42

Chapter 42: forty-one: spring shiftSummary:

In which change is everywhere, and time seems to fly by.

Notes:

Welp, I'm alive. Sorry for being late, but life sometimes throws multiple curveballs at you, y'know.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do, however, own Chiyuki, any original characters, and this story's plot.

Chapter Text

A big shout-out and thank you to whitelotus14 on ko-fi for buying me a coffee every month. You're the best <3< p>

Becoming Hokage 101

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Eighth section

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Chapter Forty-one

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Her 15th birthday is spent quietly with her eldest brother and her parents, the smallest of affairs. There's cake and a candle, but Chiyuki doesn't let anyone sing 'happy birthday', and none of them insist. 

Takuto and Ensui's death still feels too raw, too soon, too much - she cannot fully celebrate her birthday just yet. However, for all it's worth, she's trying to live her best life, just like her dad told her to, just like she knows the two of them would have wanted. 

She's not fully smiling just yet, but letting herself feel her emotions instead of rationalizing them isn't such an issue anymore. She's been seeing Inoichi regularly and the therapy does help, but the Head of TI had warned her it was important to give herself time.

It's just that the clock is ticking and she really doesn't have much of it.

The Next Hokage, as people have taken to calling her, is busy now more than ever. There's her work at the KPF, planning and plotting with the Big Three and Minato, clan duties along with Tooru, meetings with Minato, weekly reports to Shikaku, appointments with Tsunade, training -

'Breathe.'

The blonde teenager doesn't know who says the order - if it's herself or Chou - but it's enough to get her to take a deep, calming breath, and continue with her meditation.

She manages to stay still and calm her mind for another ten minutes before she's opening her eyes and getting up, anxious to go out there and do things instead of just planning and plotting.

'Patience, child. Your plans are the sort that need time, remember.'

'I know. I know, but I wish I could go out there and just do it my own way instead of waiting.'

'We both know waiting is necessary. You said so yourself; many things need to happen before you take action.'

Chiyuki exhales, loud and heavy, and puts both hands on her hips. The house she lives in with her brothers is dark and quiet, and even though it's the middle of the night, she can't bring herself to sleep just yet. There's an unusual feeling of restlessness within her, something that scratches at her chest and refuses to let her relax, and she feels nervous for some reason.

'How are things in Kiri? Any news?'

'Things are the same as they have been for a month now. Hoshigaki Kisame and Terumi Mei continue to behave as usual, not showing signs of any suspicious activity.'

'Suna?'

'There are no news in Suna, either. We show up once a week to play with the Shukaku jinchuriki before he sleeps, as you have requested. He shows no signs of any suspicious activity either.'

'How about-'

'Oh.'

That puts her on alert. Whatever it is, Chiyuki's sure it's what she's been waiting for, the thing that hasn't been letting her sleep for weeks now, the sudden anxiety that's taken over her, leaving her restless for the entire day-

'What? What is it?'

'Your Uzumaki has woken up.'

Relief floods her and makes her legs weak. She flops down on her futon, breathing heavily in the dark, and just lies there as she lets the information sink in.

Nagato is awake. 

A myriad of emotion fills her chest and makes her light-headed, too stunned to do anything but relish in the moment and the sheer relief she feels. 

Nagato is awake.

It's not that she ever doubted Tsunade, the very best medic-nin in the whole world, for even one second. If the Slug Sage had said Nagato was merely sleeping, then he was merely sleeping, period. It's just that-

Nagato is awake.

After the semi-fiasco that was their fight against Madara and Black Zetsu - after losing Takuto and Ensui -, she's not quite sure her mind can take any more big failures.

Rather, she feels like celebrating every victory, no matter how small it may be.

The blonde teenager suddenly feels restless once again, anxiety spiking up and making her blood sing inside her body - something that strangely feels like the falling rain, and she knows she needs to-

'I need to see him. Chou, please share your consciousness with me for a minute.'

'I understand you share a bond with the red head, but must you go this far to see him? Sharing our consciousness takes more than two thirds of both our chakra reserves combined, and it will cause you to have a migraine for days.'

'I know it takes a good chunk of our chakra and I understand the consequences but I really really need to see him, please, Chou? Just for a minute. A minute is all I ask.'

'...we are too soft on you. Very well.'

Chiyuki lies in bed and covers her face with her blanket, hoping that Zou is too far away to sense what's really going on in her room, and the peacock butterfly lands on her neck, right above the seal. 

She takes a deep breath in, and closes her eyes. Then, she's in Ame, fluttering through the cloudy village, and notes with relief it isn't raining. 

Sharing consciousness is an odd, hard to describe feeling. She feels her chakra reserves drain, the effect immediate on her semi-conscious form on the futon, but she also feels the cold wind blowing through Ame and the darkness of the night almost closing in on her small, colorful form.

Rain starts to fall not two seconds after she lands on one of the administration tower's windowsill, easy and right and calming. The village as a whole seems to sigh in relief, and some people even go outside to enjoy the rain falling on their bodies, smiling happily to themselves.

For the rain in Ame means their god is well and awake, and for the villagers that could not mean better news.

A baby crocodile is the first to notice her. The reptile sits in a forming puddle on the floor, looking eerily at her, and though Chiyuki does not recognize this particular individual, she has heard Yahiko's summons are crocodiles, and flutters towards its snout.

'You're not Chou.' It seems to speak through her mind, suspicious tone odd in such a young, high voice, but it does not show aggressiveness. 

'I am, but I also am not.' Even the way the blonde speaks is now similar to the butterfly's, which only serves to make the reptilian confused. 'It is a bit of a long story. Would you mind letting Yahiko know we are here?'

The baby crocodile snorts, a cute sound that brings a smile to her semi-conscious form lying in her room. 'He already knows you're here. Says you know your way in.'

Briefly, she wonders how it is that Yahiko communicates with his summons and how they communicate amongst one another. Do they need to speak out loud or is it through the mind just like her and Chou? How many crocodiles are there? What do they-

'You should hurry. It seems like one of his mates wants to get out of bed.'

'Noted. Thank you.'

The teenages does, indeed, know her way in. Flying to where she knows the three Ame leaders share a room is easy and effortless, and she realizes there's no rain falling over her fluttering form. The smile on her semi-conscious body grows as she reaches a window on the top floor of the tower, and hurriedly enters when it opens. 

"Why am I not surprised-"

"Chiyuki-hime-"

" Chiyuki ." 

Out of all the three voices that reach out to her, there is one that her colorful wings immediately take her to, and as she lands on Nagato's nose, the man huffs out a small, weak laugh, and the mood is light.

Nothing is said after that, because words aren't needed at that moment. She's not able to stay for very long, both her and Chou's chakra levels already low, but for now, seeing him-

-breathing, healing, alive -

-is more than enough for her.

"I'm glad you're well, Chiyuki."

'Her' wings flutter rapidly at that, trying to convey through actions the words she wishes she could speak, but is unable to. 

'I'm glad you're well, too.'

"See you soon, Chiyuki."

'See you soon, Nagato-sensei.'

Then, she poofs out of existence in Ame, only to jolt wide awake back in her room in Konoha. Breath coming out rapidly, she feels as if she's just finished training with Tsunade, body heavy and unresponsive, and chakra levels dangerously low. 

She feels Chou's exhaustion as well, the peacock butterfly's chakra the lowest it's ever been. Still, even though she won't be able to move for at least a few hours, and wait even longer for her chakra reserves to be at their fullest once again, she's happy.

Nagato is alive and well, on his way to a full recovery, and that-

-that's all she's ever asked for, ever since she'd known Takuto and Ensui died. She'd barely been able to shoulder their deaths as it was; she can't even imagine how it'd feel if Nagato had been killed as well. 

'Well, no point in thinking about that now.'  

She can't give herself the luxury of dwelling too long in 'what-ifs', after all. There are things to be done, especially now that her teacher is awake, and the clock is ticking too fast for her liking.

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"An appointment?" Chiyuki asks, a curious tilt to her head. 

Fugaku nods and takes a sip of his tea. "Yes. The KPF has a valuable informant that lives near the old slums, and I want you to meet them."

She raises one blonde eyebrow, endlessly curious, but knows that the KPF chief won't say anything else.

"That's fine by me. Who am I going with?"

"Your usual babysitter." There's actually a sliver of humor in the man's eyes, but it's gone before she can mention it. 

Said babysitter chooses that moment to knock on the door, entering after hearing Fugaku's telling them to enter.

Cue Uchiha Shisui, twelve years old, his usual grin on his young face and black eyes sparkling with excitement and mischief. Unbidden, a small smile makes its way into her lips, because no matter where her actions might've led her to, one thing she most definitely does not regret is being able to see the end of the war before Shisui and Itachi were sent to the frontlines. 

"Reporting in for duty, Fugaku-taicho."

"We'll talk about your timing later, Shisui. Your primary mission is to get in contact with K., and your secondary one is to accompany Chiyuki-hime; I'd like for the two to meet."

Something unknown flashes in the boy's eyes, but she has no time to comment on it. 

"Of course, sir."

"You're both dismissed."

"Let's go, Chiyuki-hime! I have a feeling you'll like each other!

" Shisui -"

And then he's gone.

Fugaku massages his temple, but both occupants in the room know he's only fondly exasperated. 

"I'll be going, Fugaku-taicho."

"Aa."

The blonde teenager meets Shisui outside the KPF's building, the boy looking even more excited than he did before.

"We've got to be super sneaky about this informant, Chiyuki-hime." He says in a conspiratorial whisper, and she leans down to hear him better.

"Oh?"

"Y-yeah. See, we'll have to sneak in, but that's okay since they love surprises."

"...sure. Lead the way, then."

In true ninja fashion, both figures dash through the rooftops in this early Saturday morning, during a time when most civilians are just starting to wake up to do their chores. 

Does she know who K. is? Yeah, she has a very good inkling as to who it might be, but she can't exactly tell Shisui - or worse yet, Fugaku - that she actually knows who they're talking about and that there's a very small chance they'll 'like' each other. 

'We're in for a very lively Saturday, that's for sure.'

The Sarutobi Princess is mostly ready for what's to come when they arrive at a two-store building in a less well-off area of the village. It's nothing like the slums, of course, since those were dismantled by Minato and the KPF as soon as they could focus on things other than the war, but it doesn't mean there aren't poor people living in the village.

The building is a small convenience store on the first floor, and a house on the second. Two people have just woken up, the iron in their blood running sluggishly as they sit in silence in the kitchen. They're having breakfast, she notices, and realizes it's an awful time for them to be intruding in like that.

But alas, in this mission she's a mere spectator, and so she says nothing even as Shisui whispers.

"Actually, this informant made it very clear that they didn't want anyone else aside from the person living with them to know that they have ties with shinobi, much less the police, so that's why we're sneaking around like this."

"I'm pretty sure there's a better way to do this, even if we do have to sneak in."

"Details, details. Ladies first."

Chiyuki snorts under her breath as the Uchiha boy opens the bathroom window for them. They successfully slip in, pausing just behind the closed door, and he turns to her once more.

"I trust Fugaku-taicho. He wanted you to come, so I'm sure you- okay, you know what, nevermind. Just follow my lead and you'll do great, Chiyuki-hime." Shisui pauses and back tracks mid-sentence after seeing the amused expression she sends him, and they exit the bathroom.

'Aw, how cute. His ears are red.'

Of course she knows what to do with the information she hears today - which is absolutely nothing . The KPF has their own report system, since they report directly to Fugaku, who in turn reports directly to the Hokage. It's definitely not her place to meddle in and ignore the Uchiha clan head altogether to feed the rumor mill. She knows better than that, and is honestly a bit offended Shisui thought otherwise.

That, and well. There's a big chance that she already knows what they're about to hear, because really, modesty aside, there's nothing that happens in this village without her knowing, thanks to the butterflies and a hefty amount of 'useless' memories. 

It's just that some info is more important than others, like-

"Ah, it's you." A raspy voice comes from the kitchen, and she looks up to see Shisui has stepped into the dim morning light in all his mischievous glory, a grin on his face.

"Yup! And I brought someone with me today." She stands next to him in the tiny, but tidy kitchen, and watches as the occupants' expressions shift immediately. 

"You!" The older one of the two gets up from their seat and yells, pointing an accusing finger in her direction. Shisui coughs and the air immediately shifts, turning colder and sharper with each breath. 

"Now, now. Let's not be like that." 

Something shifts in the 12-year-old boy, something cold and calculating and protective, and it's so sudden that it startles Chiyuki into silence. His grin is still in place, but instead of being playful, the show of teeth is dangerous and threatening, and the blonde girl is honestly surprised at seeing this side of him.

"You know very well who she is, which means you know no disrespect will be allowed."

Still with his razor-sharp smile, Shisui orders the older person around with the voice of authority that was given to him as one of the best members of the KPF, and the other side obeys without a single word. 

"I apologize, Chiyuki-hime. I was just… startled." They grit out, definitely not happy or amused with her presence, but really, can she blame them?

"As long as it doesn't happen again." She says, neutrally benevolent. She can't exactly let Shisui's little show go to waste, now can she?

"There! Now let's start again, shall we?" The air clears, and the two civilians in the room suck in a deep breath of air. The dark-haired boy claps his hands once, and the mischievous smile is back on his face, as if nothing had happened. "Chiyuki-hime, this is Kaede-san, one of the KPF's best informants."

Oh, she knows very well who Kaede is. It's just that she goes by a different identity now. 

The older civilian, Kaede, seems to be close to Genma's age. Black hair swishes behind her, long and straight, and pink eyes look at her with a familiar rage not-so-hidden in them. 

'Kaede, formerly known as Yuta, is a trans woman who owns a small convenience shop near the old slums. Pronouns are she/them. Both she and the girl she lives with went to the civilian school for three years before they dropped out.'

The Sarutobi Princess remembers Chou's words, remembers wanting to go there to check the orphans' situation for herself, remembers feeling defeated and endlessly curious when Minato had forbidden her from 'wreaking havoc' in the slums once again.

"It's good to see you again, Kaede." She says, still maintaining her neutral tone, figuring this was the best way to deal with someone who clearly still resents her.

"...likewise, Princess."

"I-it's an honor, Princess!" A girl who looks to be around her age answers as well, dark blue eyes shining with wonder and respect.

"Hello, Rika." She allows the smallest of smiles to show on her face. "I'm glad to see you're well"

'Rika has been living with Kaede ever since the old slums were destroyed, working as a cashier in the convenience store. The two are very protective of one another since their two other friends died three years ago.'

Rika, the girl who'd been clutching a few ryo in her hands and had only wanted to buy some bread, is now a beautiful teenager with sparkling eyes and shiny light brown hair. She quickly rises up from her seat and offers it to Chiyuki, who has no choice but to take it under everyone's expectant eyes. 

"Thank you, you didn't have to." She says sincerely.

"Not at all! It's not much, but please help yourself! Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please."

"Uh, Shisui-san?"

When Rika addresses Shisui, he finally turns his eyes away from Chiyuki and smiles charmingly at the girl, making her blush.

"Thank you, but I'm good. We just came here for a little bit of business." The blonde teenager glances at him and sees curiosity swimming in the boy's dark eyes. Perhaps he's wondering as to why her reaction wasn't as big as he'd thought it'd be?

"Please excuse me for a moment." While Rika makes the tea and chatters away, which Chiyuki is content to listen to, Kaede excuses herself to go to the bedroom she shares with the younger girl. There, in an inconspicuous box, under a bunch of old paperwork, is what she'd been looking for.

"Here's your tea!" Just as Rika puts three steaming cups of tea on the table, Kaede returns. 

"I assume you're here for this?" The older woman takes out a dark blue handkerchief with Chiyuki's name embroidered in it, and the blonde immediately knows it's the one she left with the orphan children all those years ago. 

She, however, shakes her head. "No, not yet. Hold onto it for me a little bit longer, please."

The dark-haired woman narrows her eyes, a scowl on her face. She glances at Shisui, who keeps a pleasant look on his face standing next to the Sarutobi Princess, and the scowl deepens.

"Why not? You did it, like you said you would."

"I haven't done it yet."

"You're the next Hokage, there's not a single person that doesn't know that."

"But I'm not the Hokage yet."

Silence envelops the room, thick and tense, but the fifteen year old merely takes a sip of her tea, looking unbothered. Kaede glances once again at the Uchiha boy, who grins at her and receives a scoff in return.

It seems like Shisui's presence is preventing the older woman from being too upfront with her opinions, and Chiyuki both appreciates and hates it. 

Having people tiptoe around you is something she might never get used to.

"May I ask what you came here for, then, Chiyuki-hime?"

The black-haired boy clears his throat in warning - as the highest ranking person in the room, social norms dictate that all talks should be initiated by Chiyuki, and Chiyuki only. She, however, merely waves a hand at her escort and continues to sip at her tea, knowingly pissing Kaede off even more.

Finally, after a few more moments, she puts her cup down and looks straight into angry pink eyes.

"I'm just here to accompany Shisui. I believe he's the one you have business with."

Half an hour later, as they return to the KPF's headquarters via rooftop-jumping, the Uchiha boy glances at his companion with a delighted expression, grin so wide it must've hurt his cheeks.

"I didn't know you could be like that, Chiyuki-hime."

"Like what? A little shit?"

"I-I never said that!"

"Relax, Shisui. There are many things about me you don't know yet."

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On a crisp February morning, when it's barely starting to get warmer in preparation for spring, Nagato sends over the Human Path to Konoha, along with two other envoys from Ame. 

"Nagato-sensei." Chiyuki breathes out as she gives him a brief hug in front of Konoha's main gates. It's not really Nagato, but it kind of is, in a complicated sense.

Either way, he appreciates the warm welcome and lightly hugs her around the shoulders, ringed eyes softening.

"Chiyuki. I'm glad to see you well."

"Me too, sensei. Shall we go?"

"Ah, there's something I'd like to say before that."

With a wave of his hand, the Human Path sends away the two envoys, who bow to both him and Chiyuki and disappear in smoke. Out of his travel cloak, he takes out two small parcels and gives them to her.

"One of them is the pottery you ordered."

"Ooh, thank you."

"The other is a gift from myself."

"Can I open it?"

"Of course."

Chiyuki puts the pottery away in the storage scroll Kakashi had given her and opens the smaller parcel, paper and fabric wrinkling under her hands. When she finally sees what it is, her breath catches in her throat.

It's a haori with a peacock butterfly pattern, big and bright, making it seem as if there are thousands of butterflies flying around in the fabric. It's colorful, eye-catching, but it just fits her so well she couldn't not use it.

Besides, everyone already knows who she is. Trying to be inconspicuous in the ninja world isn't gonna work out for her anymore.

She takes off the haori she's wearing, which had been a gift from - again - Nagato, before she puts on her new one. It fits wonderfully, fabric falling over her loose jumpsuit comfortably, and Chiyuki gives her teacher a small smile.

(She's been smiling more often as of late. Chou says it's a good sign.)

"Thank you, sensei."

"It's a late birthday present." 

"I love it."

"Aa."

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"Ideal case scenario? Ame forms an alliance with the daimyo of Rice Country, who has no military prowess whatsoever and cannot remain defenseless for much longer. This way, with Ame backing him up, there's no need for Otogakure to be born, and the daimyo won't feel pressured to accept Orochimaru's deal. Skirmishes are bound to happen, which give us an excuse to finally get rid of the snake." Chiyuki proclaims, proudly wearing her brand new haori as she stands in the Hokage's office with the man himself and Nagato.

"It's a good thing Tsunade isn't here." Minato mutters, rubbing his temple. 

The blonde girl merely shrugs, completely unapologetic about the whole thing. "Everyone in this room knows that Orochimaru can't remain alive. He'll only get stronger and get more influential as time goes by, and by the time he becomes a real threat, it'll be that much more difficult to deal with him."

Next to her, Nagato's Human Path nods his head, agreeing with his protégé. "He's been laying low, gathering strength and followers, and as soon as we nip that in the bud, it'll be easier for all of us."

"I get it, I do." The Hokage heaves a heavy sigh and winces. "It's just that both Tsunade and Jiraya will want to be sent on this mission to kill Orochimaru, and if push comes to shove, I'm not sure they'll be able to do what needs to be done."

"Regardless of who ends up going, it needs to be no-nonsense people who can get the job done in case Jiraya and Tsunade-sama can't." She remarks, crossing her arms. "It might seem a bit overkill, but it'd be a good idea to send another sealing master, just in case."

"Kakashi and his team, you mean." The Yondaime says, a pensive look on his face. "That's not a bad idea."

"They work extremely well together and their techniques complement one another. It might seem too much to send two medic-nin on this mission, though, but I suppose there's no helping it." The teenager says, mostly to herself, but Minato nods nonetheless.

"Tsunade won't be going as a medic, either way, and Rin knows her fair share of offensive techniques. We'll be fine."

"Ame will give our full support, as well. I may not be able to go myself, but I'll be sure to send at least a few of the Paths to aid Konoha." The Human Path speaks in lieu of Nagato himself, deep baritone resounding in the room. 

The Hokage nods, a grateful look in his sky blue eyes. "Thank you. We truly appreciate it."

"Knowing how petty Orochimaru is, he'll probably declare war on Ame as soon as you close the deal with the daimyo of Rice country, so be careful." Chiyuki pipes up, a sour expression on her pale face. Minato sighs at her choice of words, but neither she nor Nagato pay any mind to it.

"Should we prepare to evacuate the civilians, like last time?"

"That… would be for the best, actually. Better safe than sorry."

"And before the actual fighting happens," The Yondaime says, face unreadable "should Rice country refuse an alliance, do be kind enough to remind them Konoha stands with Ame, which should make them prepare for all it entails."

The Human Path nods, light blue hair swishing. "Thank you. That is greatly appreciated."

All of this might seem good ol' camaraderie, but politics are a very complicated thing. Ame wouldn't be thriving the way it is now were it not for its alliance with Konoha, and everyone in the room is aware of this fact. However, it's also true that Konoha has benefited greatly from the political and economic stability this alliance has brought, so really, it's in both parties' interest to keep relations as amiable as possible. 

As long as sensible and trustworthy people maintain the kage seats, both Konoha and Ame will continue to enjoy a long-term, fruitful alliance, and really, what could be better than that?

'Symbiosis at its finest.'

"Of course. Ah, before I forget, Chiyuki has something else to tell you, isn't that right?"

Said girl nods, nervousness flashing in her brown eyes for the briefest of moments. 

"There are two Uzumaki out there, hiding somewhere between Rain and Wind countries." The rinnegan user raises both eyebrows, but says nothing. "The baby, Karin, looks to be around 1-2 years old, and the mother, Hikari, looks to be around her early 20s."

"A child and her mother." Nagato repeats, clenching his jaw. 

His student nods, lips in a thin line. "Hokage-sama and I would like to ask you to look for them and bring them to Ame."

"Why not Konoha?"

"It'll be easier for you to bring them to Ame since it's closer. Besides, I think Karin and her mom and the three leaders of Ame can make the most out of this situation."

Given how traumatized Hikari must be, it's actually best if they don't come to Konoha, especially if we consider how well the village has supported and protected their sister village, Uzushio. 

After a few moments of consideration, the Human Path nods, a slightly reluctant look in his rinnegan eyes. "Very well. Ame will take care of those two."

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