machine. However, after she debuts being able to sense Delta enter Konoha like a competent Konoha sensor, she gets gradually worse when it is discovered that she could not sense Delta plotting her entrance with Kashin Koji a few meters from the A-Un Gate to trying to sense Kawaki and Boruto knowing she cannot detect anything beyond the gates of Konoha or even being unable to sense Code’s ear on Shikamaru despite being a body part charged with chakra. 

The writing made the Yamanaka clan into a sensory clan instead of sticking to their original role (or Inoichi’s role because he was the only member in Konoha like aforementioned) as mind interrogators to gather intel, which was scrapped and the whole family rewritten. This inclusion makes it all the more forced and nonsensical. 

Inoichi Yamanaka and the Analysis Team using Psycho Mind Transmission.

Her lack of skills and Naruto’s necessity to use Sage Mode to do the job of the Barrier Team, has led the writers to dispose of Ino and keep writing their failures without her, as she really makes no difference in or out of the team. This means that any sensor, even Moegi Kazamatsuri who according to Ukyō Kodachi in her character trivia, got perfect sensing skills to replace her; just like Kakoi was serving the same purpose and was replaced.

Ino’s skills as a sensor and telepathist are easily replaceable by the Barrier Team’s automated sensing and Chakra Transmission Communication Devices. So her accomplishments could be replaced or she could be removed from the story (like she already has been) because she is fulfilling a role that should not be hers while also failing to do it decently. Connecting Eida, Shikamaru and Amado could be performed by headquarters with their telepathy devices and sensing is performed by a machine. 

Could they be redeemed?

The greatest disadvantage of the Barrier Team is their small sensing range and their inability to rely on other sensing methods than chakra perception. 

After exposing the main problems related to not erasing deceased people’s chakra imprints from their database and failing to boost their system in case of emergency, there are a few points to make in order to make the Barrier Team a competent and compelled facility:

Keep Ino away from their ranks as she makes no difference, while maintaining the automated system which includes alarms, visual screens and instant telepathy.

Reuse Kakoi’s greater Sensing Barrier to track Konoha’s forest area before the A-Un Gate.

Use other sensory and perception techniques from other clans like Aburame’s beetles, Hyūga’s Byakugan and Inuzuka’s ninken/sense of smell to counter shinobi’s ability to erase their chakra signature.

Put the Akimichi clan in the lookout by every gate like they used to guard the Logistical Support & Medical Division during the Fourth Shinobi World War, this way being able to see approaching danger and fighting them before their entrance to give Konoha time to elaborate a plan.

Considered the most powerful shinobi village, using past experiences and the full power of Konoha's shinobi forces, their clans and their technology, could prevent infiltrations; as well as giving each member of a clan their deserved time to show their abilities.

Note: The Fourth Shinobi World W4r has been replaced by global conflict to avoid mature content flags.

[inoshikachozine]

✨LEFTOVER SALES✨

Our leftover sales are now open! We have a limited stock of all items so be quick to grab yourself some goodies while they're still available! Link to the shop ⬇ https://inoshikachozine.bigcartel.com/ Updated disclaimers⬇ https://inoshikachozine.bigcartel.com/disclaimers

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[yahoo201027]

September 23: Happy Birthday to one of the members of the Yamanaka Clan and a member of Team 10/Team Asuma alongside both Shikamaru & Choji, the daughter of Inoichi, wife of Sai, and mother of Inojin, the Naruto character of Ino Yamanaka.

[luv-kakashi]

One of us is dead

chapter three | chapter five

chapter four - academy

"A genjutsu has blocked parts of her memories we're unable to navigate through them," said a blonde-haired ninja, "Though everything she told you so far checks out with the memories she has Lord Third."

"So she truly is an Uzumaki. She mentioned she moved to The Hidden Mist Village. Is this true Inoichi?" asked the Hokage.

"Her memories show her and a few clan members moving from Uzushiogakure to Kirigakure when she was young. However, there is about a year or two's worth of memories blocked from us. The furthest I can see too is her being taken to a room or a lab... Could it be that the Uzumaki is blocking us from seeing her memories?"

"I doubt that she can complete such a refined and powerful jutsu at such a young age," Kushina spoke up, breaking the very still silence, "Regardless, she is still a child, we must-"

"Do not let her age be an oversight Kushina. Children can be capable of anything. Look at that retched Uchiha. Shisui was it? The one who murdered his fellow teammate on the front lines. Do not talk of children as innocent beings. They are just as capable of destruction as we are," an elder spat with a look of disdain painted in his expression.

"Now, now Danzo. You mustn't judge our respected ninjas on baseless accusations," the Hokage remarked, "What else can you see in her memories Inoichi?"

"Y/N Uzumaki... she's a deeply damaged child," Inoichi admitted, "Her family, her experience in the academy in Kirigakure..., none of it is fitting for a child."

"I see," sighed the Hokage, "Regardless, she needs to be monitored whilst she is here in the village. Not to mention, we still do not know if there are any other Uzumaki's in the same position as her, or if they're alive even. And we still don't have a definitive reason as to why Y/N Uzumaki is on the run, more specifically who captured her and why."

The room becomes enveloped in silence. It was almost stifling as the suspicion settled in their minds.

"I'll see to it that an anbu member is dispatched to follow her, dismissed." The Hokage exclaimed as he dismissed the jounins from the meeting and sat back in his chair, leaving a single red-haired kunoichi with him.

Just who was Y/N Uzumaki? Who took her captive? Why are her memories blocked? 

"Lord third, is it okay if Y/N gets put on my team? We're one member short, you know, and I would love to give the poor girl some closure. She's an Uzumaki! And besides I refuse to-"

"I understand Kushina," the hokage interrupted, "I planned for her to join your team, being with another Uzumaki might give her some closure."

"Thank you Lord Third!"

By the time I made it to my apartment after my run-in with Zetsu, dawn had already broke in Konoha and sleep crept its way over my body. But that doesn't matter as long as I am with her.

Sumire leaned back in her chair, eyes half closed, letting her memories wash over her as she played with my hair.

"Do you remember," she began, her voice barely louder than a whisper, "the summer before I started at the academy, when we played in the attic pretending like it was our own world? We thought we were so smart, hiding from everyone, like no one could see us.""

"Of course I do! We used to drag every pillow and blanket in sight just to make a fort. Stay up late with a flashlight and you'd tell ghost stories, and I would always end up too afraid to sleep." I remarked as nostalgia filled the air around us.

Sumire chuckled at the memory, shrugging with a playful grin as she pinched my cheek, "I don't think I ever scared you. You were always the braver one."

We fell into a comforting silence as we listened to the evening cicadas hum their songs.

"I quite liked our little attic world," she said after a while, her voice soft and gentle as though the precious memory would shatter at any moment if she uttered those words any louder, "you, me and our little attic wor-."

The morning songs whistled by the birds drew me back to reality. I am no longer the innocent, naïve girl who can run up to her attic and pretend that this sick, twisted reality doesn't exist.

Oh well, this is going to be harder than I thought but for now all I can do is play the part of a girl on the run from a kidnapper whose missing her parents.

How ironic.

"SHIT! I'M GOING TO BE LATE!" I yelled as I tried to shove my shoes on, tripping whilst doing so.

I rushed out of the door before hitting the railing of the apartment sidewalk. Sprinting down the stairs, I prayed to Kami that with some divine intervention I'd make it to the academy on time.

I ran through the halls and stood outside my classroom, listening in on the chatter and gossip between the other kids.

Perhaps this is my chance to start anew. A chance to have a normal childhood.

Taking in a deep breath, I slid the door open as the teacher greeted me, "Hello, I'm Kisuke sensei. Everyone, meet your new classmate."

"I'm Y/N Uzumaki. Please treat me well and I hope we can all get along." I said a bit too excitedly as I bowed down in front of my classmates.

I hoped on making a good impression them yet it must seem that the stars do take enjoyment in my failures as I tripped on the first step towards the desks.

Kami, just eat me alive.

At this point I'd rather be 7 feet under the ground then at the academy.

And of course, luck just wasn't on my side today.  The stifling silence was ripped by a multitude of laughs and jeers.

"Oh Kami, she just tripped!"

"How did she miss the step that's right in front of her?"

"Good luck becoming a shinobi with those reflexes." The children jeered, mocking the way I fell over, pointing out every single insignificant detail about the way I look and talk.

Kiri kids were nothing like this; they were much worse. Had I done this in Kirigakure, I would have been physically tormented. Just thinking about it makes my scars ache.

"IDIOTS! You all act as if you've never tripped before in your lives and besides did you just not hear who she is? She's from a famous shinobi clan. And to think you're going to graduate and become successful shinobi. You might just have more luck becoming a mute donkey but that would be an insult to all the mute donkey in the world! So shut it! You're ruining my sleep!" a voice yelled, annoyed by his petty classmates.

"Now, now Akira, no need to insult your peers like that. AND STOP SLEEPING IN MY LESSONS!"

Before he could yell a string of profanities, the Akira boy held his tongue before letting out a barely audible 'Hn'.

What a bipolar child.

He shouts snarky remarks yet his vocabulary seems as broad as a toothpick. Interesting.

"Apologies Y/N-chan. And for that lovely public display, Y/N chan is going to tail you for the rest of the day so she gets a feel for academy life." Kisuke sensei retorts as he points to a now sleeping Akira, who has his head between his arms, "Don't you dare ignore me young man!"

"Whatever." Akira yawned as he waved his hand lazily.

"Please take a seat by Akira Kuran whose over there, Y/N chan." Sensei said pointing his finger to a now sleeping boy.

I slowly made my way to the sleeping child. His demeanor was amusing to say the least but I can't break out of character; remember who you are, a runaway, a nothing. As I took my seat next to the very clearly disinterested  Akira, I heard him mumble something into his arm loud enough for the both of us to hear.

"Donkey"

The academy -to say the least- was uneventful. Children learning about chakra, its natures and control. Children were only learning them now at age 12. Did kids in Konoha have it this easy?The village hidden in the mist subjected every young child to violence and pain. The village was  heralded as the 'blood mist village'.

By age 8 I was forced to fight against the children I spent the last 5 years of my life with. Forced to mercilessly kill my friends for the prospect of graduating the academy.

"Psst Akira! It's time for lunch." I whispered, chuckling at his half sleepy state.

"Huh? Guess it's time to go sleep under the tree then" he muttered as he sluggishly dragged his legs down the steps, stopping a few centimeters into the corridor. I followed him through the academy halls before I knocked onto his back, falling onto the floor during the process.

"You know, when I called you a donkey, I didn't think you'd take it to heart and start following me like one."  He chuckled before turning around to give me a hand.

"Jerk! You're supposed to be my guide." I said as I turned my head away from his gaze, pouting towards the wall.

"Pout any longer and your lip will reach the floor, donkey." he laughed, still holding out his hand for me. I reluctantly took his hand and stood up. We made our way through the academy training grounds until Akira stopped and lied down on the grass under the tree.

"What are you doing?" I asked

"Learning how to fly. What do you think I'm doing? I'm watching the sky."

"I can see that Bakakira. Why aren't you eating lunch?"

"Meh I'm not hungry."

"Well, let's see why you enjoy watching the sky." I said as I lied down, letting the soft grass cushion my back, "I must admit the skies here are much prettier than the skies back in the hidden mist village, whether it be the blue skies of the day or dusk or dawn or even midnight, the skies always make me feel at peace."

"I used to watch the skies with my dad every day when I was younger and I love to still do it now. I feel like I can connect with him this way."

"I think that's quite admirable, Akira-kun.  Watching the skies gives me some sort of comfort, it is constant which gives me hope that things will get better."

"I'm glad you are staying hopeful during this. I heard what had happened, my mum serves as an elite bodyguard to the hokage, I hope you find your family soon."

"That means a lot Akira-kun, thank you."

"Of course, nothing I wouldn't do for a friend." He said as he turned his head to face mine and smiled.

"Who knew Akira-kun had a lil soft side to him." I chuckled

"Way to ruin the moment donkey."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Suspicion brews amongst the elite shinobi as Y/N Uzumaki starts Academy life.

And although the floor naturally calls her name, Y/N has found company with the ever-so sarcastic Akira.

How will she adapt to her new life?

(I hope you are enjoying the story so far!) Loving you always, Suri🎀

[senjutsunade]

~ANBU Detective Agency~

#Blind Incandescence - Head Cannons Content from the collective madness that is Narnia's 3 lunatics - penned by Crazy Insomniac (CI), Finger Seizure (FS) and Typo Queen (TQ).

ANBU Structure

♦ Mr Coffee maker is the most productive agent of ANBU.

♦ The board members are Shimura Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu Mitokado Homura, Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama. They fund the ANBU and are the cause of endless migraines. Danzo's demands for random audits may some day end with Tsunade being charged for murder.

♦ Izumo and Kotetsu are the receptionists. Izumo is incharge of filing and Kotetsu is incharge of phone calls. Which is why almost no paper gets filed and barely any calls (especially from the board members) are ever picked up.

♦ Homicide and organized crime Unit - lead by Tsunade. Itachi and Kakashi are her personal headaches/ hand-selected team members. They deal with cases no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole. 

♦ Marital Affairs Unit - members are Kurenai, Asuma and Anko. This is the unit that brings in the most money.  

♦ Insurance Fraud Unit - Genma, Raido and Gai - Gai's youthfulness is what keeps the other two sane.  

♦ Missing persons Unit: Tsume and Shibi 

♦ Cult investigation: Hidan, Sasori, Kisame - the rest of the agency tends to stay away from them.

♦ Narcotics Unit: Inoichi and Shikaku...its kind of their expertise.

♦ Forensic team: Yamato, Hayate, Yugao, Kabuto, Deidara

♦ Ibiki is in charge of interrogation. Anko assists at times. 

♦ Kakazu is the accountant - no one ever gets paid on time.

♦ Orochimaru is the Medical Examiner / resident terror of the agency. Naruto loves him.

When ever Tsunade has a mad scientist moment (she misses holding a scalpel) she tries to go to Orochimaru's lab in desperate hopes he'll let her assist him - the bastard always slaps her hand away, pushes her out of the lab and shuts the door in her face with a smug smirk as if taunting her for not finishing med school.  Naruto is the only one who has complete access to the lab. If one would dare to venture down to Orochimaru's 'dungeons' they would often find the chibi babbling the ME's ear off about what happened in school that day with said ME responding to the babbling while dissecting dead bodies. Good thing his school teachers think Naruto is just a very creative child. 

Tsunade dislikes the favoritism Orochimaru shows. She was the first blond in his life after all. She should have more privileges.

♦ Akatsuki Law - a VERY successful Law agency run by Nagato, Yahiko and Konan. They provide FORCED free services to ANBU because Tsunade insists that’s what family does and Nagato wishes he was cousins with anyone but her. 

♦ Any press conferences that require ANBU presence are dealt with either from a member of the department in question. Itachi, Tsunade and Kakashi stay in the shadows since their roles require them to keep a low profile. 

♦ Social events that require their presence are Senju And Uchiha family related and Tsuande and Itachi attend them. Itachi with a poker face and Tsuande with endless whining. 

♦ Kakashi is incharge of attending all of Naruto’s Parent/Teacher conferences. There is always a bet ongoing regarding how many dates the Hatake will have by the time he returns the next day. 

Tsunade went to one of Naru's parent teacher conferences --  It's ironically the same elementary school that Tsunade herself attended with Orochimaru and Jiraiya since Jiraiya stayed in his family home while the other two moved away.  Unfortunately, the principal remembered Tsunade. She remembered the blonde menace for that one time she had snuck toads into the classroom during recess (she was good at bullying Jiraiya and Jiraiya was good at catching toads) and had left them in the desks of all the girls that had been giving her a hard time for liking to spend all her time with boys (Jira and Oro). The screams once the students had returned and had toads leap on them had shaken the school.  Then there was the time the blonde nightmare had snuck in Orochimaru's new pet snake (without his permission or knowledge at that) and had gone around telling girls it was her new designer scarf. Suffice to say - no one was amused with her prank. Orochimaru had actually not talked to her for a week.  The principal remembered all these things -- that should have been bad enough right? But this is Tsunade we are talking about. And as her luck would have it --  While trying to act like a responsible adult...she notices the janitor and...recalls that the man is actually a suspect in one of her ongoing investigations - only they hadn't been able to find him - until now. She runs after him, tackles him, breaks furniture, swears up a storm that leaves parents, teachers and students traumatized and stumbles out of the school premises with a bleeding split lip, torn clothing, a limp and a murder suspect.  She wants to sue the school for endangering students. They want to sue her for property damage. Nagato swears he has white hair since that week. Tsuande says his hair is still blinding enough and tells him to get out of her office.  Suffice to say, Tsunade is never allowed to come back to Konoha Elementary School. .

 @konohagakurekakashi & @uchihaa-itachi.