Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[. . .]

"Scars as deep as my grave."

[. . .]

Chapter 1

Rays of Blood

[. . .]

It takes time to manifest, but by the time Uzumaki Naruto comes to after realizing he had a life before and died, he's four years old and in the middle of a 'sparring session' against an adult that's on the verge of splitting his bones apart.

The position the older man with white hair has him in is similar to one distinct memory that unlocked too many truths a lifetime ago, resonant with the distinct language of Pain and prejudice. Both hands elope on top of each other, and though there is no bar going through his flesh and bones to keep them bound to the ground this time around, there is a foot in its place, crushing them.

Like a pile of bricks threatening to burst the blood out of his fingers, they continue to weigh with severe pressure on Naruto's muscles, and Naruto, all but four years old and in a silent state of derealization, decides that this situation has prolonged enough in the four minutes he remembers being beaten up and pinned into this very sorry state.

With a vindictive promise clawing his insides, he senses the profound, splitting ache inside his stomach, yanking at what he knows is Kurama's coils, and lifts his hands in a fury of fire and blood, sending the man hurting him for simply being kind to a kid his own age flying across the room.

Just like his memory, he prepares and allows the unbridled release of hatred to consume him, confused, angry, and dead.

Except he knows Kurama's influence is not negative anymore. Not to him. So the wrath that he should feel is shortlived, becoming blasphemous bewilderment when he rights himself on a balance only a Shinobi has right on his two feet, looking upon the intestines hanging out of the man that was harming him just a mere desi-second ago.

His expression blanks.

He looks at what he created impassively.

The man's body has become like the outside skin of a sausage that's broken and released the stuffed meat on the inside. It hangs from the weapons on the walls, drooping and smelling of foul urine and iron. Blood pools on the ground, trickling past the haunted, lifeless eyes staring at nothing.

The sight of it doesn't affect Naruto. He's seen far worse in his time as a Shinobi. In fact, looking at the man who hurt him, all he feels is pity. Pity because he didn't take the time to understand the situation and discover why he's abruptly being treated as such. Though why pity? Why bother talking to him? His young mind is still trying to grasp at straws of what is and what used to be, but Naruto knows better.

He knows better because he is not Gojo Satsumi with odd blonde hair and cursed whisker marks, he is Uzumaki Naruto.

Those thoughts don't linger for long.

Soon enough, as he turns around and faces the fluctuating energy that's hinting at surprise and something else greatly cynical, Naruto isn't present anymore.

No, time splits itself and Naruto collapses when all the memories of his past life come to him, invading his head in a beseeching, anguished, beg.

He falls on his face and lays there for a full minute with a killing headache before springing back up, blue eyes wide and yielded. His body shakes as his muscles cramp from the recollection of all the times he's thrown an attack, every time he's run, and every time he took the burden of helping others with a volunteering promise that he will never give up on because it is his ninja way. Because he is Uzumaki Naruto, the World's Most Unpredictable Ninja—he is Uzumaki Naruto, the Child of Prophecy—and he is Uzumaki Naruto, Seventh Hokage and father of the boy who killed him.

His breath hitches and his body shuts down into a frightening numbness.

He died.

He died, and somehow he's alive.

Alive, four years old, and somewhere else. Somewhere distinctly not Konoha.

This is not Konoha.

He knows he's not home. It doesn't smell like Ramen or his wife's lilac perfume. It doesn't smell like Boruto's burgers or Himawari's sunflower pot. This is not home because it smells like loneliness—like blood, like plastic, like wood.

So this is not home. The memories of this four-year-old body intermingle with his past life, using it as confirmation and he decides right then and there.

He will not repeat the same mistakes. He will not allow himself to be insulted, nor will he respond to violence with more violence. He's done enough time, and he is Uzumaki Naruto, and he loves people more than they will ever know.

And because he is Uzumaki Naruto, he vows to change the fear that has grown in the body of this child. He vows to change this place, and in turn, the world if it ever extends past it, because that is what he's best at.

He will not let sadness be his baggage. He never allowed it, and never will.

So he reigns in all the agony and recognition that he has died and will never see his people again, and locks eyes with the boy his age that watched him kill the poor excuse of a caretaker that he had.

"You're not weak," The boy with majestic eyes states with a neutral curiosity, gazing at him with a chilling blankness.

Naruto blinks slowly, gathering himself. "No, I'm not," He acknowledges, and though it's pitiful, he musters a genuine grin of confidence. He spreads it across his face, watches as the boy takes it in, and allows the power of his previous life to fester until he feels Kurama's trust swirling inside of him.

Everyone, including the boy whose eyes narrow slightly, feels the change in power that has now arrived in their world.

'Kurama,' Naruto immediately speaks into his head, and he hopes, desperately, pathetically—

'I'm here.'

And releases a breath. Bursting, ripping, his heart stops beating, lifting a weight off his chest.

He dares not cry.

Kurama is not gone, anymore.

'It was not supposed to be this way.'

'No,' Naruto agrees and his cheeks hurt from how much he's smiling. They hurt, and bits of tears water his eyes but not enough to fall. 'Welcome back, Kurama.' And that is all he can say because if he says more, he'll forget about what he's just done and face the consequences from inside his body, leaving this baby's body prone to death or attacks. That is all he will say because Kurama already knows the rest.

'It's good to be back.'

It is, he thinks, and knows Kurama feels his joy. He lets it explode inside his chest, allows Kurama to raise his own vocal of joy, and lets it marinate while he comes back to the task at hand.

The next thing he says is simple.

"What's your name?" He prompts, shaking off the grief and happiness pulling at his heart.

The boy that watched it all without a reaction tilts his head. The silence penetrates the air with a spike of superiority that does little to intimidate Naruto. It makes him laugh, a little, even.

When he continues to stare with his gelid aura, the boy decides he's had enough and answers him with something akin to respect. "My name is Gojo Satoru."

Naruto smiles and without warning, loops an arm around the boy's neck. He's much too happy to care about the tensing of this Satoru's body, much too happy to realize that he is the strongest thing living in this pathetic household of uptight pricks, much too happy to recognize that he is the first to be acknowledged by the Honored One, by the child of the 'Gods'.

Satoru does not smile. Satoru does not pull away.

"It's nice to meet ya! My name is Uzumaki Naruto, datteba'yo!"

Naruto turns him away from the body and out towards the door where many staff members watch in complete fear. Naruto's been used to it. Naruto doesn't care. Naruto smiles at Gojo Satoru with the intensity of a million suns. "Let's be friends!"

And though the boy does not reply, there is a bond made.

A reluctant one, a new one, but a bond nonetheless.

And so it begins.

Chapter Text

[. . .]

"Believe it!"

[. . .]

Chapter 2

Heed Me, Savior

[. . .]

Naruto hangs around Satoru a lot. Since finding each other, they have been inseparable.

It's mostly due to Satoru not being inclined to let him out of his sight, sometimes not even to pee or sleep. He didn't expect anything less. Naruto's not uncomfortable because he knows and comprehends that his friend has never had a buddy before, so he doesn't say anything to the intense staring sometimes or the demand to stay in his vicinity while he goes on with his lesson plans.

Naruto stays with him because he wants to, takes the time to correct Satoru when he can't seem to grasp things right, and trains himself, picking up the baby slack in this body to the same rhythms he remembers in his past life.

He makes sure to gently guide his friend and reassure him if he gets something wrong, which the boy often says nothing about but does indeed follow the advice when it works. Their tentative friendship grows as the days pass, and Naruto is happy to see his friend relaxing more in his presence.

Understandably, the Gojo Clan as Naruto has come to know, does not like this.

They're furious that their esteemed Honored One is hanging out with the Clan's latest disgrace (or more so curse, because, with Kurama's help, Naruto managed to overhear from Satoru's teacher how his parents died and how the wet nurse refused to hold him because apparently, she saw Kurama crawl into his lifeless, baby form and resuscitate him, and that little Satoru should stay away).

They tried to separate them on multiple occasions, but Naruto persists in his presence undeterred. He stays also because he can sense the assassins hidden in the compound just waiting to spring an attack on the two unsuspecting boys. It makes him sickened at how easily people think about hiring people to kill children. How can someone look at an innocent baby and seek violence?

Well, no matter how twisted they think, nothing will happen under Naruto's watch.

They do not intimidate him. Nor do the people spitting hateful messages at him that he happily ignores because he thinks it's funny that they have nothing better to do but spew insults at a four-year-old.

Satoru doesn't care and sometimes stands them at attention, threatening them with malicious threats that a four-year-old shouldn't know. Where Satoru got that language from he doesn't know, but Naruto studies him with rapt attention, trying to find who or what has been putting these crazy thoughts in his head.

Naruto tells him that same day that it's not nice to treat people like that. Satoru obviously disagrees and voices as such, but Naruto is relentless. He tells him that their words mean nothing to him, and though it's not okay what they do, it's also not okay to respond to hostility with the same vibe.

Satoru tells him they listen better that way. And true enough, the mean comments hush from that point on. They become silent, afflicting glares instead.

Naruto is fine with that.

Naruto, much like Satoru, also doesn't care about the nasty glares thrown his way. Instead, he tries being nice to the staff members that are too scared to approach him by giving them a radiant smile that sometimes puts them at ease. To the ones that antagonize him with no purpose over their heads, he's neutral. He won't be outwardly antagonistic until they harm Satoru for his sake.

Kurama doesn't have such reservations. He hears him threaten their lives and describe in detail how he'll eat them, and Naruto has to pause for moments to go inside his head and remind Kurama that eating people won't be allowed.

Kurama grumbles but acquiesces to the command.

(Naruto ignores the urge to hug his furry friend again. He's already hugged him enough times to annoy his fox companion to the point of kicking him out of the mindscape, and though Naruto pouts, he apprehends he's being too clingy. He can't help it sometimes, though. He's so happy Kurama is here, not only as a piece of memory from his past but as a friend that came back thinking he was lost to time.)

If only Satoru was like that, Naruto thinks blandly.

Oh well. There's always time to teach him otherwise. People don't change overnight.

Not that Naruto wants him to change, either. Naruto's not his keeper, he's a friend. He'll suggest not to do things, but ultimately it's up to Satoru how he'll handle things. Naruto will be there to support him regardless until things start heading in the wrong direction—by then he'll already have a plan and bring forth the Sasuke Syndrome Medicine.

His soul dampens.

In the weeks he's spent with Satoru and learning about this world while dealing with dumbass offenders, he hasn't forgotten his old life.

He rethinks about it every chance he gets. It's hard not to.

He calls back to Konoha, to the true home that he spent most of his life trying to bring change into, keeping with fond memory his family that he left behind. He wonders about Sasuke, about Sakura, Sai, and Yamato. He questions how Kakashi-sensei is doing now that he's gone, and asks himself with twisted misery how his wife and children are coping with his loss. He knows not, and part of him is killed at the reminder that he will never find out.

He tries to tell himself that it's normal to die. Such is the life of a Shinobi, as bitterly recounted.

It sucks.

But he's not a lousy loser who sits in his pain. He can endure it. He will endure it.

Determined, he swallows down all that pain and focuses on reintegrating himself into his previous life's skills just in case he forgets. He begins his uncoordinated Taijutsu of many mixes the following day and listens to Rock Lee's glee coming from his head and Sakura's small corrections. He knows they're not really there, but he likes remembering them. It motivates his repurposed goal and in turn, helps Satoru from it.

He practices his Ninjutsu, happy to find that his chakra is just as potent as when he had died (more so now that Kurama's back), and writes down all the Jutsu he knows on the notebook he asked one of the jittery maids to get for him. He checks off each one he makes until there's none left after he gets his designated object, which he then decides the list is not long enough (despite it being three pages) and adds in the jutsu of his past life's peers.

He covers the basic ones: Wind, Earth, Fire, Water, and Yin, and Yang natures. They all come out relatively okay, except for his Earth nature. He needs better grounding for those. He'll manage time and sneak out to the large fields later.

Next, he jots down his Fuinjutsu. He's had too much time to practice between preparing to be Hokage in his younger years and family life and dug deep into his ancestry back in Uzushiogakure in honor of his mother, finding all sorts of seals that would have been lost to history if not for him. He struggled at first, but Jiraiya had been a faint voice in his head to keep going—and his father much the same.

So he integrated what he knew and the names of the sealing arts he memorized and mimicked each one by one.

And here he tries again, holding a steady hand with patience.

Satoru watches over his shoulder in his usual nosy way, quiet. Naruto, again, does not mind. He continues his task until he finishes it with a jumping grin, turning his head to present it to his cousin. "Hey. Check this out!"

Naruto stands and steps back before rubbing his hands together, brimming them with chakra as he slams it down. The empty bowl of ink on top of the dry seal disappears with a poof, now inside the scroll he took from a room that probably held all the Gojo Clan secrets. With a cheer, he looks at Satoru, "Ya see that? It worked!"

Satoru doesn't say anything. He crouches and pokes at the complicated symbols, probably trying to figure out how it works.

Naruto rubs his nose. "Heh, good luck figuring that out. Even I don't know, datteba'yo." He says, understanding his body language.

Satoru looks at him expectantly.

Naruto grabs the scroll and rolls it up. "What? Ya wanna learn?" He prompts kindly.

His cousin narrows his eyes.

Naruto smiles. "If you want to, I'll totally teach you!" This seal isn't so hard, he thinks. Satoru is well-taught. He should get it quicker than he had. And if he doesn't, that's okay too. He'll take his time.

"...What does it do?" Satoru mumbles, returning his scrutiny to the scroll in his hands.

"It stores stuff," Naruto happily tells him. "It's an Enclosing technique. Lots of things living or not can be stored within this lil' scroll here, and can be released with a chakra influence," He babbles, reopening it. He sets it down on the floor again and infuses it with his chakra, "See, datteba'yo?" He says as the bowl reappears. He hands it to Satoru who grabs it, turning it around to make sure it's real. "Pretty neat, huh?"

"I thought you said you did not know," His cousin says.

Naruto shrugs. "I meant like, how it functions and stuff. I dunno where it goes or why that happens, all I know is that it has something to do with me sticking chakra in it." It's a shame he never got to the bottom of all secrets from the Uzumaki. Some things just don't have answers to them.

"Chakra," Satoru repeats.

The sunshine child nods. "Yup."

"...What is it?"

"Well," Naruto scratches his head, thinking. "It's like that curse energy stuff, right? The one they've been teaching you?"

Satoru nods.

"Yeah. So it's that, but it's also not. Curse Energy has it in the name; energy. As in essence, power, all that, datteba'yo. It's the same with Chakra. Chakra is energy for me, and I have a whole bunch of it. You can probably do it too if I give you some. But I think curse energy would work the same, maybe? I mean, I dunno. Negative stuff powers it up. Chakra just is. Chakra is neutral." Naruto clicks his tongue. It seems now at his young age, his verbal tic is just as frequent as it had been in his past life. Though, it's not so bad. It reminds him of his mom.

Satoru drinks this all in.

Naruto continues. "We could try it with your cursed energy if ya want."

Someone knocks on the door to Satoru's room. "Gojo-sama, your teacher waits for you in the gardens."

Naruto hears them walk away. "Guess we'll take a raincheck on that," He grumbles, following after a robotically moving Satoru that heeded the command instantly. "How does tonight sound?" He asks his cousin, smiling as they step out onto the hallway.

Satoru doesn't look at him. "Okay," He agrees.

Naruto's smile widens.

[. . .]

They don't get the chance to test out Naruto's abstract theory. They're called in by the Head of the Gojo Estate for a meeting on Satoru's progress after Satoru finishes his brutal lesson plans for the day.

Naruto follows his cousin diligently, thinking over the rest of the things he has yet to record in this world. He still needs to practice his Genjutsu, Kenjutsu, and Senjutsu. Those are his worst fortes, in all honesty. He's not too good with a weapon besides a kunai, and Genjutsu is hard for him to manage. He's impervious to it, but practicing it is a whole other story.

He cringes. Kenjutsu and Genjutsu had been Sasuke's favorites. Those are probably the only things he's ever been beaten at, but that was only with Sasuke. Everyone else gets stomped out by Kurama before they get the chance. Maybe he should put those into practice in this lifetime? It'll be a fun experience and a new thing he can keep to heart by preserving Sasuke's memory.

He might also take up healing. His chakra control is a bit erratic still due to the cosmic shift but he's perfected most of it. Sakura would be happy with that, he thinks.

Juinjutsu is another thing. Since this world seems to be all about curses, he can amplify that into the art. Orochimaru comes to mind and he grumbles to himself. He'll need to remember how Orochimaru crafted his monograms and Jiraiya's notes on Sasuke's old curse seal. Not that he'll use it for bad or for the same purposes as that evil snake had. He just needs some... incentive. Thoughts, obviously. Not money. He can take plenty of currency from the Gojo Clan's vault.

While thinking over his teachings, he's pulled away from his friend before he has a chance to enter the room with a hand that grabs the back of his attire. "Hey!" He exclaims, turning with a pout at the perpetrator. Another man with white hair and a scar. He doesn't look at all intimidated. Just annoyed. It's a slightly nice change, if a bit unwelcome considering that there's still some semblance of irritation lingering on his face. At least Naruto can tell it doesn't come from hate for what he is (a vessel, again) but rather because of etiquette. Allegedly.

"You are not allowed within the presence of our Clan Head." Yeesh, this reminds him of the Hyuuga.

Satoru stops and turns back, chilling the air with his gaze when Naruto's taken. He knows that look.

Naruto crosses his arms and huffs. "Go on in there, m'fine. I'll just wait out here," He says and then pauses. His jaw locks. "Actually, do you want me in there or do you prefer me out here?" He already knows his answer.

Satoru glares at the man holding him. "Let him go."

The man hesitates briefly, and Naruto notices the shake of Satoru's teacher's head. Naruto deadpans. Now his teacher prefers to have him around? These people must be bipolar.

He lands perfectly on his feet when he's let go, turning over to glare at the man. Fixing the orange yukata he dyed himself by stealing from the Gojo Seamstress just down the hall from here, he scurries with Satoru inside.

The doors behind him close not before he hears the man who held him up scoff, and Naruto rolls his eyes. Some people act like children. And even that is an insult. Not all children act like brats. Dumb, idiot, adults of this dumb, idiot, clan...

Huffing, he rubs the part of his neck that was caught up in the fabric of his clothes and steps in stride with his cousin, who halts and looks up the next second. Naruto looks up the steps too with an unimpressed expression. He expects old people, and old people he gets. They sit on par with each other, though some seats are empty. The one in the middle doesn't look quite old, just middle-aged. About thirty years old, if he's right.

That might be Satoru's father.

Said father flickers his eyes across to him odiously. "And why is the Cursed One in the room with us?" He execrates in a deep voice. His tone doesn't hide his disgust.

Satoru's teacher is quick to reply. "...Foreseer Katomi has stated it plays a vital role in the Honored One's upbringing and should be encouraged with it. It is here because Gojo-sama demands it." Naruto notices sweat against his skin. If not for how his Cursed Energy plummets in fear, Naruto would have already been able to tell he's scared. And it? Really? He's not even a person anymore?

These people suck.

The Clan Head's eyes land on his son. They narrow dangerously.

"It brings nothing but bad luck by being within our reach," An Elder to the right hisses abruptly.

Naruto raises an eyebrow at the accusing finger.

"It is not meant to be here. Why has the Cursed One not been eradicated out of the premises at birth?" Another interjects.

"Have our warnings been for naught?" The third and last one ends it off, furious.

Naruto scratches the inside of his ear with his finger. Boredom is quick to reach him. What else is new, Naruto internally muses.

Satoru, on the other hand, looks like he's on the verge of blowing up the room. "He is here with me and I don't care what you say," He declares monotonously, meeting the eye of his father unflinchingly. Unknownst to Naruto, this is the first of many times his cousin will defy the Clan's authority.

The man scowls, his eyes widening slightly. The raised eyebrows quickly descend into anger. "Insolent child," He says with indignant conviction. "You learn nothing, yet still with being around it! That thing will be your downfall!" And yet he doesn't move to separate them at all. "Your foolishness will ruin us all."

"Don't talk to him like that," Naruto is quick to reprimand, and everyone returns their attention to him. Naruto crosses his arms and glares. "Treat your son with respect, old man. If ya know what's good for ya."

The Clan Head's eyes flash and he stands, outraged, "You—"

"You can't take me away from him. Whatever made-up stuff you guys are talking about is not important. What's important is Satoru," Naruto continues fearlessly, gesturing to his silent cousin marveling at the situation. "We come in here and for what? To talk about your son's progress in his Clan teachings? He's your son, in case you forgot. He should be able to play and learn things at an adequate pace, not all at once. Sure, he's awesome at what he does and he's learning super fast, but that doesn't mean that's all he should do. And besides! It's not like I'm stoppin' him. Why does me being around him matter? I'm not gonna eat him, datteba'yo," He gruffs, grated.

The man opens his mouth.

Naruto isn't finished. "I'm not a monster, even. I just happen to be cooler than you guys cuz I'm strong and stuff and you guys are scared. There's nothing wrong with being scared," He feels multiple energies bunch up by the door, "But it's not okay to treat something you don't with cruelty."

His face hardens, "But yeah, anyway, Satoru should have more room to grow the way he wants to, not your way. Your way sucks. This isn't a military," Naruto reproaches. He comes from a time when graduates were still twelve-year-old combatants, and though his times were at peace, he still feels like he should have changed the system more. There was only so much he could have done as Hokage without being swamped by paperwork. Now, in this new world, he can do that.

He can alter the societal norms of children fighting (since he's, more than once, seen the training the Gojo clan does and the broken limbs of children even younger than he is) in this world now that he has the time and experience to do it. He can give them the choice to. If it takes to be the sole bearer of all the burdens in the world, then that's fine by him. He defeated many Gods. He can do this easily.

The Clan Head seems to have heard enough. Naruto senses his energy spike in a rhythm that he deduces is a code because as soon as he does that, several Gojo Clan members infiltrate the room. Satoru looks around sporadically as Naruto frowns, tired. He already knows why they're here.

"Take this thing out of our sight," One Elder spits, truculent.

Naruto backs away when the one closest to him tries to grab him. "Um. No, I ain't going anywhere, datteba'yo. Satoru wanted me here and as his best friend in the whole wide world, I'm staying!" He sasses, giving them all the stink eye. Let them try. They'll fail. If they don't wanna listen to him, then he won't do jackshit on listening to them either.

They don't listen.

Another goes for him. He misses. "I don't get why you're mad when I'm giving you good advice," Naruto grumps, disappointed.

"What are you lot doing!?" The Old Woman rises pugnaciously, slicing her hand in the air. "Remove the Cursed One at once!"

Like a switch, all of them go for a swipe at him.

The action begins and Naruto isn't alarmed in the slightest. He jumps around and moves away with ease, maneuvering his tiny body around the stifling masses. He lands on top of some of their heads just for the shits and giggles, smoothly evading their pathetic attempts on capturing him with a simple bounce of his legs. His expression stays deathly composed through it all. Some gawk at his flexibility while others continue their relentless pursuit, and Naruto won't deny the flash of pride he feels for himself.

He knows he's good. It's not often he flaunts it. He isn't like his childhood self who would leap at the opportunity at showing off any chance he got. He has already overcome that insecurity and manifested it all in good-natured confidence.

He is not scared of their chase. He is not scared of their words.

(If he wanted to, he could kill them all. He knows Sasuke would have.)

He leaps around until the Clan Head brings out his Curse Energy and snags him, pulling him harshly to the floor with a translucent light that looks like a sparkling rope.

Naruto anchors without a scratch. He doesn't budge no matter how much energy encapsulates him to chain him down in the following moments, simply listening in on Kurama's words of affliction toward their daring clan members. In fact, he breaks free of it effortlessly just to let them know that their efforts will bring no fruit whatsoever, flashing his chakra dangerously when he does so.

The room enters a haunting cold.

Everyone stops.

(Satoru watches.)

"I said no," He expresses lowly, staring the Gojo Head down. A burbling, insidious aura rises around him, mimicking the image of the Kyuubi.

Those in the spectacle widen their eyes in horror, backing away.

Whispers pronounce the air with slight gasps from outside in the hallway. Maids gather to watch him all the same, undetected by everyone except for him.

The Clan Head remains still, but Naruto doesn't miss the drop in Energy that indicates pure, unadulterated fear from the man. The Elders look like they're having trouble breathing from the way they clutch their chests, and though Naruto is all for mercy, he doesn't level his power down.

His killing intent flows and keeps them still.

He puts his hands behind his back innocently, expression cold. "You either leave me alone or you get your asses handed to you. Your choice," He shrugs, unbothered. Because it's true, he's unperturbed. Naruto has lived through one lifetime and here he lives again without permission. He didn't ask to live again, but he's here, and he'll be damned if others will make his new life hell. He doesn't feel shit anymore, not for people like this. If they don't back down, he has no issues putting them in their place.

Satoru's father's extended hand coils into a fist. "Monster," He seethes, though it does nothing to hide his dread.

"Call me whatever ya want," Naruto says. "But this ends today. Satoru asked me to be here so I'm respecting his wishes. You should do the same," He snarls. His sky-blue eyes flicker to the red slits of Kurama and the compound trembles.

Nobody says anything for a while.

Naruto has no problem standing there, waiting. His gaze never wavers, and it's so focused that he can see the trickles of sweat that run down the throat of the man on the verge of breaking. Kurama rumbles about how delectable it will be when he has the chance to tear it apart with his jaws.

Naruto, in this instance, allows the sentiment.

His words hang in the air.

The silence threatens to break.

Satoru approaches him, still with that same indifferent mug. But his movement disperses the horrid air bubble the former Uzumaki has them in, and everyone in the room collectively gathers their breath.

Naruto shakes his head. It's sad that he had to resort to this. "So what'll it be? I don't have all day, datteba'yo." The boy deadpans.

Surprisingly, the Gojo Head straightens. "...An hour of freedom, and nothing more," He says as a final statement. Just an hour? A damn hour? He has to give it to this man, he has the balls to say that to him.

"How about we go one day he trains and another he doesn't?" Naruto snarks. It's not good enough. Kids should be allowed to be kids.

A vein visibly throbs on the man's forehead.

"Absolutely not."

They're at an impasse again.

The door opens again. A maid scrambles inside, bowed low. "Foreseer Katomi is here," He whispers, though it's clear in the muted room.

An old woman walks in. Her hair is longer than her body and drags on top of the even longer fabric of her droopy dress. Her wrinkles pronounce, hiding most of her face. She moves fast despite looking like she's on the verge of breaking. A blindfold hides her eyes.

Even the Elders reorient themselves at attention.

Naruto peers at her curiously while Satoru keeps a careful eye on his father.

"Foreseer," The Clan Head grabs everyone's attention. "What brings you here? Have you got news?" His eyes shift to Naruto.

Naruto sticks out his tongue. Satoru observes closely.

She doesn't reply. She goes straight for the blonde in the center of the room.

Everyone watches.

"Blessed Child," She speaks, and the world feels like it's tilted on its axis when she opens her eyes and locks them onto his blue ones. "A man will arrive soon." Is all she says.

Naruto, rightfully, is confused but he doesn't respond. He scratches his head, waiting on her to elaborate.

Then, "Help him rely on you, and you save The Honored One."

The maid that came in doesn't hold in his gasp. Nobody notices. They are too caught up in the ominous words just elicited past the most honored member of the Clan and her acknowledgment with just two sentences.

And she turns back around, leaving.

The doors close.

The room remains.

Naruto breaks it with a smug smile. "Looks like I stay! And since I get to stay, I make the rules. Everything I said about my favorite cousin still stands! And since I'm considered his protector now, I know best!" He throws them a peace sign with his signature, goofy, grin.

Nobody says anything this time.

Instead, what courses through various guards and staff is one thing:

That Gojo Satsumi (Or as the golden child considers himself to be called, Uzumaki Naruto) is not all as shitty as they expected him to be if he's willing to protect the Honored One.

Though it's in the wrong way, things change just slightly for the better.

[. . .]

That night, as everyone leaves Naruto in Satoru's room, Naruto joyfully declares his awesomeness.

"I totally had them!" He laughs, jumping up and down on the bed happily. "And we get to play more!"

He continues jumping, making tricks every instance he's in the air. He lands airily, keeping light even though he knows the bed will still get ruined under his weight. It's fine. This is Naruto's bed that he stole from an empty guest room and put it here. He's just softening it so that it doesn't hurt his back anymore. He's too happy to care about it, anyway. Happy even when he's disappointed he had to use threats and the Gojo peeps still didn't listen.

But everything worked out in the end without violence. To Naruto, he counts it as a victory.

Satoru follows his movements with his eyes.

"We should get ice cream to celebrate!" The Uzumaki hums, flipping in the air one last time before landing in front of his silent cousin.

"...Ice cream?" Satoru inquires.

"That's right! Sugary, cold sweet stuff!" Naruto says excitedly, twirling as happy as can be.

Satoru's tense shoulders relax. He twiddles his hands together. Nervous? Shy?

Naruto makes sure not to show the worry on his face. It's very hard to tell with Satoru, sometimes. He hides his emotions too well. He doesn't want to scare the boy off if he is indeed, hesitant.

Satoru sits down right where he stands, looking down. "...What if they say no?" He mumbles.

The question catches him off-guard.

This is the first time in weeks that the boy expresses himself like this. It's so out of character that for a moment, Naruto frets that someone in the clan threatened Satoru when he wasn't looking. But how? They stuck together even after they left, surely nobody possesses the power to talk in their head and fill it up with nonsense...? If they do, then that's cheating.

Satoru is just four years old. He's still in that unsure toddler phase despite his smart mannerisms of speech where he thinks that those older than him still have some sense of control over him. Naruto will make sure he knows otherwise.

The former 7th Hokage is quick to assure him. "They won't. I won't let 'em. I promise," Naruto vows, holding out his hand.

Satoru looks up with his usual dead expression, though his eyes gleam. Curiously, he encapsulates his palm onto Naruto's, who shakes it once with promise.

"Imma say it here and now, as long as I'm alive, I'll protect you, datteba'yo! And I never go back on my promises, that's my ninja way! Believe it!" He pulls his cousin up, coating him in the protective warmth of his chakra.

Satoru gazes back, squeezing his hand. He doesn't even question why he mentions Ninjas. Doesn't doubt him, even.

He doesn't smile, not yet.

But Naruto can see the lighter spark in his eye that says all he needs to know.

Chapter Text

[. . .]

"Um... that looks freaky."

[. . .]

Chapter 3

Clone One and Clone Two

[. . .]

Things become slightly more manageable after his defiance against the Gojo Clan Head.

Satoru decides he wants to train more because he bluntly declares he's bored watching Naruto make seals all day, so the boy's freedom extends as long as he wants to in the days he has off until he rises and trains.

(Unfortunately, Satoru cannot make seals. Naruto thought so because his energy is different from chakra, so there's no use if the essence doesn't attach itself as chakra does. He'll go look into the vaults again to see if there's a different sealing method people with cursed energy use.)

Naruto offers to teach him other things besides sealing, options that don't have to do with chakra in itself. The following day after his outburst his cousin is all too happy to agree upon. According to Satoru, his teacher is too stiff and boring. The blonde is delighted to hear his thoughts on the matter.

It seems after he stood up to his father he's also a little more open to him. He still has the bad habit of being mean to others, but Naruto thinks that's because Satoru sees them as inferior to him (a result of his short upbringing and glorification). They're scared of him, which Naruto thinks is ridiculous. Seriously, a toddler is a toddler. Satoru is small, but that doesn't mean the kid wants to kill everybody. Though... his threats might have something to do with it.

Naruto makes sure to tell his cousin that though he is stronger than them, it's not nice to call them weak. Someone might consider it berating enough to make unwanted enemies, plus it hurts others' feelings.

Satoru listens, surprisingly. He nevertheless stares at them enough to make them squirm, but at least he doesn't send them off by calling them weak-willed and accidentally getting them in trouble with the Elders when they overhear from a passed rumor.

With his moral lessons, Naruto teaches him his Ninja ways the day he has off thanks to his indulgence.

He begins by letting Satoru know that if at any moment he doesn't want to continue, he can let him know. When Satoru agrees, he then asks what the boy knows so far.

It's basic Katas focusing on the upper motion of the body; strikes and blocks and all. He also coats himself for a full four hours in what the Clan calls 'Limitless', their special technique.

"Like a Kekkei Genkai," Naruto makes the connection, rubbing his chin in thought.

He looks at his cousin when he asks, "What is that?"

"It's like a unique ability belonging to a single Clan," Naruto answers.

Naruto runs him through with stretches first before launching him in a sprint contest. He wants to measure just how much stamina Satoru can manage.

Turns out, quite a lot. At least, for his age. 80 km per hour is good.

"I'm gonna have you run a lot today," Naruto mumbles, lifting his sprawled (face down) cousin off the ground by his armpits. "Then I'm gonna make you memorize a more fluid style of fighting. A style I like to call the Mighty Lee, datteba'yo."

Satoru blinks sluggishly.

Naruto feels guilty. "...Maybe a break?"

The break goes on for an hour until Satoru recuperates, and then he's back on his feet again. Naruto lets him sit as he begins to teach him the moves he knows by heart.

Soon the end of the day approaches after Satoru tries his best to hone the flexibility needed for the assortment of strikes Naruto drills him on until he collapses when both of his legs are off-ground somehow. Naruto catches him before he can face-plant onto the dirt. "Don't run yourself ragged, Sa-chan," Naruto frowns, dusting him off. "It's important to rest too, ya know."

The boy just stares at him.

Naruto sighs. "I hate this stupid Clan."

He hates it even more when he follows Satoru around the next day for his lessons. They're even more heavy than before.

"What the hell?" He snarls, pushing a particularly muscular teacher away from a wheezing Satoru when he returns from a bathroom break five hours in. "Your fatass is gonna kill him!" Naruto ignores the sneer of protest from the adult in favor of gathering a lethargic Satoru in his arms. "We're restin'," Naruto mumbles, shooting the four clansmen watching them the stink eye. "If I catch anyone tryna force Satoru into doing stuff again, I'll eat you."

It's a little mean to say when he sees their countenances blanch, but it's necessary. They won't listen otherwise.

He carries his beaten-up cousin to their shared room and sets him down gently on the bed.

Satoru is staring at him.

Naruto huffs. "What? He was like a beefy horse. He woulda sat on ya, datteba'yo." He rolls up his sleeves and begins rubbing his hands. "Now sit still. I'mma try my Iryo Ninjutsu on your surface-level bruises," He informs, and Satoru doesn't move at all. It should be easier on surface-level stuff. The capillaries are the only things damaged if he remembers right. Sakura taught him the basics after Hinata was busy visiting her father in the Clan and he had to take care of a crying Boruto.

A bitter despair stings his heart as he sets his hands over Satoru's arms.

He wonders how old Boruto would have been now.

Slowly, and with careful precision, Naruto heals Satoru's flesh wounds. They disappear gradually, and after fifteen minutes, the first arm is done. He pulls back, grinning. "Not bad, huh?"

Satoru offers his other arm in response.

Later, when Satoru's healed and done with his calligraphy lessons and they're both in their room eating dinner without an audience for once, Satoru proposes a question.

"Can we get ice cream now?"

[. . .]

There's a chiming bell that echoes from the main dining room, hallways away from where Naruto and Satoru sneak away to.

The two boys and a handful of Gojo Clan members are skulking around the predominantly vacant compound, uninvited from the annual feast pertaining to the monumental creation of one of the competitors of the Jujutsu Kaisen world. The Gojo Clan itself, of course.

Arrogant bastards, Naruto grouches as he eyes a slumbering guard malpractice his only job.

Naruto knows there's probably more to it. Naruto also doesn't care because they left Satoru out, so he has a big problem with them. Probably a stupid party anyway, the blonde boy thinks to himself as he drags Satoru along the slippery flooring. According to Satoru's teacher, the boy must be protected with guards in sight in case potential assassins trespass and kill him.

Naruto thinks it's a load of bullcrap. If anything, Satoru should attend because there'll be more eyes there than alone with him in his room. Besides, Naruto's here. He can kill anyone that tries to get in. They're just trying to limit his cousin from having fun for no damn reason. Punishment for the Uzumaki's bold actions two days ago is probably the main cause if he thinks about it... but they're even more stupid if he's right. Naruto warned them all.

Whatever.

That party blows. The ice cream he promised Satoru they'd get will be a tastier treat, he vows.

Silently, they trail through the darkness with practiced quietude. There are junctures when Satoru trips and captures the attention of a few servants searching for the missing pieces of tableware they misplaced, but Naruto is quick to hide both of them underneath tables or sometimes in plain sight, casting a testing Genjutsu that works spectacularly.

By the time they reach the entrance, Naruto is brimming with excitable energy and confident self-praise for improving some of his lacking arsenal.

The blonde steps outside of the compound for the first time in this life and takes a generous inhale as he lets go of his cousin's loose grip on his hand. He exhales the crispy freshness in satisfaction, turning his head to check on his cousin who stands like he's just made a huge discovery. The Gojo child's eyes are widened just a fraction from his original blank slate, twinkling in mystified adoration at the many trees that cover them both. "Neat, huh?" The blonde elbows him.

Satoru glances from his disturbed ribs to the boy beaming at him. "There are others here," Satoru expresses with obvious warning.

Sure enough, Naruto can detect two people with dense energy patrolling their way.

Naruto shrugs. "I guess we'll go super ninja mode then," His grin is cheeky. "You don't know how to yet, so I'll teach ya this first time. C'mon." Naruto crouches and becomes even smaller than he already is.

A flicker of confusion shrouds his cousin's watchful gaze. It turns from him to the woods, until it comes back to him again.

Satoru just stands there.

When it's apparent the boy won't move, Naruto looks behind him curiously. "Whatcha waiting for?" He tilts his head. Satoru doesn't twitch. His answer is silence.

Naruto perks when the flash of confusion is made clear to him. Must not know what I'm doin', he thinks with twisted sadness. Anger toward the Gojo Clan wedges through fretfully, but he pushes it aside harshly because there's no way he's going to ruin Satoru's first time being outside with his issues. "Oh! I'm gonna give you a piggyback ride. You just put your arms around my neck and I'll hold onto your legs, kind of like a backpack," The Uzumaki explains patiently.

Satoru looks doubtful.

Naruto isn't dismayed. "C'moon... I'll keep ya safe, I promise!"

After a minute of his cousin's contemplation, Satoru finally moves closer toward him.

It takes a few tries, but eventually, the snow child stops fumbling and attempting to squeeze Naruto to death.

"Alright, datteba'yo!" Naruto cheers, facing the full moon. "Time to get some ice cream!"

He vaults to the edge of the larger-than-average fence surrounding the compound, careful to soothe his cousin's unanticipated squeeze, and quietly jumps to the trees.

[. . .]

He doesn't know where anything is, so he takes this chance to explore a bit of the world he's been reborn into. He's left two shadow clones of himself and Satoru in their beds so if anyone checks, they'll be fine. They have plenty of time, as long as Satoru is okay with it.

Naruto happily jumps in the shadows, running at speeds that aren't recognizable to the human eye. Assuming that these... sorcerers are the same, they'll be practically invisible. Satoru doesn't quite know how to mask his energy yet, but that's fine. Anyone that happens to figure them out can answer to Kurama.

Satoru holds on as best as he can. He makes no sound, but Naruto can feel his energy fluctuate; ascending and descending every time he makes a swift move elsewhere.

Is it dread or excitement?

It's hard to tell with his cousin if he's honest. Naruto takes it as a challenge.

"Flying sounds cool," Naruto starts, hoping to ease any tension by making conversation. "I could fly before, ya know. For a little bit. There was like this super god Gramps that gave me these awesome powers, datteba'yo. It was for a seal against this crazy chakra goddess named Kaguya, and my best friend had another one too. We kicked ass!" He says, taking an extraordinary leap between trees.

Satoru, as expected, is quiet.

Naruto continues. "It was some type of prophecy or whatever. I was the sun, and my best friend was the moon. We were whole, ya know. Kind of like the pieces of a puzzle? I still don't know how it worked, datteba'yo. But the important part was that I was super powerful and I could fly! I wish I could still fly. It'd make stuff so much easier." Naruto tips his head back to flash his cousin a grin. "We'd already be there, having ice cream."

Satoru looks around, drinking in the outside world as he narrowly avoids a branch that could've slapped his forehead. "...What is a best friend?" He asks with measured suspicion.

Naruto's smile turns sad. "It's someone you trust in the whole wide world. Someone special to you. Someone you'd do anything for."

Satoru stews on that for a little bit.

"...Only one?" He asks later when they've finally descended upon a city.

The view is incredible. Naruto, for a moment, mistakes it for Konoha. The serene lights of many colors stuff him full of a yearning for a home that used to be.

Naruto lowers his cousin to an odd gravel road. "It depends, I guess. There's only been one best friend for me," Naruto admits. "I've had super close friends, yeah. Like my friend Sakura-chan. But... Sasuke was..." Naruto lingers on the moon.

He wonders.

"They're like... you're one and only."

Satoru looks at the moon too, stepping next to him. His little socks touch the rocky grounds, unbothered. "Will I have one?" Satoru inquires innocently, kicking off some pebbles.

Naruto regards him in slight surprise. A warm smile manifests when their eyes meet. "Yeah, datteba'yo! It's totally me! But..." Naruto's smile becomes understanding, more delicate, "If not, that's cool! You can find another awesome one too. We're family, anyway. I value that just as much as a best friend! I don't doubt you'll find yours. I think your best friend will be the best of the best because you deserve the best of the best." In sincerity, he displays his emotion.

Satoru wrinkles his nose, puzzled.

Naruto giggles and then takes one of his hands again, keen on not letting his cousin fall behind or get lost. By the looks of it, this... village? City? it's huge. "Now c'mon, let's go find an ice cream stand. I stole a bunch of money!" It's true. Although he's studied some of this world's history and economic structure for his future debut, in this case, he stored an entire briefcase worth into a scroll he keeps sealed inside his forearm.

If the Clan is annoyed by his stealing, they can take it up with Kurama.

[. . .]

Despite the sky succumbing to evening twilight, the city they go to is laced with a hefty populace still making their way around.

"Wow," Naruto marvels, weaving through the pedestrians on the sidewalk. "I didn't think there'd be so many people, heh." He keeps a strong grip on Satoru who steadily keeps pace, not one to lag on such an experience like this.

Satoru doesn't provide any commentary. Naruto knows and sees that his cousin is too involved with admiring the eccentricities this area has to offer.

Happy to find that the Gojo heir isn't hating the experience, Naruto takes his time leading him along. Discreetly, he sends an alarming amount of shadow clones to search the city for any places—not just ice cream—for them to play around in. He especially commands them to find a ramen shop. This world might not have Ichiraku, but it sure as hell should have ramen.

If not, that's a crime.

(And if not, he'll grow up and maintain one himself.)

Unfortunately, twenty minutes into their exploration (with concerning rates of adults not caring there are two damn toddlers by themselves), one of his shadow clones pops. He thinks it's because it found somewhere to go, but upon receiving the memories, Naruto halts immediately with a disturbed and dreaded feeling coiling in his stomach.

The memory is crispy clear: a shadow hanging by the neck wrung its hands around the clone's throat, throttling and giving light to a face full of mushing organs chanting 'Enough, I want to be enough'. It comes from an alleyway far away from where they stand, which is a relief, but...

Is that what the Clan was teaching Satoru?

He turns to Satoru who's already looking at him. The last bits of the memory process, revealing the alarmed shrill of the humanoid burning to death when the clone uses the bit of chakra it has to exist to crush it with a fire jutsu. It smells like ash and cooked, rotting, meat.

Is it a Curse?

"Hey, this is random but what the heck is a Curse?" The Uzumaki asks, pulling his cousin aside into a small space next to a huge building with many windows. On his left is a closed shop with a sign that mimics the actions of cutting hair. The people walk on, ignoring them.

Naruto hasn't been paying attention to the grouchy seniors teaching Satoru. He's never been good at that, anyway. He doesn't like asking as of now since this road trip is supposed to be for Satoru's sake, but he can't deny the unsettled sentiments brushing his guts.

Yeesh, it's creepy, Naruto shivers.

"A Curse is a build-up of negative energy that comes from non-sorcerers," Satoru answers accordingly. Naruto doesn't have the time to praise the toddler for his impressive usage of words and lack of a fragmented sentence before he continues. "It's created when non-sorcerers keep all the negative energy to themselves, so it gathers in one place and makes the Curse."

Naruto makes sure not to jump when another set of memories pinch in, this time demonstrating a blob of teeth and eyeballs eating the clone alive. Then the clone breaks out of the void but pops when it is shoved back in by an invisible force. His clone didn't want to be in there.

"Why?" Gojo prompts.

Naruto rubs his head, chuckling nervously. "'Cuz... I think I just saw two."

Another pops. A tall, lanky creature ripped his shadow clone apart for gaping too long. Naruto isn't concerned that they burst so fast. By their intentions, they wanted him to receive the memories as soon as possible.

Naruto does not like Curses.

Satoru immediately squints and looks around, evident that he will eliminate a threat if nearby.

The Golden Child is quick to ease him. "Hey, they ain't around here. Don't worry. My Shadow Clones will take care of em'," He expresses as he creates ten more. They leave the instant they are made.

Satoru eyes him before relenting, pulling him back to the streets.

Naruto is the one to follow along this time. So he does, focusing his hearing and sense of smell on anything out of the ordinary. Though there are many souls here, Naruto trusts Kurama to let him know if he can't catch things on time.

Brimming with despair and hatred, Kurama growls in his ear. They are everywhere.

What? Naruto starts sweating. Everywhere? Well, that makes sense since there are a lot of people around...

Most are far, Kurama assures.

Keyword: Most. There's no way Naruto's letting his guard down now.

His shoulders droop. So much for a fun outing...

Though...

He looks to his cousin, sensing his relaxed state. The coil of danger has detangled into idle belligerence for the sight-seeing City. He must trust him to keep his word.

Naruto puffs out his chest with pride. That's good! He's really happy that Satoru trusts him with this. With... all of this. He's coming around!

I'll protect ya, Naruto promises, squeezing his hand.

Satoru squeezes back.

[. . .]

"Pick whatever ya want!" Naruto cheers, henged into a teenage Sakura giddily clapping her hands as he watches his cousin intently study the abundant assortment of colors behind a clear glass.

Naruto waits patiently for the boy's choice, checking now and then at the entrance for any suspicious activity. Not five minutes after asking Satoru about curses, fifteen more of his Shadow Clones popped, all revealing gruesome and abominable creatures. They were grotesque in proportion, rivaling, in Naruto's wise opinion, the hideous form of the Ten-Tails he fought a lifetime ago.

They've been consistently bursting, demonstrating locations that the blonde sends more of his shadow clones to get rid of. Nobody has seen him use his ability so far, which is both infuriating and relieving. Who the heck is that blind not to notice there are multiple of him!?

(Though, is he really so surprised? The people don't notice any of the curses either...)

Well, he supposes it works in his favor anyhow. He doesn't need someone freaking out and ruining Satoru's day of treats.

Luckily, at the forty-minute mark, a clone finally pops in to tell him good news. He found an Ice Cream shop!

"What is this?" Satoru points to a kiwi-strawberry flavor in the back named as such.

"Just read it," The moody teenager behind the register rudely inputs under his breath.

Naruto raises an eyebrow. The teen must be tired as hell working here in such late hours of the night. Still, it's disrespectful to tell a toddler that.

Before Naruto can take over, his cousin intercepts.

"What did you say, peasant?" Satoru speaks up just as badly, calmly raising his head to stare at the adolescent.

The shock on the teen's face lets Naruto know that he must've not meant to say it out loud. "That's Kiwi Strawberry," Naruto quickly answers Satoru's earlier question, smiling strainly as Satoru regards him pensively. I'm gonna need to teach him about empathy too, Naruto internally mopes. The teen should know better too. He'll make a shadow clone of some random person and leave it here to teach the kid about letting out frustrations in a healthy way.

"...Is it good?" Satoru questions, eyeing the green tub suspiciously.

Naruto nods his head enthusiastically. "Hell yeah, datteba'yo!" His voice comes out a perfect pitch to Sakura's. He tries not to let the memory of her get to him.

Satoru thinks. His tiny hand pokes to the left of the glass, "And this?"

Naruto angles his head to see, "That's Strawberry Watermelon. It's also good."

Satoru moves his finger again. "This?"

"Oh, that's just strawberry mochi. Why, you want some? I'll buy that too, ya know."

Satoru ignores him in favor of another question. "This?"

Naruto hums. He'll happily answer all of them. Satoru probably doesn't know how to read some of the words because he's never heard of them. Just another thing to condemn the Gojo Clan for, the blonde deadpans. "Strawberry Banana," the Uzumaki responds.

"This?"

"Strawberry Raspberry."

"This?"

"Um... Oh! That's Strawberry Lime."

"This?"

"Strawberry Peach. Jeez, there's a lot of strawberry here."

"...This?"

"Chocolate? I think. Yep. That's chocolate, datteba'yo."

Satoru painfully goes through every flavor his eyes can see. Naruto answers all of it with content forbearance. This is the most his cousin has spoken in like, ever. Hearing him be a curious little child is alleviating. The teenager doesn't think so at all, based on his irritated expression. Meh. Who cares. Naruto'll just pay extra for his tolerance.

When he has no more flavors to ponder about, the snow child regards Naruto confidently. "I want everything."

"Cool!" Naruto speaks without judgment. He turns to the teenager who looks like he's seen better days, "Ya heard the lil' guy. He'd like one of everything, please! As for me..." Naruto squints, scrutinizing between the chocolate flavor and vanilla, "I'd like a double scoop of Chocolate and Vanilla, datteba'yo." He puts his hands together and closes his eyes beseechingly, "Please and Thanks!"

"...Okay," The teenager grits, punching many numbers into the register. "Anything else?"

Naruto looks down at Satoru expectantly. The toddler shakes his head. He turns back to the cashier, "Nah. Thanks, though."

Naruto sits on the small bench next to the window with his cousin in tow. They wait.

Ten minutes later, Satoru speaks up. "Is he finished?"

"No," Naruto answers after checking.

"...Okay."

They wait another ten minutes.

"Is he finished?"

The golden child shakes his head, brushing the lengths of pink hair against the wall from the movement. "Not yet."

This time, Satoru waits twenty more minutes before he asks again. "Is he finished?"

Naruto raises his head and sees the teenager arranging another box where the cones reside. "...Don't think so. I should help," Naruto mumbles, feeling a bit bad.

Satoru tugs his red shirt before he can move. He turns back to the boy. "Stay," The child demands.

Well, dang it. "...Fine. I'll just make another shadow clone," He shrugs. He makes sure to make this one henge into a regular businessman he saw walking around earlier. The clone comes from the outside, opening the door with a jingle and nodding to him. Naruto nods back.

"Is that one of them?" Satoru inquires.

"Yeah," The blonde—or rather, pinkette—answers.

"...He does not look the same."

"It's just like how I can do it," The Uzumaki begins to explain, trying to kill time as the teenager comes in from the back of the shop and looks even more miserable. "So can my clones. It's called a Henge."

The boy stays quiet.

Five minutes go by and Naruto smiles when the teenager looks on the verge of crying tears of joy as his shadow clone quickly goes back and forth, finishing the remaining single-scoop cones and various other items.

When it's Satoru's turn to ask again, his clone calls them over. "They're done!" It says, scratching its nose. Not very business-like.

"Cool, thanks!" Naruto says, then turns to the teenager who's once again behind the register, putting in the total of his order. "Don't worry about that, datteba'yo," Naruto quickly turns around and unseals two thick stacks of cash. "Here," He puts them on the table with a slide forward, cheeky smile and all. "If there's change, don't worry about it!"

The teenager's eyes nearly burst out of its sockets. "W-Wh... Seriously?" He glares at them, "Is this real?"

"Yup," He smirks.

The adolescent checks. He gapes. "No way...?" He looks at his clone for confirmation, and the clone makes a show of studying the paper and nodding.

"Yes way. Also, have this too!" Naruto throws another stack that the teen scrambles to catch, "For the trouble, hehe."

The teenager is at a loss for words. Naruto proceeds to pile the boxes that conveniently hold spaces for build-up commodities and carries them out, crouching under the limited height of the door for good measure. There has to be... what? Five boxes? Six? The more the merrier.

When they both walk out with his purposeful clone waving them goodbye, they take a turn for an alley. Setting the boxes down, he turns to a peeking Satoru with a grin.

"So. Which one do ya wanna try first?"

[. . .]

The two boys are seated on a bench, in a park a little ways from the shop, with dribbles of ice cream over their faces and clothes. His legs swing as he finishes the shared treats Satoru offered willingly, delighted at the taste while Satoru plucks off another from the remaining three boxes, slightly melted from the temperature change of a shop to a cold night.

"Man..." Naruto swipes the sugar on his mouth with his sleeve, "I haven't had ice cream in like, forever!"

Satoru shoves the cone in his mouth and chews with chubby cheeks.

The blonde beams at him. "It's good, huh?"

The Gojo child answers by shoving more of the sorbet inside after swallowing.

"When you're full, I can seal the rest of the ice cream on my arm. That way when you're hungry again, you can eat it," He says, rubbing his sticky digits on his orange attire. He'll sneak off and clean both of their clothes so that little of their evidence is shown. Satoru's going to need a big bath. The kid has ice cream of all flavors slobbered everywhere.

Gathering his one clean sleeve, he inches closer to his cousin when he's done eating to wipe his face. "Eat slower, you might choke, datteba'yo. If you choke and you die, who's gonna eat the rest of these?" Naruto gestures to the boxes.

Satoru lets his cousin clean him and only pulls away when Naruto starts picking at a stubborn piece of waffle cone stuck to his chin. "Hey! I'm not done!"

"Thank you," Satoru says.

Naruto blinks.

"I want ice cream to eat forever."

The blonde rubs under his nose, bashful. "Heh. No problem!" He pauses, "I don't think you should eat ice cream forever. There's plenty of other good stuff you can try!" He doesn't say it's bad for him because he doesn't want Satoru to feel that he's being forced to do the 'right' thing. The Clan does enough of that, even though they're wrong most of the time.

Satoru contemplates. "...Okay," He agrees, coming down from the bench. "I want to sleep."

"Alright," The blonde agrees and walks to the boxes to seal them away. "First you gotta take a bath though."

Satoru kicks a stick. "...Why?"

"You'll probably feel sticky," Naruto provides, pressing two fingers on the black ink inscribed on his skin, inspecting if it's unstable after shoving the boxes in. It's not.

"...Okay."

"I'll go look for clothes when we get back, yeah?"

"...Okay."

"Cool," Naruto turns and crouches, "Ready?"

Satoru climbs on with much more ease this time. "...Ready."

Naruto smiles at the word change. "Alright! Let's go!"

Just as Naruto begins to run, another of his clones pops.

A knife to the head, done by a man with a scar on his lip.