Tsukimi Heshu sauntered home an hour early, giving himself a nice, early end to the workday.
Hanzo was on the couch, knitting. Judging by the size and shape, it was a winter sweater for Naruto.
"Is Naruto not back yet?" Heshu scanned the room. No sign of the kid. The Ninja Academy let out early; Naruto should have been home by now. Then again, he might be off playing with friends. Heshu shrugged, not thinking much of it.
He flopped onto the sofa and clicked on the TV. The picture quality was garbage compared to his old world, but it killed time.
Hanzo's fingers flew through the yarn. She glanced at him, her tone casual. "You haven't noticed Naruto's been… off lately?" She'd taken care of him for years and could read his every move. Lately, the usually hyperactive boy had grown oddly quiet. Hanzo had already checked with the Academy; that wasn't the cause.
So the problem was at home. Hanzo knew it wasn't her. That left Heshu.
"Off?" Heshu didn't take it seriously. "Naruto's growing up! It's just puberty. Changes are normal."
"…" Hanzo's mouth twitched. Forget it. Hinting was useless with this man.
That night, Naruto returned covered in a layer of dust.
Heshu's gaze followed him. Maybe Hanzo had a point. The kid did seem off.
"Naruto."
Naruto kept his head down, trying to avoid Heshu's eyes as he marched straight toward his room.
Heshu stopped him.
Naruto halted but still didn't look up.
Heshu stroked his chin. Okay, this was more serious than he'd thought.
In the kitchen, Hanzo was preparing Naruto's dinner. She glanced toward the living room, hoping Heshu could get through to him.
"Come, sit." Heshu's voice was gentle. He patted the spot beside him on the couch.
The gentle voice reached Naruto, whose back was still turned. Tears surged, and he choked them back, hard. All the pent-up grievance of the last few days flooded out like a broken dam.
He walked over and sat down.
Plip. Plop. Tears fell onto the leather sofa cushion, the sound sharp and clear in the quiet room.
Heshu blinked, surprised. Okay, yeah. This was serious.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Heshu ruffled his hair. "I'm family. You can tell me."
Naruto couldn't hold back anymore. He looked up, glaring at Heshu. His eyes were swimming with tears, his nose and cheeks flushed red, and his wet lashes were stuck together.
Pitiful. And adorable.
"Sis doesn't care about me at all." His voice was thick with hurt.
"…" Heshu paused, his mind racing through the last few days. After a moment, he was still clueless.
"How could I not care about you?" Heshu's expression softened. "I watched you be born. Watched you grow up. After your parents, I was the first one to hold you." (Well, excluding the deceased Biwako Sarutobi and… Obito).
"No! Sis cares about Neji Hyuga the most!" Naruto felt a little better from the first part, but at the mention of Neji, his lips puckered again.
"Neji is my student. You're my family. I care about you both equally," Heshu said, thinking a person should learn to spread the love.
"Why equal? I want to be the one Sis cares about the most!" Naruto looked up, his big blue eyes fierce and demanding.
Heshu amended quickly. "Alright, fine. Then Naruto is the one I care about most." (Of course, if Neji asked, he'd say Neji was the most important. A person had to be flexible. It was a white lie that solved domestic disputes and promoted familial harmony.)
"Promise? Sis can't take it back!" Naruto stuck out a finger, putting on a haughty face. "We'll pinky swear on it!"
Such a kid.
Heshu hooked his finger with Naruto's. He listened as Naruto recited the vow with utmost solemnity.
"Naruto Uzumaki is the person Tsukimi Heshu cares about most!"
"Tsukimi Heshu likes Naruto Uzumaki the best!"
"Tsukimi Heshu will stay with Naruto Uzumaki forever!"
"Naruto Uzumaki will always be with Tsukimi Heshu!"
"…"
Naruto went on and on. Heshu stopped listening. He watched the boy's earnest face and sighed inwardly. If I leave later… this kid's gonna be heartbroken.
"Time to eat," Hanzo announced, appearing with Naruto's dinner tray.
Naruto and Heshu pressed their thumbs together to seal the pact. The boy ran to wash his hands, then sat properly at the table to eat.
"Naruto," Heshu said, taking advantage of the happy smile on his face. "In a few days, I might not be home for a while. I have something to handle. You be good and listen at home, okay?"
He didn't know how long the trip to the Moon would take. It was better to give Naruto a heads-up.
Naruto froze, putting down his spoon. "I… can't go with you?"
Heshu shook his head. Naruto's eyes dimmed with disappointment.
"Why can't I go?" Naruto pouted, his look pure accusation.
"It's… dangerous." Heshu just didn't want to bring him. Naruto was a ball of energy. On the Moon, he'd probably run wild.
Naruto shook his head. "I don't believe you." Sis thought he was dumb. He'd heard at school. Sis was the strongest ninja. No one in the whole ninja world could beat her.
"…" Heshu patted his head. "It'd be… inconvenient if I brought you."
"Why inconvenient? I won't run around! I won't cause trouble!" Naruto promised urgently. He thought for a second, then grabbed Hanzo's hand. "Rishihime-nee is going too!"
"…" Heshu and Hanzo shared a look.
Naruto stared unblinkingly at Heshu. Slowly, his large, watery eyes began to glisten with fresh tears.
Heshu surrendered. "Fine! You can come!"
"Yesss~!" Naruto nearly jumped out of his seat. Under Heshu's gaze, he sat back down obediently and shoveled food into his mouth.
"Slow down. You'll get indigestion," Hanzo reminded him gently.
"Mhm!" Naruto nodded obediently.
Heshu sighed softly. If Naruto was this eager to meet his future lunar love rival, who was he to stop him? With Hanzo along, nothing too crazy should happen.
Two weeks passed in a blink.
Early morning. The air was crisp and clean. Heshu's group gathered at the main gate of Konoha.
He looked at Nara Sōsai and Shisui. "The village is in your hands."
Shisui desperately wanted to go, but he couldn't disobey. "Rest assured," he said, though his tone was resigned.
Sōsai nodded.
Jūri and Yako watched Heshu with longing, wishing they could follow. But for this trip to the Moon, Heshu was taking very few people: Hiashi Hyuga, Hizashi Hyuga, Hinata Hyuga, Neji Hyuga, Naruto, and Hanzo.
Naruto was buzzing with excitement, fidgeting non-stop beside Hanzo.
"N-Naruto-kun…" Hinata saw him, and her face turned tomato-red. Her eyes darted about, wanting to look but not daring to.
Hiashi glanced at his daughter, then at Naruto. Ah. I see.
After giving his final instructions, Heshu led the group out. Deep into the forests of the Land of Fire, a figure stood waiting.
"Orochimaru!" Hizashi and Hiashi tensed, watching the man ahead warily. Their guard only lowered when Orochimaru walked toward Heshu.
"I've been waiting," Orochimaru said, his gaze lingering on Neji.
Heshu addressed the Hyuga brothers. "Orochimaru will be joining us. He's in charge of the Tenseigan evolution process."
Shock rocked through Hiashi and Hizashi, but they kept their faces neutral and nodded. If the Hokage dared to use Orochimaru, then the man must be trustworthy.
They moved fast. Under Heshu's lead, they arrived at a special location. Even at their speed, the sky had darkened by the time they got there.
Ahead, a pond emitted a mysterious, yellow glow. Standing on the bank, Hizashi and the others waited for Heshu's order.
"Let's go."
Once ready, they stepped into the pool of shimmering yellow light. Hanzo carried Naruto, keeping the wriggling boy still. Even she sensed this mission's destination was unusual. She had to protect Naruto.
The water was clear, warm, and soothing. They moved further from the bank until the shore vanished completely from view. Their vision filled with pale yellow light and a gradually deepening black void ahead.
Darkness.
A flutter of unease stirred in Hizashi and the other adults. In contrast, the three kids—Neji, Hinata, and Naruto—were far calmer. More excited than nervous.
Time lost all meaning. Then, the darkness clinging to their vision began to lighten. They blinked, adjusting to the sudden brightness.
Another pool of water. One by one, they followed Heshu and climbed out.
"Where… is this?" Naruto asked, amazed, taking in the sight.
Before them stretched a brilliant canopy of stars against an intensely dark world. Though the sky above was magnificent, the primitive-looking streets below were devoid of any light. In the distance, a single dim point of light flickered slowly.
"This… is the Moon." Orochimaru's eyes swept over every inch, his face alight with excitement.
For Hizashi, Hiashi, and the others, the dominant feeling was awe. They had truly reached the Moon.
Hanzo shot Heshu a surprised look but said nothing. She worked for Tsukimi Heshu now; she followed his lead. Curious as she was about how he knew these things, she knew what questions to ask and what not to.
"Wow! The Moon! We're on the Moon! I'm gonna tell Sasuke when we get back!" Naruto bounced with excitement, chattering non-stop.
"N-Naruto-kun… you… you can't tell anyone about this…" Hinata had drifted from her father's side to Naruto's. She reminded him shyly, her face still red.
"Huh?" Naruto scratched his head and looked to Heshu.
Heshu was busy. His Six Eyes scanned the surroundings, endless streams of information flooding his mind.
Getting no response, Naruto just nodded. "Oh. Okay, then!"
A small, shy smile touched Hinata's lips as she stayed by his side.
Hiashi: "…"
So my daughter isn't planning on sticking with me, is she?
Hiashi sighed deeply.
A daughter grown is a daughter gone.
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