#kekkai genkai

[imadumbshark]

The Senju Kekkai Genkai

I'm pretty sure the senju kekkai genkai isn't actually mokuton, that's just a by product of their actual kekkai genkai which was proably a genetic predisposition to nature chakra.

I believe the mokuton is a specific alignment of factors that correlate to create the perfect circumstances for it to present. Namely, a water and earth nature affinity, VERY good chakra control (which is clearly a trait of the main family senju line, if hashirama, tobirama, and tsunade are any indication), AND a predisposition, or at least a learned ability, to passively absorb nature chakra (which even Naruto couldn't do, he absorbed it actively).

That would explain why the mokoton is so rare despite kekkai genkai usually being dominant genetic traits in large blood-related family groups (Uchiha, Hyuuga, Hoshigaki, etc) because even if all the senju family could passively absorb nature chakra, few of them hit the rest of the necessary factors.

Take for example Tobirama, hypothetically he hit 3 of the 4 required factors to create mokuton (water affinity, chakra control, nature chakra) but because he was missing that 1 single factor (earth affinity) his kekkai genkai presented as an incredibly powerful water affinity and skill over healing and seals*, but no mokuton.

As well as that, despite being much smaller than the Uchiha, the Senju as a whole were able to compete with them on the battlefield. If we assume the disparity caused by the Uchiha's size and kekkai genkai was being bridged by a boost from nature chakra to each individual Senju, the Senju's ability to keep up is much more feasible.

It is also generally agreed within the fandom (never officially confirmed), that when the mokuton becomes too strong, the user gets turned into a tree. Now, that sounds VERY similar to nature chakra imbalance which Naruto was threatened with when he was was learning Toad Sage Mode, adjusted to suit a Tree Sage of course.

It would also explain why so many Shinobi (Orochimaru, Madara/Zetsu) throughout the Narutoverse struggled to recreate mokuton despite having direct access to Hashirama's cells. Unfortunately, I'm not overly familiar with cellular biology, but at least with kidney transplants (with modern science) the rejection rate is about 15% (correct me if I'm wrong, I googled it), not the ridiculous 99% we see when Orochimaru attempted to recreate it under Danzo's orders. Even accounting for the likely uptick in deaths due to adjusting genetic code being considerably riskier then a simple kidney transplant, it is not unreasonable to assume that most of the transfers were probably successful. Therefore, it is possible that the 99% fatality rate was due to the sudden and overwhelming influx of nature chakra into small bodies and minds that did not know how to handle or balance the sudden intrusion. In fact, we even see this when Tenzou's neighbour eventually succumbed to the experiment, and roots and branches grew out of her. Much like the cost that is described for those that wield mokuton, and also an imbalance of nature chakra.

Finally, that would explain why Sakura doesn't have mokuton when, if the show's description of the kekkai genkai is too be believed, she definitely should. Kishimoto's explanation for mokuton is that it is a perfect balance of earth and water nature affinities which, when combined, can cause plant life and vegetation to be manipulated and grow at extraordinary rates*°. However, if this explanation is to be believed, then there is no reason why Sakura should not have mokuton. It is generally agreed (again, never confirmed) that Sakura has earth and water affinities, and her chakra control is considered one of the greatest in the history of the Shinobi nations (canonically the greatest during her time). Therefore, if we're going by kishimoto's explanation, logically, Sakura should be able to use her chakra control to balance her water and earth affinities. However, if we rather consider it with the theory that the Senju kekkai genkai is nature chakra, then Sakura suddenly needs 4 prerequisites, not just 3. And Sakura has never shown any proclivity to nature chakra, so she does not hit the last requirement.

So. Yeah. The Senju had a genetic green thumb that gave them superpowers, not just trees. I think I had more points somewhere rattling around but I've forgotten them lol. I was also going to do a TL;LD but ehhhhhhh too hard. Do with this information as you like, thank you for coming to my TED talk.

*it is generally believed that one must have a certain mental predisposition towards healing and seals to be able to fully master them. Hence why the Uzumaki were so feared, because it was quite literally impossible for any other Shinobi (even other seal masters) to master some of their work because the logical progression (seals work somewhat like code, except WHERE you put each line of code mattered almost as much as WHAT it said) was incomprehensible

*weirdly enough, hashirama's mokuton generally uses pre-existing plants and seeds to create his constructs whereas Tenzou most often creates them from himself. Perhaps less control/balance over the nature chakra? Rather then using it in the traditional sense, he has weaponised the nature chakra's own side effect? Would also explain why his mokuton is weaker and why he's never shown to have Tree Sage Mode. Could also simply be because neither had formal training and simple made the mokuton entirely their own in how they used it lol

°according to kishimoto's explanation, mokuton is more akin to a release, like D's storm release (water and wind) or Mei's lava release (earth and fire), not a true kekkai genkai which CANNOT be recreated without the necessary genetic code, much like most dojutsus', the hoshigaki's sharklike appearances and skills (although that is often argued to be more as a result of their summons), and the hozuki's naturally transformative cellular structure (which is BONKERS by the way)

[littlemonstert-blog]

Kekkei Genkai That Need More Love

Breif Summary: an anomaly of the DNA that allows the wielder to use unique techniques. A kekkei genkai's name describes both the anomaly and the resulting technique. Most kekkei Genkai are likely passed down. Also can posses two kekkei Genkai as Mei Terumi.

NO MORE Sharigan just please... let’s explore others. I won’t be using novels

Storm Release

kekkei genkai, a combination of lightning and water. It is used by several shinobi from Kumogakure, mostly by Darui

Explosion Release

  a combination of earth and lightning. Explosion Release users utilise explosive chakra in combat

Lava Release

combination of fire and earth. Whereas most kekkei genkai are largely identical between users, Lava Release has a variety of forms depending on who's using it.

Magnet Release

Magnet Release users generate a magnetic force which they apply to other substances for various purposes. Combinding Earth & Wind Style

Sakon and Ukon's Kekkei Genkai

unique ability to break their bodies down to a molecular level. The two brothers usually use this ability to share the same body but can also use it to merge with the bodies of others and destroy the host's cells from the inside. When Sakon is in need of assistance, Ukon can bring out some of his body parts to aid Sakon in blocking or attacking. 

perfect example with kiba how the merge with others

Scorch Release chap 522

combine their fire and wind-natured techniques, the resulting jutsu  being called "Scorch Release". It’s weakness is water release

creates several flaming orbs that resemble small suns. These orbs rotate around the user and can be freely controlled to attack enemies. When an orb touches an opponent, it instantly evaporates all the water inside their body, leaving them in a mummified state

[sporksaber]

Going off of my last post: tsunade, as the first female hokage, introduces into the academy a parallel course to kunoichi clases for boys, "seduction 095: seduction tactics and how to avoid them."

[citylighten]

i've been watching naruto from the beginning and this show has such unnecessary way of info dumping

[dira333]

If we have each other - Kazekage Family

Summary: Shinki finds a Mother Figure by accident, or how two people falling in love looks like from a 4-year-old's perspective

Shinki and Shikadai are about 4 years old in this...

Words: 4k

Shinki didn’t mean to get lost. Father will be upset.

All the trees look the same now, and he knows it’s because he’s panicking, but that realization doesn’t help ease his nerves. His breathing is coming faster now, iron sand swirling around him.

There’s movement in the bushes. He holds his breath, hoping, wishing for someone to come and find him.

But it’s a deer, looking at him with dumb empty eyes before returning to where it came from.

Shinki sits on the damp ground, fighting the tears that threaten to spill.

He practiced hard to get his kekkai genkai under control, to make his father proud. And now he’s ruining their celebration, his first visit to Konohagakure to meet extended family, by getting lost in the woods. 

To his left, he can hear movement. He doesn’t look up this time, expecting the deer to be back again.

When instead a voice speaks up, his iron sand reacts without his incentive, shooting forward.

He turns just in time to see a woman deflect the hit, jumping out of reach. The sand drops, returning to him as he stands, scared and relieved at the same time.

“Who are you?” Shinki asks, voice shaking lightly even though he makes sure to carry a threatening tone.

“You’re Shinki, right?” You ask, eyes surprisingly warm for someone who just got attacked. “I’m Shikamaru’s cousin, Shikadai might have told you about me.”

Shinki thinks back to their conversations. His cousin isn’t that talkative. Shikadai mostly prefers to nap. 

But you look like Shikamaru, he thinks, the resemblance calming him down. You’re family too.

“Are you- are they looking for me?”

“Probably,” you tell him with a smile, “I was out collecting antlers when Mosabi came to get me. That’s the deer that spotted you. You wanna get back to the house?”

“Yes, please.” He carefully dusts his clothes off before looking at you for further clues. To his surprise your hand is outstretched.

“Wanna take my hand? It’s okay if not.”

“No,” he grabs it, relishing in the contact. He’s never too sure when he’s allowed to touch others and the iron sand makes it impossible for others to touch him without his explicit permission. Perhaps that’s why Father isn’t as touchy-feely as his uncle is with Shikadai. 

Your hand is warm around his and you don’t seem afraid of him at all. Do you not know his powers? How dangerous he is?

“So you’re visiting from Suna, right?” You ask just as he readies himself to address the topic. “What’s it like? I’ve never been there.”

“It’s a desert village.”

“I know,” you smile warmly. “But what’s it like? What do you like about it?”

“Like… about it?” 

You point above you. “Konoha has a lot of forests. That’s my favorite part of the village, going to a place where you can’t see the sky anymore, where everything above and around you is all the shades of green you could possibly imagine. I have a lot of plants at home too.”

“Father does as well,” Shinki exclaims, the words spilling from his mouth without his intention. “He collects Cacti and he even gets them to bloom.”

“He does?” You ask, showing interest. It’s the first time someone’s asked him about Cacti in a while and though he tries to respect others for not caring enough about them, he can’t help but judge them a little. Cacti are great. And Father, able to get them to bloom, is even greater.

“Yes! Cacti are very delicate plants, you know, and they only bloom in perfect conditions. Every species has different wants and needs, so you have to know them well.”

“And your father does so?”

“Yes!” Shinki nods eagerly, “Father is very knowledgeable. He is teaching me as well and I’m a good student.”

“I believe you are,” you smile, moving as if to brush through his hair. The iron sand immediately rises to stop you and you freeze, hand in the air.

“I’m sorry,” Shinki apologizes immediately, “It’s my Kekkai Genkai, I don’t mean to attack you-”

“It’s fine,” your smile doesn’t falter. “I should remember to ask before I move to touch. It’s only polite after all. May I mess up your hair?”

“I suppose,” Shinki offers, not sure what the purpose of this kind of touch is. 

But then you do it, and he can feel it. He shivers, warmth spreading through his cheeks.

“Can you do it again?” He asks before he realizes that the words slipped out. But you don’t look taken aback by his request, instead ruffling his hair softly for a while until you tuck a strand of it behind his ear, the gesture warm in a way he hasn’t experienced before. It feels like getting a bath or getting tucked into bed, like Uncle Kankuro making his favorite soup for dinner and pretending he likes it as well.

“Let’s get you home, huh?” You say, sounding just like Father when he takes him to bed.

“Can we visit your aunt?” Shinki asks the next time he’s in Konoha. 

Shikadai blinks at him in confusion. “I don’t have an aunt.”

“Your father’s cousin,” Shinki explains and Shikadai blinks again.

“Sure, I guess. I’ll ask.”

“Ah,” Uncle Shikamaru makes a face. It looks like he’s about to yawn, but then he doesn’t. “She’s at work boys, I’m sorry.”

“Where does she work?” Shinki hadn’t gotten another chance to talk to you the last time he’d been here, but he remembers the warmth of your touch and the way you kept smiling at him.

“At the hospital. She’s a poison specialist and cultivates herbs and medicinal plants for them.”

“Oh,” Shinki considers it for a second. “Can we visit her when she’s back from work?”

“I’ll ask her to come around but don’t be disappointed if she doesn’t show up, okay? Her work hours are pretty long.”

Shinki’s familiar with not being disappointed. He thinks he’ll manage.

The day drags on after that. He manages to convince Shikadai to train with him for a while until he gets too tired. Father comes in around Lunch time to sit and eat with him, before disappearing to another meeting with Uncle Shikamaru, leaving Aunt Temari to look after them. He likes Aunt Temari. She never hesitates to give him something to work with, teaching him stuff Father might think him too young to learn.

“Aunty,” he asks, as Shikadai naps yet again and he’s working on his latest embroidery project, “what do you like about Suna?”

She laughs softly. “Where’s that question coming from?”

“I’m not sure, but-”

“Don’t worry,” she picks up Shikadai’s head and drops him in her lap, carding her hand through his hair in a gentle manner that makes his own scalp tingle, longing for the sensation. “I’ll tell you. But it’s a long list.”

Shinki looks up at that.

“There’s the sunset. The sunsets are not the same here. How the night sky is so clear at night, barely any clouds to cover the stars. How you can breathe freely because no trees are blocking your sight. Do you want me to go on?”

He considers it for a second.

“I really like how warm it is,” he answers a question he’d been asked months ago and not by Temari. “as if the sun’s settling in your bones.”

Temari smiles. “You got that right. What else?”

You show up right after Dinner, exhaustion pulling at your body. He can see it in the way you walk, slow steps, back a little hunched.

But you smile at his sight and your smile is just as warm as it was the last time he saw you.

“Hey there,” you wave at him, “how was your day?”

There are a lot of things he wants to tell you. From the question he still needs to answer to the questions he has for you - not to mention the present he’d been working on for weeks at home - but now everyone’s eyes are on him and he can hear his panic in the rustling of his iron sand moving around him.

“I am fine, thank you,” Shinki says stiffly, wishing for himself to be different. Father’s hand rests warmly on his shoulder, no doubt to calm him down. In the time it takes him to gather himself you’ve exchanged pleasantries with the other adults. Father has his arms crossed now, cheeks a little reddish. Did you say something that made him upset, Shinki wonders, looking from the Kazekage and back to you. But no one else seems upset, there’s even a grin playing around Uncle Kankuro’s lips.

“I forgot,” you say, sending him a look and a poorly veiled wink, “I have a present for Shinki at my place. Do you wanna came with me and get it?”

“Can I?” He asks immediately, thinking of the time he’ll get alone with you, able to say some things without being the center of attention. If he plays his cards right he can give you your present too, without anyone watching.

Father hesitates for a second, exchanging looks with Temari before nodding.

“It’s alright. But I want him back here in an hour, is that okay?”

“More than okay. We’re just going to get a plant or too, nothing too serious,” you promise before turning to him. “Do you need to get your bag first?”

You take his hand on the way over, soft warmth in the cool night, listening as he tells you all about Suna, all the things he likes and learned to notice.

“When you walk through some streets,” Shinki recalls fondly, “the sky disappears too. Everything around you is different shades of brown and red and yellow, depending on the minerals used. It’s like in the woods.”

“That sounds mesmerizing,” you point out, a faraway sound to your voice, “I’d love to see that someday.”

Desire tugs on his heart. He could show you around. He could have you and Father and Suna at the same time.

“You could come-” He starts, cutting off for a second. “Visit me, you know?”

Your eyes flicker over and you smile. “I could, couldn’t I? Maybe I will one day when my work allows.”

He squeezes your hand on accident, thinking about that. You squeeze his hand back.

“I made this for you,” he exclaims in the safety of your apartment, after he’s done three trips looking at every single plant there is. There are so many, despite the small space, making it feel more like being in the woods than indoors.

It is a tapestry, barely big enough to cover both your hands. He’s spent weeks agonizing on what to put on it until he decided on something you’d already talked about.

The bloom of Father’s Cacti had been plentiful that month, each blossom a different, vibrant color. 

Now he’s carefully watching your face, not wanting to miss any hints. Do you like it? 

“Oh Shinki,” you breathe out, “it’s marvelous.”

His face blooms with heat.

“Can I hug you?” You ask and he nods, lump in his throat. You pull him in, warm and safe and oh so different from all the other people who have hugged him before - not that there are many. 

Father is tall and strong, and touching him often means touching another layer of protective sand. He’s careful in his approach, giving, but never taking. He smells like Cacti and the dessert and his hair always tickles Shinki’s neck when they hug.

Uncle Kankuro and Aunt Temari hug him quickly if they hug him at all. More often than not they move as if to mess up his hair before deciding against it, offering him their hands to a high five instead. They’re not the cuddliest people, he thinks, and that’s okay.

But hugging you feels like sinking, like being drawn in, like giving and taking. You’re warm and soft, yet sturdy enough to keep him upright, swallowing him whole yet leaving him be. Shinki doesn’t want to let go. 

“You know,” you tell him on the way back, his arms heavy with the two plants he got to pick out, “if you want, we can write to each other. Shikadai mentioned that you wrote him too.”

“Yes, I do,” Shinki nods, “Shikadai knows a lot of words. I like writing him.”

“You know, most children your age don’t know yet how to write,” you muse. “How do you feel about that?”

The question comes out of left field. How does he feel about it?

“What are they doing instead?” He asks, wondering. Are they napping with their parents, like Shikadai? Do they get to play with their friends, like he’s allowed to do when he’s visiting Konoha?

“I’m not sure,” he answers eventually.

“That’s okay. You might figure it out later.”

“How do you feel about it?” He asks, looking up at you. A shadow travels over your face.

“I am very proud to know such an intelligent child,” you tell him, lips pulling into a smile. “And polite, too.”

His lips pull up as well, unable not to smile back at you.

“Are you going to work the whole week?” Shinki asks, shifting the pots in his arms. He’d wanted to carry them himself, but he’s now regretting it. If you’d taken one, he could have held your hand on the way back too.

“Sadly, I do.” Your smile turns into a frown. “I’d love to spend some more time with you. But if it’s not too late for you, I can show up after work, like I did today. If you want, you can show me how you made this embroidery and I’ll teach you how to take care of your new plants.”

“I’d love that,” he admits.

You stay true to your promise, showing up each evening after work.

At first, the grown-ups seem a little confused by your presence, though Shinki wastes no time dragging you into the room he’s sharing with Father and Uncle Kankuro.

“I prepared everything for today’s lesson,” he explains, showing you the fabric, needles, and the different colored strings. “Today I’m teaching you about the different stitches.”

“Do you want something to eat?” Uncle Shikamaru asks from the doorway. “When did you get Dinner?”

“Oh, I’m not that hungry,” you wave him off, smiling when Shikadai settles in your lap without question, eyes closing instantly.

Shinki’s a little peeved that his cousin’s taking up the space in your lap. If he’d be more forward or if his Kekkai Genkai would allow it, he could- but then again…

“How does that look?” You ask, turning your project for him to see. “Is it good, Shinki-Sensei?”

He blushes at the formal title.

“You don’t have to call me that,” he insists, though it feels good. 

“Shinki,” his Father’s now standing in the doorway, dressed in his proper Kazekage uniform, the hat in his hands. “I’m leaving for tonight. Are you going to be okay?”

“Yes,” he gets up and walks over, torn between wanting to properly say goodbye to father and wanting to cherish every minute he gets with you.

Father gently pats his shoulder. “I see, you have company. Don’t stay up too late.”

“I won’t.”

And there it is again, a quick exchange of words between you and Father that ends with a hue of redness tinting his Father’s cheeks. And your face has changed too, your smile different now. 

“Do you like Father?” He asks as soon as the front door has closed behind him. He knows not to ask questions like that with other people listening in.

Your shoulders pull up to your ears.

“What makes you think that?”

“Because you smile when you talk to him.”

“He’s hard not to like, don’t you think?” You ask and Shinki doesn’t know how to answer that, so he falls silent instead.

Shinki likes getting letters, but he likes getting letters from you best.

You usually start answering his questions before you ask him your own, always following up on the important stuff. How he’s settling in, how his experience is with training, how the Cacti are growing… And then, on a separate page, you add information about yet another plant, poisonous or not, that he can add to his collection. He likes your drawings of the plants, the detail you put into making sure that the petals have the correct color so that he can safely identify them in the future.

Sometimes you write Father letters too, though those have no added drawings and he usually reads them in private. They’re not that interesting, Shinki, thinks because you mostly just talk about your day-to-day.

They’re planning their next trip to Konoha when the letter arrives, from Shikamaru this time.

It arrives out of the ordinary, on an otherwise normal Tuesday, and the way Father’s brows furrow has even Uncle Kankuro stop what he’s doing.

“What’s wrong,” Uncle Kankuro asks.

Father says your name and Shinki turns, a weird feeling in his stomach.

“What is it?” He asks.

“Apparently, she’s fallen ill. A surgery was necessary, but her recovery is thwarted by the amount of work that needs to be done. Shikamaru asks if we could take her in for a few weeks, keep her from her work so that she can fully recuperate.”

“Can we, Father?” Shinki asks, mind racing. He’s going to be able to show you Suna, isn’t he?

Father exchanges a look with Uncle Kankuro, who grins and folds his hands behind his head.

“Don’t look at me, Gaara. You’re the one who can’t keep his eyes of her when she’s around.”

Shinki furrows his brows. “Do you suspect her to spy on us, Father?”

“What?” Father turns. “No, nothing like that, Shinki. I-”

“Your Dad likes her,” Uncle Kankuro grins. “Probably as much as you like her, Shinki.”

“So she can come?”

Father sighs. “She can come. But-” He raises his hand. “Don’t overwhelm her. I know you want to show her everything, but first we have to make sure she’s resting.”

Your skin is paler than he remembers, the white of your eyes a sickly yellow. You walk a little hunched and your bags are being carried by another Konoha-Shinobi. Shinki remembers him, the telltale green of his uniform, the thick eyebrows and the bright smile.

“Friend Gaara!” He launches into an excited tale, but Shinki steps to the side, a little unsure on how he’s supposed to be greeting you.

“Can I get a hug?” You ask, sinking to your knees. He nods, dropping himself into your arms. 

You might look a little different, a little worse for wear, but you still feel the same, warm and safe.

“Are you excited to show me Suna?” You whisper into his ear. “I bet Gaara told you that I’m supposed to rest first, right?”

“He did. But you really don’t look good.”

You laugh softly, flinching at the same time. “I’m going to be as good as new in a few days, don’t worry.”

Back at the Kazekage residence Shinki shows you your room.

“You should lie down,” he insists, pulling back the blanket. “My room is right next door if you need anything.”

“Do you wanna lie down with me?” You ask, flinching again as you stretch out on the mattress.”

“Am I allowed to?” He asks, the words slipping out before he can think twice about them.

You blink slowly. “I’m allowing it,” you tell him softly. “But only do it if you’re comfortable with it. You can try and if you don’t like it, I won’t be hurt if you want to leave again. I’m sure you have a lot to do.”

Curious, he slips out of his sandals and under the thin blanket. Your body is warm and it feels like a hug, but different.

“Where did they do surgery?” He asks, turning onto his side a little.

Your eyes are closed but you raise an arm and point at the side of your stomach.

“Here. You want to see the scar?”

“Can I?” 

Instead of answering you pull up your shirt, revealing puckered skin that’s an angry red and hot to the touch.

“I think it’s inflamed,” he points out, a little worried now. 

“That’s probably right. I’m going to rest a bit now and by nightfall, it’s going to be better, I’m sure. I’ve just been on my feet for too long.”

“Okay,” Shinki turns onto his back again, looking up at the ceiling. “Can I stay with you until then?”

“Sure.”

Shinki’s supposed to be in bed, he knows. 

But you’re just a room away and he can’t sleep, skin itching.

So he slips out of bed and out the door, unheard, unseen.

Though, you’re not alone.

He can hear soft voices through the door, both of them familiar.

Father is with you.

For a moment he thinks about stepping through. Sure, Father sent him to bed, but he’s just saying “Good Night” one more time. 

That is, until he hears his name.

“Do you want me to talk to Shinki?” You ask and Shinki freezes, doorknob in his hand.

Talk to him? About what?

“I think that’s my job, is it not?”

“Perhaps, but I can tell you’re having problems with it.”

“I’m not sure if he understands.”

“He’s smart. He will understand.”

Understand what? Shinki shivers, the coldness of the stones around him seeping into his bones.

“Gaara,” you say now, your voice now different from before. It reminds him… it reminds him of Uncle Shikamaru when he calls out to Aunt Temari, that smile on his face that Uncle Kankuro calls lovesick. “Rest. We’ll talk about it in the morning. You’re thinking too much.”

“No one told me that starting a family would be this difficult.”

“It’s not. You’re just making it difficult,” you laugh softly. There’s the whisper of linen. Did Father just slip into bed with you?

Slowly, carefully, Shinki unwraps his hand from the doorknob and takes a step back.

He’s not sure what he just witnessed, just that it’s something of importance.

Father eyes him over the breakfast table.

“You did not sleep much last night,” he concludes. “Do you want to stay home and rest? Keep our guest company?”

“Father,” Shinki swallows around the lump in his throat. If he wants to ask, he needs to ask now, before the rest of the house wakes up. “Did you spend the night… with her?”

Bright red bleeds into Father’s pale cheeks. His eyes widen.

“How-” He takes a deep breath. “You know?”

“I wanted to say Good Night one more time,” Shinki confesses, staring down at the table. “And I overheard.”

“I suppose,” Father sighs softly, “I suppose this is as good time as any. We were talking… We’re considering… What do you think about having a mother?”

-x-

“Mother,” Shinki calls out to you, “Hurry.”

“I’m here, I’m here,” you laugh, catching up to him. “Incoming,” you warn him just seconds before your hand messes up his hair. “It’s just Shikadai.”

“Yes, but he’s been training,” Shinki insists. “And I want to know who of us has gotten better.”

“Ah,” you smile. “I’m sure you’re going to do great. I’m proud of your growth.”

Shinki grumbles something, turning away when you move to mess up his hair even more.

“Stop,” he insists. “I’m not a little child anymore.”

“No, you’re not.” You smile, squinting at the Horizon where the Thunder Train is starting to appear. “But you’re always going to be my favorite son.”

“I’m your only child,” Shinki reminds you, nose curled. He likes being called your favorite, even though he opposes it every time.

“Oh, I don’t know,” you whistle an innocent tune. “That might change, you know?”

Shinki freezes. “Are you saying-”

“No,” you smile, shaking your head. “And if I were, I wouldn’t tell you like that. But what are your thoughts about it? Would you mind?”

He considers it, watching the Thunder Train approaching.

His hand finds yours, squeezing it. You squeeze back, no words needed.

“No,” he announces eventually, just as the Train halts in front of them. “I wouldn’t mind.”

part 2

[floridecuts]

What if Naruto came more after his mother than his father?

A fanfic I’ve read recently inspired me to draw these sketches. The idea of an alternate universe story where Naruto inherited the Uzumaki clan’s red hair and kekkai genkai with the chakra chains sounded very interesting to me.

I also liked the idea of Naruto growing his hair long just like his mother (I imagine Kushina being so proud and bragging all the time - poor Minato xD). It was also fun to explore a few different outfit designs for him.

Hope you like it, thanks for taking a look! :)

The fanfic that inspired this: “The Change” by Cyl12 

[strawberry-milkbunny]

Naruto is my Roman Empire and I’ve been reading MadaTobi fanfics so these r my Founders Thoughts that nobody asked for:

- Tobirama had a crush on Madara and it PISSED HIM OFF like they def had hate sex at one point LMAO

- they literally worked together ur rlly gonna tell me they didn’t have SOME moments of civility btwn them?? (lowkey that’s wild tho having to see ur brother’s murderer everyday at work-I like Tobi but I’m just sayin)

I WANT A WORKPLACE SITCOM WITH THE FOUNDERS SJSKKSKS:

- Tobi doing experiments and scaring the villagers

- Tobi teaming up with Madara to make Hashi do work

- Hashi making flowers w/government documents

- Mito sipping tea while encouraging Tobi to revive the dead

- everyone in the Tower side eying the sexual tension btwn Madara and Tobi and them never denying they’ve fucked before

- Toka cackling in the background

- Hikaku spraying water at Madara like a cat every time he throws a temper tantrum

- Kagami popping in to make sure his clan head doesn’t kill his teacher PERFECT SITCOM MATERIAL

- totally personal preference: Naruto should’ve had more BLOOD AND GORE. I wanna see the grittiness and horror the shinobi world actually is and how revolutionary Naruto as a character is by choosing peace over violence. The only time we get that is Obito vs Kiri nin, Uchiha Massacre, Wave Arc, Orochimaru…before it turns into DBZ fights

I’ve said this before: Sasuke was in a seinen Naruto was in a shounen

- the warring states is literally the perfect place for exhibiting the horrors of war and humanity. Bloodline thieves, child hunting squads, GIVE. IT. TO. ME. Madara and Hashirama experiencing all of this and wanting PEACE FOR THEIR YOUNGER BROTHERS UGHHH ROBBERY‼️‼️

SORRY TW IMPLIED SA !!:

I HC that bloodline thieves is prob why Madara wears gloves….being a YOUNG (he’s been on the battlefield since he was 8??) powerful, prodigy and future clan head of a famous kekkai genkai it makes sense why he doesn’t like skin-contact/sexual repression and repulsion. And why we don’t see female Uchiha shinobi (excluding misogyny) simply bc there’s such a high risk of SA in this era

Moving on:

- Tobi and Izuna were jealous of how their brothers were being taken away. It goes past the senju/uchiha rivalry like they were just kids and were plain jealous.

- Madara and hashirama def share 1 brain cell LOLLL. Like they’re besties for a reason, Madara acts likes he smarter but nah he’s as much of an idiot as Hashi is. They’re both dreamers let these boys live and skip rocks together!!! 😭😭

- let’s be honest: Tobi built the village. Mans was doing ALL the logistics and infrastructure

- tobirama is soooo second son/eldest daughter coded it’s not even funny. The SPARE, serious and emotionless bc he needed to always clean up after his siblings, DUTIFUL, prob has a praise kink etc.

- Madara is an eldest daughter who also prob has a praise kink and touch starved

- NONE of the founders r well adjusted like they went from spending everyday of their lives at war to tryin bring peace and start essentially a ninja-revolution (PLS GO TO THERAPY)

- madara was just the most open about it: being isolated and feared by his own clan BC he was powerful, trying advocate for the village and peace, all while grieving for his last brother…yeah it makes sense y he went crazy or at least wanted to leave (fuck Kishimoto for that Kaguya bs and fuck Zetsu)

- I don’t actually believe he was trying destroy the village idkkk. I think he was trying to do an SNS aka using fighting as a way to communicate with Hashirama and well…yIkEs

- tobirama is 1000% unadjusted: mans literally created a Justu to revive the dead. You cannot tell me that doesn’t REEK of desperation and loneliness. He’s lit rally the OG mad scientist

- hashirama rlly thought sealing the Bijuu and giving them to each village was a good idea….sir WHO TF GIVES NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO SHINOBI???!! 😳😳

- I think hashirama and naruto lowkey can be summed up as: a powerful idealist. Which is a very dangerous combination. Take that how you will especially considering how shinobi thrive off of violence….it kinda makes sense how we ended up with canon Naruto

- Madara has a god complex and knows it. Hashirama has a god-complex and doesn’t know it. (God of Shinobi title def got to him and understandable)

- the founders failed and they know it. But I also kinda love it?? They’re so flawed and human as leaders and you can see how their mistakes drag into Canon Naruto. It also makes me so sad knowing that Konoha was built to prevent child soldiers and give protection only for it to actually be WORSE (Kakashi ITACHI SANNIN ik for a fact it must’ve hurt Hashi to know ur own granddaughter left the village)

Uchiha are: love is the death of duty while the Senju are: duty is the death of love and neither of them will forgive each other for picking one over the other‼️‼️‼️

- proving this ^^ w/Hashirama’s weird af characterization: aka him being a loveable idiot but at the same time CONGRATULATING Itachi for killing his own clan for Konoha…. I feel like that rlly showed me how much of a war veteran/shinobi Hashirama actually is and how he will always pick duty

- we were ROBBED of baby Kagami/hokage Kagami 😤😤😤 I’m sorry Kagami should’ve been made Hokage it just makes sense personality wise and politically wise. The only way I could see him not take it is bc he needed to be a clan leader/placate the Uchiha/help Hikaku.

- I wanna see him process the loss of his clan leader, teacher, and eventually friends to a point where Danzo takes his eyes

- everyone on Team Tobirama had a crush on Kagami at one point

- one of my fav HC: Tobi and Madara co-parenting Kagami. There’s no way Madara didn’t check up on Kagami being taught by THE senju which makes his defection hit harder for Kagami 😭😭

- BABY SANNIN ‼️‼️‼️ Tsunade was old enough to meet and remember Hashirama it makes sense that Oro and Jiraiya meet the founders

- omg could u imagine being Edo Tensei Hashirama?? Ur granddaughter’s weird friend revives u using the Jutsu ur brother invented that you specifically FORBID 😭😭

- Hashi and Tobi staring at Orochimaru like “you look familiar???” IT HAS SO MUCH COMEDIC POTENTIAL

- Mito revolutionized female shinobi like she’s def the reason ppl realized that girls can fight (Senju Toka was an exception) STAN MITO 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

- Mito pulled a Tsunade and mentally yeeted out of Konoha after Hashi and Tobi died. Bc the way we NEVER hear about her and Hiruzen interacting except for Kushina, even tho she’s literally RELATED to the other 2 hokages….ROBBED 😵‍💫

- I HC: she was dealing w/grief (the fall of Uzushio made it worse) and she was lowkey pushed out of the council by Danzo FUCK DANZO

- I love the idea of Mito wooing for Hashirama’s hand/politically smart Mito!! It was a political marriage that grew into love. There’s no way she DIDNT suspect an attack on Uzushio lik it’s literally an island w/Kiri as it’s neighbours….Konoha gets recognition and stability while Uzushio importantly gets mainland allies

- Mito tops btw she’s def pegged Hashi before 🫢

- if Madara or Hashi had sisters/born women they would’ve def had a marriage to solidify their alliance. This makes Japanese homophobia not make sense esp in the shinobi world bc their clans trusted each other w/o backup like marriage?? Idk I’m just kinda confused y it was never even brought up for an alliance…

*cue MadaTobi arranged marriage au 100k, enemies to lovers, slowburn*

- also to dude bros homophobia has no place in the Naruto world (and IRL BTW) outside of making heirs. They’re literally MERCENARIES You telling me Kakashi has never fucked another man for information before??? Pls be serious I’m begging y’all 🙃🙃🙃

- there’s def family drama amongst the senju!! Idk I feel like Hashirama and Tobirama have the relationship of: “they love each other but don’t like each other” which makes Madara’s inclusion even worse for the brothers’ relationship. Like they def always had each other’s backs but never actually felt like they understood each other.

- I wish more fanfics/canon covered the shinobi-civilian politics more (I love politics lol give me world-building kishimoto 😤)

- Civilians hold power. THEY have all the MONEY to pay shinobi

- I’ve rlly only seen 1 fanfic that involves the Fire Daimyo during the Warring States Era (Into the Wide Blue Yonder it’s a KakaSasu Time travel fic that actually ✨works✨ 12/10 recommend) but it’s true.

Wtf is the Fire Daimyo doing during this era??? Why is he being so placate about Senju/Uchiha war unless he just sees it as entertainment?? How have shinobi NOT fought against rich civilian politicians before?? (Introducing Maoism to the naruto world lol ��🤔)

- Kishimoto curse ur goldfish brain….

- the uchiha and senju were def broke in this era, LMAO especially the Uchiha and I mean resource wise. War is EXPENSIVE the Uchiha don’t have Hashirama and Mokutan, they couldn’t just grow food whenever they wanted. It makes total sense that they would agree to a ceasefire just to prevent STARVATION

- once again…. robbed in terms of seeing the aftermath and devastation of war and learning how to live in a morally grey, politically unstable, resource limited world which could’ve brought in the ultimate themes of peace and the cycle of violence, and the question of if violence and war is ever justified, but…..no ❤️

[maboroshi-if]

SNote: Maboroshi is intended for 16+ audiences. Strong Violence and Swearing/Cursing will be in the IF. The warning list will be updated as we continue. Intro Post is still being pulled together, so if there are any questions, let me know!

Maboroshi is an Interactive Fiction Game based in the world of Naruto, however, all events within the story span during the end of the First Shinobi War and the beginning of the Second Shinobi War.

Long ago, many years before you were born, the countries of the world were entrenched in warfare for land. Mighty warlords and noblemen wished to expand their territory; however, blood would need to be given in exchange; Unfortunately, for the people of the land, the blood given as payment was not theirs. Instead, shinobi across the lands sacrificed their lives to fulfill the greedy lord’s wishes. Villages would soon be pillaged, children and women would perish from famine, and demonic creatures would rise from the darkest parts of the world to roam the earth. This would later be known as the Warring States Era. 

Twenty years later, all the infighting, battles, and wars would just...cease to exist. No one knows what caused the wars to stop; many believe that an inner deal was made between Daimyo across the land, while others believe something much more sinister is at play. Regardless, the ninja world seems to have finally settled into peace and harmony.

It has been some years since the Warring States Era ended. Villages across the land have been ushered into peace, and the village of Kirigakure is one of them. 

Having just graduated from Ninja Academy, you're now a Genin placed into your forever squad. Focused on growing stronger and building a name for yourself. You set your sights on becoming the strongest nin in your village, and who knows? Maybe you'll even become Mizukage someday. Before that happens, you'll need to pass the Chunin exam, a test that is said to have painted the very soil underneath your feet red.

Exam preparations are put on hold when rumors of war begin spilling across the peninsula. 

Tonari Yuma, a missing-nin from your village once accused of kidnapping and killing five children from all across the Land of Water, has resurfaced as a chieftain in the small village of Kirostache. 

Proclaiming himself to be the rightful Mizukage of the Land of Water. He wages war against Kirigakure and denounces your village as a town full of traitors united in dethroning the Daimyo by the usage of dark means. Your father calls it foolish. There is no way that the Water Daimyo would believe such a basis. 

Or so he hopes.

A conspiracy is brewing in the Land of Water, and you will soon learn that life is not as idealistic as you believed.

Fully customize your character!

I MEAN IT; fully customize them! Choose your 

Hairstyle and type

Hair color is locked to red, but you have the option to pick different shades of red, 

Skin color, 

How you appear to others, 

Eye color, 

Ninja outfit + civilian outfit

Name + Nickname

Gender, 

Genital choice + Body Shape will come in Part 2

Pronouns

Height

Weapon (you can’t use your chakra ALL the time)

Birth Season

Backgrounds are locked based on your chosen clan

More to come soon...

Choose one of three clans to be your paternal lineage

Tsuchigumo: Become Spidewo-(man)! or not. 

Yuki: Possess the Ice Release Kekkai Genkai

Shirogane: Puppet Masters who originate from the land of Wind

Become a master of either Taijutsu, Genjutsu, or Ninjutsu

Or master a combination of all three!

Romance 8 ROs

Three are available for Part 1

Four ROs will be introduced in Part II. The last is a secret RO

Pass the chunin exam!

Failing means your death, so make sure you are ready when you take it.

Complete a bunch of D-rank and C-rank missions; you're only a genin, after all.

Learn forbidden jutsu or stick to a path of purity (aka, do nothing fun!)

Meet some fan favorites as they were when they were alive!

Determine your fighting style: are you more brutal, or do you have finesse?

Or maybe you don't want to fight at all!

Become a Jinchuurki? It could happen 

Choose to become a medic-nin if it suits your fancy!

Izuna Uchiha (M): The Rival A boy shrouded in mystery, he is a constant reminder of your first C-rank mission and what went so terribly wrong. You’ve tried your hardest to make peace with him. But it feels impossible. He's a stranger in your tight-knit village and has found himself to be treated like an outsider. You would feel bad for him; if he weren’t so smug. Replacing one of your squadmates, he has shown an aptitude for warfare and finesse that makes you weary. How can a child who has grown up in a world of peace be so ruthless? Get to know him and you’ll unfortunately find out. 

 Izuna possesses an aptitude for Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu, making himself a triforce. And it makes no sense to you, considering that you hardly see the boy practice! It will be interesting to see how he grows. If he makes it.

Chihiro Inoue (F): The Dreamer

One of your squadmates, she is a loud and outspoken girl with large dreams and big ambitions. Working to become the first female Mizukage, Chihiro often displays headstrongness and an overzealousness that can often get her into trouble. Luckily for her, fortune always seems to work in her favor.

Chihiro possess an extremely high aptitude for Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, calling herself a self-proclaimed weapons master. She gives as good as she gets, and has no problem getting a little dirty.

Tanui Hozuki (M or F): The Jokester

A jokester, they seem to have no desire to become a ninja; but with all that chakra they possess, they are given no choice. Apart of Squad Six, it makes no sense why you seem to run into them all the time, but you find their presence comforting.

You know nothing about their fighting style; only hearing whispers of the ‘wicked’ things that they have summoned from the adults in your village. 

Shinichi Hoshigaki (M): The Lost One/Secret RO

The second member of your original squad. Shinichi is the complete opposite of what you would expect from the Hoshigaki clan. Known for being fierce and aggressive, Shinichi is the exact opposite of the savage reputation that precedes them. Soft and friendly, Shinichi is a gentle soul and abhors the act of violence. But when push comes to shove, he will protect himself and his friends with the vengeance of Asura. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to save him. Or was it?

Shinichi possesses a high aptitude for the sword. Almost on par, if not matching Chihiro in strength and brutality. He favors the Water Release Jutsu; typical for someone coming from his clan. 

Akane Uzumaki: your mother is revered as the five-tailed beast's holy priestess/vessel. Once labeled as one of the strongest Kunoichi in your village, she has settled into domestic life and has left behind a life of adventure. She seems content; however, you catch the sorrowful expression on her face whenever she looks at you.

[[Chooseable Name]]: Your father is a distant cousin of the Water Daimyo, considered a war hero for his actions in a rebellion that lasted almost ten years. He has been given the highest spot in the village as "supporting Kage," only second to the Mizukage himself. 

Hanabi Sugawara: Your sensei; is not what you had expected in a teacher. Seeming to coddle your small team of three more than teaching you. You feel that she is hiding something, something that could put everyone in danger.

DEMO (Coming soon) || RO Appearances || Discord (Maybe)

[semi-imaginary-place]

I was thinking about how the girls in Naruto might have progressed as ninja if they'd ever been given actual development.

Ino would make an excellent spy. She's mental ninjutsu oriented, and she's people oriented. She's the gossip queen, she knows everything about anyone. I can so easily see her as an espionage master going under deep cover to do what she does best, knowing other people's business. Super glam spy fits her vibes, she deserves it. The anime suggests an alternate path as she has a filler arc where she apprentices under Tsunade and that's as a mental health specialist. This doesn't fit her quite as well but I do like the idea of her and Sakura working together given how important their rivalry is to each other in the manga.

Sakura was introduced as having excellent potential in genjustsu, and then nothing was done with this. Sasuke became the genjutsu user and Sakura the taijutsu user and this could have been interesting since this is the opposite of their initial introduction but again nothing was done with this. Building off her taijutsu and being able to focus her chakra to a point for super powered attacks, I think Sakura deserves to wield a giant axe, she has one in several of Kishimoto's illustrations. Next would be her to develop her genjutsu potential, Sakura's strength's are her control and intelligence and I'd like to see her fully use those skills. Additionally the manga and characters themselves draw strong parallels between Sasuke and Kakashi as the geniuses of their teams. The parallel that is missed is that Sakura and Kakashi are both people without plot-breakingly powerful kekkai genkai with high intelligence, excellent chakra control, but mediocre chakra pools, and this really could have been explored more. One of the problems Naruto has is that healer is treated as a women's profession, with Sakura its rather hard to avoid however as the manga sets up a strong parallel between the sannin trio and Team 7. One option would be for Sakura not to use her medical knowledge for healing but instead like Kabuto for assassination and special operations. Of Team 7 Sakura is the most suited for ANBU, Naruto is just out of consideration completely and Sasuke has shown himself to be just as stupid and reckless as Naruto. Sakura in Anbu would also further drive the similarities between her and Kakashi.

When will someone remember that Tenten exists. I don't see her 700 epilogue retirement to run a weapon shop necessarily bad. Not everyone has to be a ninja, the problem is when it's always the women who retire from fighting. As a ninja though I think Tenten deserves more swords, like Killer B level or more swords. Tenten's strengths are in her physical abilities and weapon versatility, so she should be able to always pull out the weapon type that would work best against any opponent. I love to see her be a primarily physical fighter this would be my first pick for her, but another option would be to lean more into the sealing scroll side of thing so not just weapons but tools and traps, make Tenten a saboteur.

Hinata, oh Hinata, she deserves so much better. I can see more or less two paths for her. First would be to quit being a ninja, it could work for her. Hinata never really seemed to want to be a ninja, it was always for something else, her clan, Naruto, her friends, but not quite herself. I can very easily her leaving the shinobi life all together, leave ninjas, leave the Hyuuga clan; Hinata deserves it, to lead her own life on her own terms. Hinata had such potential to be an interesting character and its a shame the manga never got into it. She's the eldest of the Hyuuga clan leader but she's overshadowed by both her cousin and her younger sister and ends up passed over for succession, like that is juicy. True growth for the Hyuuga would have been Neji succeeding his uncle as clan head but that's another post. If she stays a ninja I would have like to see come to terms that her clan's kinda bullshit in a lot of ways and what they think of her doesn't matter, becoming a shinobi because she wants that for herself. In line with this personal growth she fighting style should deviate from Hyuuga techniques, maybe she develops her own taijutsu style. Or who knows maybe she becomes a physical therapist between the ability to see chakra and affect it, magic acupuncture. Kurenai is similarly ignored in the manga, but with her mentorship, Hinata has the potential to become essentially a magekiller, specializing in countering and taking down genjutsu users.

I bring up the option of some of the girls retiring because some of the boys should have retired. Hinata should have gotten Choji's character arc, and Choji who hates fighting should have been allowed to quit fighting and run a successful bakery cafe business. Sai deserves to put shinobi life behind him and become a full time artist. Shikamaru starts out like he's going to quit but I'm actually quite fond of his character arc. Yamato is also wasted potential as former human experiment and child soldier, like Sai he should learn how to live in peace, maybe he becomes an architect. We don't see team Taka in chapter 700 but Juugo is so gentle I want a nice civilian life for him.

(idk about Temari I mostly just want her to keep girlbossing and beating people up. Mmm I do think she's make a better Kazekage than Gaara. Gaara is another one I could see quiting being a soldier.)

[animeyanderelover]

Greetings 😊 Could I request Hashirama,Tobirama,Madara,Itachi,Pein,Shisui,Sakura and Sasuke with a darling that can shrink themselves?

Tw: Yandere themes, unhealthy mindset, unhealthy relationship, possessive behavior, obsession, delusion, paranoia, stalking, abduction, arranged marriage

Darling can shrink themselves

Madara Uchiha

🌑 Considering that Clans like the Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka relocated into the Hidden Leaf Village after it's establishment, I can see darling also being part of a similar Clan. There's no major interest in any of those clans, Madara only cares about the fact that all those clans will make Konoha a very strong nation but I do see him being interested in the secret arts of all the clans. He can technically copy them, including the ability to shrink the own body if we're going to assume that it's not a kekkai genkai but a secret art passed down within the clan. The only reason he's refraining from it is because Hashirama tells him to not dig into the secret of those abilities since it will damage the relationship between the village and the clan. His darling would have to be special among their own clan to stand out to him, maybe they're just exceptionally talented and smart and get paired with him on missions a lot.

🌑 If Hashirama notices that his somewhat grumpy friend works well together with you, he'll definitely put you two constantly in the same team. Madara's not complaining though. You caught his interest, obviously he'll use every excuse to get to know you better. I do feel like he would feel somewhat weird during missions where you have to use your abilities and shrink yourself to the size where you can easily fit into the palm of his hand. The look he gives you the first few times where he witnesses it is priceless before he learns to mask his mild shock. Occasionally you make him mad on purpose and in such moments he threatens to squash you, you know that he's just kidding though. The Uchiha already have a good idea what's going on when he starts forcing you to spend time with him in the Uchiha compound, that doesn't make the following discussion with the eldest of the clan easier though, considering that Madara is stubborn. There's nothing holding him back from courting you although an arranged marriage will be held if you should refuse his advances.

Hashirama Senju

🌳 Considering the kind of man he is, I can totally see him trying to help literally every clan that settles into Konoha with the built of their compound, even if his brother reminds him that he has other things to do. For Hashirama it's important to take this time to strengthen the relationship between the clan and the fairly new village and connect with the people who will from now on call this place their home. So that's how you two meet when he pays the compound of your clan a visit to ask if everything so far has been working out and if there's anything he can help with. He's just walking up to you and begins talking with you as if he isn't the Hokage of this village. That makes it easier for you to talk with him though as you don't feel any pressure or stress like you'd feel normally if someone in a high position talks to you. So you engage him with your own quips and wits and before he knows it, he's spent far too much time talking with you. He couldn't help it though, you were just that great in talking. You don't think that it's weird that he visits often, you've heard from other clans that he does the same with them.

🌳 You think it's nice how much he cares and you often wait for him to visit again. The time you two talk together when he comes over gets longer and eventually you take strolls together through the village where he excitedly shows you everything that the villagers have worked on and that he plans to do in the future. Then begins the phrase where he suddenly starts giving you flowers and beautiful kimonos as his mind seems to only revolve around you. The times Tobirama has caught him grinning like a lovesick fool whilst sitting in his office is far too much to count on all hands and feet. It's so easy to realize what is going on with Hashirama and whilst his clan initially hesitates a bit, they at least figure that you have a special jutsu. When your clan receives the offer of an arranged marriage between you and Hashirama, they seem willing to accept it, knowing that it would greatly benefit their clan. You search for Hashirama in shock who wasn't aware of the schemes of his clan either although he did plan on asking them for your hand in marriage. Seeing you so devastated with the thought of marrying him breaks his heart though, do you really hate the idea that much?

Tobirama Senju

🌊 Tobirama isn't such an emotional fool like his brother is, he just wanted you and your clan in the village to have as many strong people in Konoha as possible to have an advantage over the other nations. The comfort of those clans so that they stay in the village is obviously also important to him so makes arrangements to ease any tension and doubts. The people from your clan are mostly used for spying and collecting informations as your hidden jutsu suits such tasks perfectly. Eventually you get choosen personally from him as a new member of his own team of trusted and skilled shinobi so you often tag along when he goes out on highly dangerous missions. It's a huge honor for you and your clan so you dedicate your everything into helping him to succeed every mission. As someone who is rewarded with his trust, you realize that beyond that grumpy and serious facade is a more caring and loyal man than some might think. Tobirama just doesn't seem to be fond to show such a side of himself often.

🌊 Everything goes well until Tobirama starts acting weird around you. His newfound obsession disturbs him and he tries his best to not let it have a bad influence on your teamwork as he tries to keep it professional. Yet his feelings are something he can't beat with logic and worst of all, he realizes that his change of attitude hurts you and it awakens guilt inside of him. You still try to not let it get too you during missions, something that only makes him admire you even more. You don't see him very often outside of missions anymore as you just assume that he needs time alone, in reality Tobirama is watching your every step very closely. Be that with the help of the Anbu or with his sensory abilities, you can never escape him like this. Not even if you shrink yourself as he can always track you down. He doesn't want anyone to find out, the shame would be too much to bear for him. I do see him as less opposed to suggest an arranged marriage between his darling and him since he knows that your clan would all too happily agree if it means having a better relationship with the Senju. Only if you refuse him of course and hurt his pride.

Pain

🌧️ You live in Amegakure and are the last one of your family alive, meaning that you're also the last one who knows about the secret art of your family. It seems like this jutsu will die down together with you, that is until two very mysterious people approach you and ask you if you'd be willing to work for their organization. You lack the courage to reject, your guts telling you that it would be a bad idea to refuse their request. You've heard about the rumors of the god and the angel of Amegakure and just sort of know that the people in front of you are those legends everyone keeps whispering about. You're less responsible for catching any Tailed Beasts though as you're only given few information about the goal, origin and purpose of the Akatsuki. Your only job is to infiltrate, to spy and to collect certain pieces of information before reporting back to Pain and Konan. You never dare to run away or betray them out of fear that they might kill you as both always seem to figure out your location, even if you shrink yourself.

🌧️ You find it strange when your missions decrease and you're instead often kept in the tower where you just sit around before helping those two with whatever you can do within the tower. Pain's Rinnegan never seems to leave your form, something that gives you shivers as his unwavering gaze on you creeps you out. It's especially terrifying if Konan isn't there and the thick silence engulfing you two threatens to stop your heart out of sheer nervousness. There are times where he tries to break the silence by chatting a bit with you but it only does little to soothe your nerves. You don't know what's going on inside his head and it's only on the day where he suddenly tells you that you won't leave this tower anymore that you finally get an idea of what's happening. A few of his other bodies stop you from leaving as you glance at Konan, pleading silently for help before you see that she looks away guiltily and you understand that she won't help you. You can try to escape by making yourself as tiny as possible but Pain will always find you. Hopefully you know that already.

Shisui Uchiha

🍂 Both you and Shisui are part of the Anbu and you've been part of his team since years now. The reason is the simple one that you two make a very good duo together and always get the job done, no matter how difficult or bloody the task at hand might be. You can rely on each other and often know what the other one is thinking by simply looking into each other's eyes. Even outside of missions you two spend a lot of time together, you know Itachi and Sasuke very well because Shisui has introduced you to both of them already. You merely see Shisui as a really good friend of yours though whilst Shisui's feelings have changed throughout the years. A simple crush which he never told you about because he knew that you didn't feel the same as he did have turned over time into a deep obsession he's unable to get rid off. It's only because of his amazing amount of restraint that he hasn't done anything yet. You're part of a well-known clan in Konoha and a famous Anbu after all, not to mention that he admires and respects you so much. He would like to avoid underhanded tactics when it comes to you.

🍂 Yet there's this brooding feeling inside his chest as his patience runs with time thin as he starts wondering why you've never considered him as a potential partner for you. He's seen you crushing on so many people before and can't help in some emotionally vulnerable moments why you would choose them over him, someone you've known for years now. Why not him? The only saving grace is that you never went out of your way to ask any of those people and Shisui is partially to blame for that. He has stalked people that caught your interest, has observed them and memorized their routine and their tiny ticks and everything that he can use to help you lose interest as he points out why you wouldn't like that person or why you wouldn't be permanently happy. Even if you try to hide that you have feelings for someone, Shisui always finds out as he knows more about you than you're aware of. For the time being he holds himself back as he stalks you, waits for any sign that you might hopefully return his feelings one day. He's waited so long for you after all, he won't give you up to anyone else.

Itachi Uchiha

🍡 The history between you two starts as you join the ranks of the Akatsuki and get paired with Itachi for a new mission as Pain deems your abilities to fit perfectly for retrieving important information and scrolls, looking on how you've perfected your jutsu to the point where you can even shrink objects around you. Itachi is picked because he has experience as an Anbu and knows how to be stealthy so he is supposed to help you infiltrate the village and steal the scrolls. To your luck he's very silent and not as intimidating as you expected someone from the Akatsuki to be. The mission goes to your luck well as both of you exceed in teamwork as something about Itachi manages to ease your jittery nerves. As you collect more experiences with other members, you soon realize that you work best together with Itachi and Pain notices that too and puts you two permanently together. You feel relieved about it and even Itachi seems weirdly peaceful about it as you're one of the few members he's met who doesn't kill people out of fun or is necessarily happy to murder.

🍡 There's some sort of innocence surrounding you and he soon realizes that you're only here in the first place because you didn't have a choice, looking on how you're the last one of your family who knows the secret art of shrinking yourself and things around you. Almost as if to preserve your innocence, he starts hurting and killing others just so that you don't have to as he has already no chance to make up for his sins. He protects you from doing something you can't bring yourself to do and you appreciate it. Both of you bond like this as your bubbly attitude around him in peaceful moments is a breath of fresh air for Itachi, the last ray of sunshine in the world he has resigned himself into. Love isn't something that he deserves nor did expect to find so imagine the sudden paranoia he feels whenever you go on missions, the fear that you might get hurt. He tries to rationalize his fears, tells himself that you got chosen for a reason yet all it'll take is one miscalculation from your part which will get you seriously hurt for Itachi's paranoia to blind him. You don't belong into this world, so he'll keep you away from it.

Sasuke Uchiha

💙 A trophy of Orochimaru is what you are now, he saved you from the brink of starvation when he found out about your secret art that only you know about now as all your other relatives have been killed in attempts to figure out the Hidden Jutsu. It's not like you want to be here but you know that the man would otherwise either kill you or use you as a lab rat so you choose the less gruesome outcome. By the time you join, Sasuke is already there and your intial hopes of befriending him so you feel less lonely are crushed when you figure out how much of an asshole he is, rude and only focused on his own training. He doesn't bother with anyone who can't help him gaining more power and so you're left completely on your own with little to no choice but work on your own jutsu. Orochimaru expects progress from you after all and it's only when Sasuke finds out about your abilities that he seems to be a tiny bit interested. To your demise, Orochimaru for some reason wants you to train with him together looking on how the both of you are of similar age. He seems convinced that you'll benefit from your training with Sasuke.

💙 The training does pay off as you get significantly better in ninjutsu and taijutsu but it comes with the price of ruthless attacks, scars, wounds and many sleepless nights as Sasuke forces you through hell with the training. You don't know why he's all of a sudden that invested since he didn't want to spare you even a single glance before but now all he focuses on are his own strength and you. He forces you to tag along with him all the time, there's rarely a moment where you two are separated from each other and you can always feel his hardened eyes following you around, his grip on you tightening when something bothers him or he simply wants to warn you to not do something that will anger him. Sasuke himself is equally confused about the uprise of those foreign feelings as he wonders what it is about you that made him this way. Maybe it was your strength, maybe it was your surprisingly tenacious side at times. The only thing he does know is that you're close to his heart and that he will never allow you to leave his side for that reason.

Sakura Haruno

🌸You start training your medical abilities shortly after Sakura has been made the new apprentice of Tsunade and both of you end up spending a lot of time together for that reason. Sakura has known you before that too of course, you're from a clan in Konoha with the special ability to shrink yourself and even people and things you touch. That's about all she knows though so she decides to use the chance to get to know you better now, looking on how both of you train to learn medical jutsu. Sakura has an affinity for healing though which is why soon enough she is able to move on to the more challenging stuff whilst you're still struggling with the basics. You're not afraid to ask her for help though nor is she arrogant that she's better than you, instead both of you begin studying together. At one point you even show her your jutsu when she expresses her curiosity and in the end Sakura can only stare in amazement down before carefully letting you jump on her palm and lifting you up. That's when she starts wondering if it would be possible for you to use your jutsu to shrink the wounds of people which would be of great help. 

🌸 Both of you are at one point inseparable as you're constantly seen together. You study together, you train together, you take your meals together. Tsunade has pretty much made you her second apprentice because both of you stick together like glue but also because Sakura has told her about her idea how to use your secret art which the Hokage figures out might be possible. Honestly, people already wonder whether you two are a couple or not and Ino has teased Sakura about it already a couple of times, triggering a blush to bloom on her friend's cheeks. Sakura's behavior does not make any of this easier though as she essentially acts like she's your girlfriend. She's really affectionate, prepares questionable medicine for you if you're sick and even insists to nurse you back to health when you fall ill. She's delusional so obviously she doesn't shy away from her feelings as she doesn't view them as wrong, she's initially just a bit flustered with her growing crush.

[r3dlif3]

The Land of the Waves arc is a really interesting one, especially with Haku's character in particular. Haku's arc begins as a heavily parallel to Sasuke's; from the kekkei genkai and the hatred they've faced from it, the inherent loneliness and isolation throughout their entire lives, their loyalty, and regards for having someone special in their life. For Haku it's Zabuza and for Sasuke it's Sakura and Naruto. Although it's more impartial to Naruto due to the whole best friend thing that Itachi told Sasuke with awakening the mangekyou sharingan.

Even during their fight Zabuza makes a comment to Kakashi that's akin to letting their students fight without interruption and their ways of fighting and approaching one are almost identical. Once Haku's died Sasuke is the first one to realise how Haku purposefully kept Sasuke alive and ensured not to hit is vital points; despite the amount of damage he inflicted and how he promised Zabuza ,the man he loves and trusts the most, that he would kill him.

Both parties' isolation is probably the most clear example of a parallel because of how similar, yet different, it is. Sasuke's experiences isolation post massacre mostly and is a family oriented character. His driving force in the series is to get revenge on the man who caused his parents' death and to ensure closure from it. He makes close relationships with those around him at first only to break them in favour of his journey to power so he's able to rival Itachi's. However, Haku's isolation began from birth. Because of the kekkai genkai discrimination faced in his home village he was separated from everyone else. Even his mother forbid him for showing any signs of it for his own saftey due to his father. Haku's lonliness comes to a halt when he meets Zabuza. Even if he knows he'll only be used as a tool ( as Zabuza himself says even if he's disgusing his protective feelings of Haku) he puts his loyalty into the man's hands. He loves him with everyone bone in his body just like Sasuke did with his own family. Their isolative lives happened in opposing ways.

All of this just for Naruto to be pushed as the one who understands Haku the most. Every person in the series who is relateable more to Sasuke ( gaara, neji, haku) becomes mote aligned with naruto..sasuke uchiha i'm so sorry you got framed as a villain despite your higher compatibility with every broken character that naruto ends up 'saving'

[freeflowhighway]

Howdy.

You like fanfiction? You like Dragon Ball? Why don'tcha check this preview out. I think you'll like it.

When you're done and want more? Check out the link at the end, thanks pookie. You're the best.

Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, was under attack. The Kyūbi: Nine-Tailed Fox, appeared over a full moon night to bring terror and destruction to all within the village. A creature of such might and power that one swing of its tail could flatten a mountain to the base, would be met with an equal in the Fourth Hokage. Riding the Great Toad Gamabunta, the Yellow Flash defended his land with his life, meeting the King of Demons in the outskirts of his homeland.

However, something went awry.

A third party, a beast never seen, would unleash untold mayhem. It did the impossible, not just forcing back Gamabunta and his Shinobi God companion, but it focused its hatred entirely onto the Nine-Tailed Fox. A gigantic ape tall as Hokage Rock and nearly as broad, thick arms and legs of bulging muscles barely hidden by its black fur, and a monkey's tail that whips hurricane winds with every swing. This new Bijū of only one tail fought with its fellow demon, their devastating forces clashing against one another so fiercely that the very ground beneath them surrounding all Konohagakure shook, creating craters and canyons in the dense forests. The clouds above thickened greatly before terrible winds cleared the sky.

Though even in destructive power, the Great Ape proved superior in durability, barely struggling against the most powerful of the Bijū's wrath. Its tails bounce off of the Great Ape's body, claws and fangs draw blood yet only go skin deep, even the Bijū Bomb is matched by the shaft of light flying from the Great Ape's maw. Through sheer endurance, the Great Ape outlasted and damaged the Nine-Tailed Fox enough that the Fourth Hokage was able to seal it in one fell swoop. However, the Great Ape itself was nigh unstoppable. Without an opponent to distract it from the village itself, hope seemed lost as countless lives were taken away, shinobi of every clan work together to even stall the unstoppable beast.

The Hyūga Clan, renowned for their kekkai genkai: the Byakugan, were rendered useless. Their dōjutsu being the All-Seeing Eye are blinded by the sheer intensity of the Great Ape's aura. Those not fast enough to undo their ability in time suffered from sensory overload.

The Inazuka Clan, shinobi with close ties to beasts as well as mankind's connection to their primal roots, are stunned frozen by their nature. Not all, but many suffer a paralyzing fear that prey suffers from when in the gaze of a predator, especially one never before seen.

The Aburame Clan, infamous yet humble for their compact with insects, creatures often underestimated despite their uncontested control over the world. Without them, nature would not function, and in turn they could rule the world should they act as mankind has, yet even their unorthodox methods and bizarre abilities are naught but worthless before the otherworldly might of the Great Ape.

Even the greatest strategists within the Nara Clan, the gigantic might of the Akimichi Clan, nor even the mind-altering phantasmic power of the Yamanaka Clan could falter the beast. It would force its way through the traps, break the towering giants that stood in its way, and none could manipulate a mind so forcefully set on its singular goal of destruction.

Finally, the Uchiha Clan act as the last line of defense. Though all suffered, it is through the efforts of the noble Uchiha Clan that many civilians are spared, at the cost of many of their own. The Sharingan was ineffective against the beast itself, but absolutely necessary in their impeccable defense and evasion, distracting the Great Ape for as long as they could until the Fourth Hokage could face it personally at last.

Konohagakure was fated to fall until the coming dawn. By chance or by fate, the two deities fought long enough for the moon fall low and sunlight broke across the sky, which upon that most desperate hour would mark the end of disaster. The Great Ape vanished without a trace...

But not without taking one last cruel victory.

With the weight of the world and even that from beyond now off of his shoulders, the Fourth Hokage succumbed to his wounds in the tireless battle and being as young as he was left behind no candidate nor heir to his title. With little choice, Hiruzen Sarutobi would return from his retirement, taking on the mantle as Third Hokage once more. Though an ultimately tragic event, hope remains within the hearts of Konohagakure.

Peace has returned.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49701808/chapters/125855470

[allthatmay]

Hello! I'm new to Tumblr so I thought I'd post one of my more popular fanfics. I worked really hard on it for about three days, obsessively, and then posted it without much fanfare! I've since gone back and edited it to a higher quality (especially the porn, comrades!) and I'm working on a more plot-intensive version that I will upload one day. For now, here's the fic as it currently stands. I hope you enjoy it!

Title: The Kekkai Genkai of Haruno Sakura

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Sakura/Kakashi

Summary: When Sakura turns 21, she must marry or face death. Thank God she's got Minato 'the Love Guru' there to help her make sense of it all. [20,000 word oneshot]

Tags: Fuck or Die, Slow Burn, BAMF Sakura, Forced Marriage, Declarations of Love, AU Canon Divergence, Their Love Is Requited But They're Both idiots, Mildly Dubious Consent (Into Enthusiastic Consent)

Extract: "In her most stuporous moments, all Sakura could remember was dragging her wet, searching mouth against Kakashi's blazing skin. When her sensibilities finally hit her, they came in slowly, a low tide that washed away her confusion. The more lucid she felt, the further her heart dropped, dragged by a riptide into deep, dark waters—like she was crashing, in slow motion, from a dreamy high."

[sporksaber]

Hi, so this is going to be a darker naruto fanfiction post.

I see 2 different versions of bloodline theft through reproductive means, and one seems way more likely as the method.

So, the most common one is the one automatically assumed. Woman=more children, so kunoichi from clans are more at risk for kidnapping, and it ties into other risks of a similar nature.

But that doesnt make sense when you actually do the math. The other version, where men are seen as more at risk (and subsequetly higher priority, be it to retrieve them or remove them as a risk through other means) makes more sense, yet ive only seen it twice.

The villages keep track of their clan ninja. Keeping one for ten months without being noticed would not be easy. It would also require a lot of recources. Men however, are just as capable of providing clan dna, and they can do way more than a women in way less time. Capture them for a day and you could make a dozen little clan babies. Beyond that, they realistically dont even need to capture them, they just need to have a woman seduce them.

On that note by the way, its so unbelievably unrealistic that there arent kids with random kekkai genkai all over the place. No shot in hell those ninja men are keeping it in their pants no matter how much safe sex information theyre trained on.

But anyway. That particular part of kunoichi background makes no sense. Like, more at risk because a higher percent are in infiltration i get. But the pregnancy thing makes absolutly no sense. Yall didnt think about it for long enough.

[kagami--uchiha]

Headcannon:

Besides his moths (which are a Kekkai Genkai he receives through the bloodline of an extinct clan), Kagami also makes a contract with a rather big moth.

This moth is a little bigger than his own upper body, fluffy as an andorancst and it has the cutest little face. Her name is Shiro and while she might not look like much, besides being rather huge, she is quite an adept fighter and able to support Kagami's fighting style excellently.

A match made in (moth) heaven!

[dira333]

Things to be sure of - Kazekage Family

part two of "If we have each other" - Gaara x Reader, Shinki & Reader. Shinki's 11, the twins are 4. - tagging @deathbytsubaki for the idea

Summary: Time changes, but some things stay the same

“Nii-chan?” The door opens and Hayato pushes his head through, bright red hair messy as usual. “What are you doing?”

“Packing,” Shinki explains, taking one shirt out of his bag and exchanging it for another. “I’m leaving for Konoha today.”

“Konoha?” Hayato waddles inside, a bunny plush tucked under his arm. “Are we visiting Uncle Shika?” 

Shinki halts. He often forgets how little his siblings engage in adult conversations. Not that his parents consider him an adult already, at the ripe age of eleven. 

“Yes, you are. But I’m leaving a week earlier. Father is going to take you with him next week.”

Hayato’s pale eyes widen. “You’re going without us?” He asks, voice quivering. Shinki sighs, crouching down in anticipation. Sure enough, Hayato stretches his arms out, wanting to be held.

“Just for a few days,” Shinki mutters into his brother’s hair as he picks him up. “You’re barely going to have time to notice it.”

“But who’s going to read me a story at night?”

Shinki chuckles softly. “Like always, Mother and Father will read to you. It’s like I’m going on a mission.”

Hayato doesn’t seem convinced, his hold tightening, his sand, pale yellow in color, mingling with Shinki’s iron sand as if to say “I will not be left behind”.

Hayato’s still dangling off him by the time you step into his room, freshly ironed clothes in your hands.

“Ah,” you pick your youngest off him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Can you do me a favor, Sugar? Can you get Daddy to eat something? Tell him you need a snack?”

Hayato blinks up at you for a second before nodding, leaving with one last tug on Shinki’s trousers.

“How are you feeling?” You ask, stepping closer. Your hand moves through his hair, tugging a little at a stubborn strand. 

He knows you’re referring to more than just him leaving. He also knows that you can catch him lying from a mile away.

“This week, I overheard something,” he starts, putting his bag on the ground to sit on the bed instead. You take the spot next to him without asking, don’t react when his iron sand moves to shut the door. “I doubt they knew I was there. They were discussing who was the best option for the next Kazekage.”

You don’t say anything, just nod your head to let him know you’re listening.

His eyes land on his hands, curled into fists. 

“It’s not always the firstborn who becomes Kazekage,” Shinki repeats, “but the one with the most talent.”

Silence stretches out around him.

“Do you feel that you have less talent than Hayato or Honoka?”

He considers it for a moment. Does he feel that way?

“I mean,” he licks his lips for a second, glaring at the floor. “Hayato has no trouble controlling his sand at 4 years old. He’s no victim to violent mood swings or nightmares or-”

He trails off and your arm pulls him in. His head sinks onto your shoulder like it’s meant to be there. Your fingernails scratch at his scalp.

“He’s got two Kekkai Genkai’s.” Shinki continues, his voice now lower. “And even if he didn’t want to become Kazekage, what about Honoka? Surely there’s time for a female Kazekage. Both of them have the blood of the Kazekage running through their veins.”

“Shinki,” you pull away to look into his eyes. “It’s not blood alone that makes someone a parent or a child. It’s not talent alone that makes a great Kage.”

Something like a whimper spills from his lips. You pull him in again.

He’s reminded of nights, spent in this room, his body curled into a ball. Father used to sit with him, quietly, when the nightmares were at their worst.

You’d climb into bed with him instead, let him rest his body on yours, let skin melt into skin, warmth into warmth.

You have dried his tears often enough to know their shape by touch alone. 

“Do you question our love for you, Shinki, or do you question your qualifications for becoming Kazekage?”

“Both.”

“You are not even a Genin yet,” you remind him softly. “Yet you are already exceptionally talented. Uncle Kankuro and Aunt Temari are both perfectly capable of becoming Kazekage, but it’s just one position that cannot be shared. Whether you’ll be ready to take your Father’s place or not, I don’t know. But I know for certain that we both believe in you. We are so, so proud of you.”

You wait a moment, probably to let your words sink in.

“As for our love for you, Shinki… I do question it too, sometimes. Because I know that I love you. I know that your Father loves you. But I question if we show it to you in a way that you can understand.”

Your hand's card through his hair again. “You’re my special boy, Shinki. You chose me.”

“Better?” You ask, rubbing his back softly. He nods, pulling away. 

“Sorry,” he rubs a hand over his now-dried eyes. 

“Don’t apologize. It’s important to talk about these things. Can I do anything else to make today easier for you? I know it’s just one week and good preparation for next year when you’ll have to leave for the Chunin Exams, but if I can do something-”

“Can we have Lunch together?” Shinki asks, cutting off your rambling. “I leave before Dinner, so-”

“Oh, absolutely. I’ll go and convince Gaara right away. At least that way we can get him to eat something during the Day.”

He joins in your chuckles, leans into your touch when you pat his shoulder one last time.

“I love you, Shinki.” You kiss his cheek.

“Love you too.” The door closes after you with a click.

Gathering himself, he grabs his bag, going over the things he needs yet again.

The door opens with momentum only seconds later, almost crashing into the wall.

“Nii-chan!” Honoka declares like a war-cry. “You’re leaving?”

“Yes,” he states calmly as she takes a run-up and jumps onto his bed, upsetting the things he’d placed there. “Careful.”

“Why are you leaving? Where are you going to? Is it a mission? Can I come with? Oh, please, can I come with?! Uncle Kuro said I’m ready for my first puppet already, but one without poison. Can you believe that? I want one with poison.”

“Honoka,” he stills her, one hand on every shoulder. “Breathe. That’s too many questions.”

“Fine,” she huffs, crossing her arms. “Where are you going?”

“Konoha.”

Her eyes light up and she’s jumping to her feet, nevermind the fact that she’s now leaving footprints all over his bedsheets.

“Can I come?! Please, Nii-chan! I wanna watch you kick Bokuto’s ass!”

“I’m not going to kick his ass.” Yet, he adds in his mind. Maybe next year, at the Chunin Exam.

“Oh,” she pouts. “But I could still come. Aunty Temari loves me. I want to learn how to fight with her Fan!”

“You’ll have more than enough chances to do so when you come up to Konoha a week later.”

“That’s not fair,” Honoka declares. “Why do you get one more week with Aunty and I don’t?”

“Because I’m older.”

Honoka huffs. “That’s unfair. I should have gotten born first.”

He considers the missing logic of her statement, but decides against fighting it. There’s no use in fighting Honoka. She spends too much time with Uncle Kankuro.

“Tell me about Training instead,” he insists, packing his things. “What did Uncle Kankuro show you today?”

“Oh, sure. Well, first he had me recite all poisons and antidotes and I only forgot one. Then he had me practice using my Chakra Strings and it sucked a lot, but I’m getting better. Then…”

“Shinki.” Father stops him at the door, one warm hand on his shoulder. He looks tired, as usual, but Shinki’s long since learned to read his mind through his eyes.

I’m proud of you, they say today. I’ll miss you. Be safe.

“How are you?” Shinki asks, drawing out the moment they have to separate again, if only to come together at the table. “Are you sleeping enough, Father?”

“Have I ever?” He jokes softly. “When we return, I want resume our usual training. It won’t harm you to miss the occasional mission.”

Warmth surges through him at these words. He knows what they mean.

Let us spend more time together. I’ve missed your company.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Can you sit down?” Uncle Kankuro bellows from the kitchen. “Yeez, why do I bother having the food ready on time when you guys take so long in gathering. Honoka, don’t get in my way, this stuff is hot.”

“Sorry, Uncle Kuro.” Honoka rushes to her seat. She knows to head his warnings, after all, she once managed to trip him on the way to the table. 

They’ve just taken place, plates filled, when Hayato opens his mouth.

“Shinki’s leaving,” he says, with the tone of someone who’s suffering.

“I know,” Father leans in to smooth done his hair. “We’ll miss him.”

Tears fill pale eyes.

“Does he have to leave?” Hayato asks. He turns to Shinki. “Do you?”

“Don’t be a cry-” Honoka starts, but you interrupt her.

“It’s okay to miss him,” you say, leaning in to dry Hayato’s tears. “We’ll all miss Shinki. But some things are necessary. If we’d never left Suna, we’d never get to see Uncle Shikamaru. How do we deal with these feelings?”

Hayato considers it for a second. “We look for the good?”

Shinki waits for him to connect the dots. Soon enough, Hayato blinks up at his big brother.

“Can I sleep in your bed while you’re gone?”

“If you want.”

Honoka opens her mouth, no doubt to fight for her right to Shinki’s bed.

“Ah,” you cut her off. “Let’s eat first, and discuss things later, okay?

There are not many things to be sure of, even at eleven years old.

Times are changing. Suddenly, traveling from Suna to Konoha takes less than a day. Things that seemed impossible are just “a new Jutsu” now. 

But there are things, Shinki knows for sure. He counts them, sometimes, when he’s unable to sleep.

His parents love him. His parents love each other. He has a home. Shikadai will always favor a nap over anything else and Boruto will be annoying…

“What are you thinking about?” Aunt Temari asks, checking the clouds above her. They’re early, but he doesn’t mind waiting.

“What things to be sure of.”

“Oh,” she nods. “That sounds interesting.”

“What are you sure of?”

Her eyes move away from him. Aunt Temari is different from you. She doesn’t like emotional topics. But sometimes, when they’re both alone, she opens up a little bit. He likes that. She reminds him of his Father’s Cacti. They do not bloom as often or as long as you might want them to, but if you treat them right, their bloom is like a gift.

“I am sure…” She hesitates, before she smiles, a twinkle in her eye that tells him that she’s not ready to bloom today. “I’m sure that Honoka is going to be the first out of the carriage today.”

He considers it. “Hayato will want to be picked up.”

“Gaara will have messy hair.” Her smile has turned into a smirk. “Because your mother cannot take her hands away.”

Shinki smiles. All good things to be sure of.

The train halts, the doors open.

“Nii-chan!” Honoka bursts through the open doors, her red hair like a beacon. “Aunty Temari!”

Following her, much quieter, though with no less urgency, comes Hayato, pulling on Shinki’s legs. “Up!” He asks, making himself look younger than he really is.

Shinki picks him up with ease, lets him settle into the curve of his shoulder. 

Behind his siblings, his parents walk out, smiles on their faces.

You’re holding Father’s hand, both of you clothed like the high ranking officials that you are.

But Father’s hair, usually combed to the side, is standing up in every direction, much like that of Hayato. 

Shinki shares a knowing look with Aunt Temari. 

Yes. All good things to be sure of.