'Jiraiya-sama is back. I saw him racing through the village while I was closing up. ' Inoichi confided to his two former teammates as they moved through the main room of the Hokage tower.

They met up several times a week to talk about family and discuss Konoha business. Even though Inoichi had retired, he was still a clan head and was occasionally called in for help with special cases.

Today, they were eating in the on-duty cafeteria since Shikaku and Inoichi had been asked to stay close to the tower in anticipation of their guest 's arrival. Inoichi because he had been asked to be on hand to go through the man 's mind if necessary and Shikaku to offer his opinion on the facts gathered from him. Chouza simply allowed himself to be pulled along by his two teammates. He had a leadership position as a clan head as well, but he often followed Shikaku and Inioich 's lead in such matters. He had more important things to consider, such as how to feed a clan full of Akimichi without breaking the bank. It was a full-time job.

'I heard about that, ' Chouza laughed, 'one of my clansmen saw. Apparently, there was a strange redheaded nin racing with him that no one recognized. '

Shikaku shared a look with Inoichi, who confirmed the sighting.

'He beat Jiraiya-sama, ' Inoichi explained, 'and jumped right through the Hokage 's window without an ounce of shame. '

Chouza rumbled a laugh through his chest. It seemed an interesting shinobi had come to Konoha. His eyes were bright with amusement while Shikaku 's eyebrows raised. That was an interesting tidbit. He, too, had heard of the infamous race from his son Shikamaru, who had been cloud gazing on their roof. Shikamaru had nearly been run over by the rampaging shinobi. He had received a laughing apology in passing that was almost lost in the wind as the two passed.

'I wonder if we 'll meet him, ' Chouza asked, though he imagined that at least Inoichi would if not Shikaku as well. Certainly, if the rumors were true and an S-class nin was being considered as a recruit to join Konoha.

Even as he said this, they passed into the cafeteria. It wasn 't hard to spot the redhead among the seated shinobi. Despite their relative discretion, most of the nin in the room were seated in such a way as to sneak looks at him and listen in on his conversation. That wasn 't even accounting for the fact that the man 's hair was like a beacon for light and attention.

'It appears so, ' Shikaku muttered to his two teammates as his eyes rested on the man.

He sat with his back against a wall, a position most seasoned shinobi preferred, with his son 's academy instructor seated next to him. The teacher sat listening as the man talked expressively. He occasionally flung his chopsticks out when making a point, not bothered by Iruka-sensei 's admonishing looks when the broth splashed him incidentally. Despite this, Iruka was smiling and relaxed, a disposition Shikaku hardly ever found the straight-laced and determined Chuunin to be in. He dealt with children training to be dangerous killers all day, including the Uzumaki prankster. He had to be on guard or risk injury to himself or, more likely, the children themselves.

'Let 's get something to eat, ' Chouza said. He pushed both his teammates toward the line, 'We can join them. '

Since Inoichi and Shikaku had long ago learned not to get between an Akimichi and food, they allowed themselves to be bullied toward the lunch line. When they had loaded up on food (Chouza would go back for more several times), Shikaku lazily led the way to the corner that the Academy instructor and strange nin occupied.

He knew the supposed Uzumaki had already clocked them several times since they had entered, though he had never deviated from the story he was telling the academy instructor about his travels to the outer reaches of the continent. Shikaku noted the whirlpool forehead protector and ornamentation, the hair color that was identical to the few Uzumaki he had known. There were also strange marks that spread across his cheeks that were identical to the ones Uzumaki Naruto had since birth that made this man stand out. That was an odd quirk. Shikaku had always assumed the marks were purely from the Kyuubi, but perhaps there was a hereditary basis for them that they were not aware of. It didn 't quite fit either explanation as Uzumaki Kushina had never had the marks herself as either the Jinchuuriki or as an Uzumaki. Odd.

As the three of them approached their table, Iruka looked up and smiled politely. The Uzumaki paused his story to turn in their direction. Shikaku noted the clear blue eyes and the smile that lit up the man 's face. He was briefly struck with a memory of Minato that took him off-guard.

'Hello, Iruka-sensei, ' Shikaku greeted the man politely.

Inoichi and Chouza beside him returned the Uzumaki 's brilliant smile bemusedly.

'Do you mind if we join you? '

Iruka slid a glance at his companion, who smiled encouragingly at him.

'Of course, Shikaku-sama, ' Iruka said and indicated that he should sit down.

Shikaku huffed as he sagged in the seat directly across from the Uzumaki. 'None of that, ' Shikaku groaned, 'you 're my son 's instructor. Calling me -sama is troublesome. '

The strange Uzumaki snickered even as he slurped up his bowl. He gave Shikaku an amused look as Iruka stammered that he couldn 't possibly '

'So, would your son be one of the brooding know-it-alls or the troublemakers, ' the Uzumaki asked, which caused Iruka to start blushing even as a hand flashed out to jab his companion in the ribs. Not that it stopped him from adding, 'Or was he the lazy genius? You know what 'you look like your son is the lazy genius type. '

So, the man had clocked him as a Nara already.

Interesting.

Shikaku smiled wanly as he scratched at his scars. The stranger just continued to grin despite Iruka 's mortification beside him.

'The latter, ' Shikaku admitted with a smirk, 'you almost ran over him today. '

The Uzumaki put on a puzzled expression for a moment as he thought back before his face colored lightly.

(He

had

almost piledrove Shikamaru into the roof he had been laying on. Why was the chibi genius even up there to begin with? Was his cloud-gazing habit that bad? The boy needed help, but even he, a traveler from the future, would probably not be enough.)

'Ah, the pineapple head is yours, then, ' he said, and his eyes trailed up to Shikaku 's own hair, 'sorry bout that. Ero-sennin distracted me with a flare at the wrong moment. If it helps, I swear I missed him by at least this much. ' The Uzumaki lifted his hand to show a minuscule distance.

'Well, I thank you for my son's continued existence, ' Shikaku murmured as he stirred his own bowl of ramen thoughtfully. 'I heard Jiraiya-sama nearly wasn 't so far. '

In fact, his son had told him the Uzumaki had kicked the Toad Sage backward moments before he would have collided with Shikamaru. Then, immediately after, the Uzumaki had launched himself forward again to retake the lead.

The Uzumaki laughed as he remembered Jiraiya 's surprise at being launched backward with Shikamaru 's muttered troublesome that sounded a tinge bit spooked.

'Yeah, well, sorry all the same, ' the Uzumaki muttered before he dropped his chopsticks and extended his hand across the table, 'Uzumaki Kuniharu, I 'm hopefully going to become one of your Jounin, Nara Shikaku. '

Shikaku acknowledged that he had been found out and offered the man his hand.

'We 'll see if you 've got what it takes, ' Shikaku bluffed. If the things Hiruzen told him were true, more than likely, the man was on his way to Kage level if not already there.

The Uzumaki smiled, and his eyes seemed to brim with the light of a challenge. He squeezed Shikaku 's hand and nodded.

'I look forward to it, ' he said before he then offered his hand to Inoichi.

The blond took it as he scrutinized the man 's friendly face. Would he be forced to walk through this man 's mind? He hoped that it would not be necessary.

'Yamanaka Inoichi, ' he said, and Kuniharu nodded in understanding before he offered his hand to Chouza.

The Akimichi reluctantly stopped eating to take the man 's hand and mutter his name before he went back to devouring his meal.

'I am curious about the moniker Inoichi 's and Chouza 's kids received, ' Shikaku teased Iruka, though he kept his calculating gaze on the stranger.

The Uzumaki once again saved Iruka from his own sputtering by placing his hand over his eyes and announcing, 'Wait, let me guess! '

He swung his finger toward Chouza first. 'I think the Akimichi obviously must be the foodie, I mean, duh. '

Kuniharu swung his hand toward Inoichi next. 'Hmm, could it be one of the brooding know-it-alls 'ah no, I 'm sensing daughter vibes. So, it must be a fangirl who is obsessed with a brooding know-it-all. ' He took his hand from his eyes to grin at Inoichi, who had sagged in his seat.

Was it that obvious?

'How did I do? ' he asked with a grin that Shikaku thought was a shade too knowing but not 'it did not appear to be nefarious to him. The man had almost sounded fond; perhaps he liked children? Or just enjoyed teasing Iruka, from how he kept glancing at the Academy teacher. He nudged him in the side when Iruka seemed about to collapse in embarrassment.

'Correct, ' Inoichi sighed, and Chouza nodded in agreement. Kuniharu slapped his hands together in self-congratulations and then once again nudged Iruka.

'Hey, hey, Iruka-chan, tell them about you running into the Hokage 's office uninvited, ' he said. "That was hilarious!"

This was the last straw. Iruka pounced on the man. He reached to box his ears exactly as the man did to Naruto when they were goofing around. Kuniharu held him off, laughing uproariously as Ino-Shika-Cho watched on in quiet amusement. Shikaku noted that while Iruka was irritated, he wasn 't truly angry. It looked like he was having fun, though the two had surely just met. It was curious, but even Shikaku could feel an odd warmth lodge somewhere in his chest. He wondered if the man played shogi. He imagined it would be quite the game. At the very least, it would be interesting.

Finally, Kuniharu held up surrendering hands. 'Fine, fine, ' he laughed, 'I give. I 'll tell you guys something embarrassing about me if it makes you feel better, Iruka-chan. '

Iruka huffed as he sat back and glared at the man. 'It better be good,

Haru-chan

, ' Iruka emphasized as his eyes scanned the room knowingly. Whatever this was, it would spread throughout the village like wildfire.

Kuniharu scanned the room as well and looked rescind to his fate.

(He thought for a moment. What was something embarrassing that he could safely share? Something that wouldn't either expose him or damage his budding reputation too much '. perhaps he could start to nudge things a little for his chibi self? Not enough that it would change the outcome, but perhaps it would soften the blow?)

'Hmm, ' Haru made a show of thinking before he snapped and looked back at Iruka with a sheepish smile, 'Well, I can 't make a normal Bunshin. Is that sufficiently embarrassing? '

Throughout the room, several shinobi scoffed or snorted in disbelief. What kind of shinobi couldn 't make a Bunshin?

'You 're lying, ' Iruka announced with a solid poke into Haru 's shoulder for trying to pass something ridiculous off as truth.

Still, a quiet voice in the back of his head reminded him that the Bunshin was the jutsu that Naruto failed at, even after the number of times Iruka had taken him aside and shown it to him in ways he knew Naruto responded better to.

'Kids in the Academy can do that, ' Shikaku pointed out, but he, too, considered the fact that Shikamaru had once mentioned that Uzumaki Naruto could not perform the jutsu when he had been describing class one day. Shikaku sometimes grilled his son on the attributes of his fellow students to gauge this generation of shinobi.

It was a mixed bag.

'You wanna bet, ' Haru said, not bothered by their doubt in him. He made the hand sign for the jutsu, and in a puff of smoke, a Bunshin wilted to the ground next to him. It looked much like Naruto 's always did.

Iruka looked wide-eyed at the Bunshin before he looked up at Haru for an explanation. Haru dismissed the failed Bunshin and then explained to his captive audience, including Kakashi, who still sat outside the window like a stalker.

'Most Uzumaki 's have shit chakra control because our reserves are so big. Mine are bigger than most Uzumaki 's, so it 's even worse for me. It 's a bit like trying to thread a needle drunk with a piece of rope instead of thread. The smaller the thread, the easier it should be unless it gets too small. You know that kind of thing. '

'All Uzumaki 's have large chakra reserves? ' Shikaku asked while Iruka was still processing the information.

Haru nodded in agreement. 'Yeah, ' he said, 'since I grew up traveling, I didn 't get to do most of the basic training that Uzumaki had to go through at a young age to assist chakra control. This is why most were able to do things like Bunshin if they absolutely had to, though no one would use it reliably. Because of that, I don 't have a chance in hell of learning. I started serious chakra control too late, but luckily, other kinds of Bunshin that require larger amounts of chakra are easy for me. '

Iruka 's mind spun, and something like guilt condensed in his chest. It wasn 't his fault that no one knew that Uzumaki needed special training for chakra control, and likely far earlier than when Naruto became his student. It didn 't excuse the frustration he always felt when Naruto failed to do something that basic, no matter how hard Iruka explained it to him.

It had never been Naruto 's fault in the first place! He would fail the graduation exam like the two before them because of something out of his control that truly wouldn 't hold him back if he was able to use some other kind of Bunshin. Iruka didn 't have time to teach Naruto another form of Bunshin for this exam. It would likely take months before he could do a more complex Bunshin that would require more chakra. Still, Iruka would research some more and find a proper substitute for him for the next exam. He would talk to the Hokage about further involving Haru, but for now, he could discretely '

'Do you happen to know those chakra control exercises? ' Iruka asked, his eyes flicked over to Shikaku, who nodded in understanding. He did not move to stop him from asking. 'I have several students who might benefit from some added exercises. '

Inoichi and Chouza both listened for the answer as well. Internally, Haru gave a cheer, but externally he shrugged.

'Sure, I have a scroll for it. It 's right here, ' Haru pushed up a sleeve of his coat to reveal a flat orange wristband inked with a seal. He made a one-handed sign and then touched a finger to the seal. A scroll popped into his waiting hand, and he handed it over to Iruka. 'That 's a copy. I still have the original, so you can keep that. '

Haru smiled while the rest of the table looked at him with wide eyes.

'What? ' he asked with a laugh. 'It 's just chakra exercises, sheesh. It 's not like a top-secret seal array or anything! Everyone can benefit from them, so there 's no reason for me to hide them away. It won 't hurt anyone. '

'Thank you, ' Iruka said softly, looking down at the scroll and then up at Haru, smiling at him, 'this could really help. '

'I 'm glad to help then, ' Haru said with a smile before he turned back to the three Jounin who had joined them to ask if their children were ready for graduation.

Like most parents, they were happy to talk about their children 's accomplishments, though they were still careful to talk in generalities despite their inclination to trust him. It was hard not to like the man who laughed with carefree abandon, offered clan techniques just on the chance that it would help some of Iruka 's students, and teased them about their children 's quirks. Yet he seemed convinced that they would succeed and become excellent shinobi.

Shikaku would swear it wasn 't just sweet-talking. Kuniharu seemed to really believe what he was saying. He even made a bet with the three of them as Iruka rolled his eyes indulgently. Kuniharu bet that their children would join the upcoming Chuunin exams despite it being mere months after they became genin. They indulged the redhead who shook on it, extracting outlandish promises if he won. He gave the three of them leave to ask one favor that he could not refuse if he lost. It was silly, but laughing together as a group, Shikaku didn 't feel like it was a bad thing.

Shikaku noticed when Haru began to look over his shoulder toward the door as though he were waiting for someone. When a mischievous grin spread across Uzumaki 's face, Shikaku turned in his chair to see Kakashi walk through the doors, reading Icha Icha Paradise with his usual lazy aloofness. The Jounin headed in their direction even as he turned the page in his book. Shikaku turned back to Haru, who leaned back languidly with his arms crossed over his chest and a satisfied smile on his whiskered visage.

'Got tired of watching from the window, Copy-cat-san? ' Haru asked, his grin turned sharp as Kakashi 's head jerked up, and his one gray eye narrowed in on him. 'Ah, did you feel left out Kakashi? '

'I don 't know what you mean, ' Kakashi said lazily. Kakashi sounded normal, but he snapped his book closed and placed it in his pouch in a way that spoke of annoyance.

Shikaku was amazed that he could see that emotion on the little surface of Kakashi 's face that was visible. Kakashi was pissed.

Haru grinned and leaned forward cocking his head to the side. 'Sorry, I must have mistaken you for a scarecrow stalking me from the window, ' he teased, and Kakashi glowered at him.

'Maa, maa,

Haru-chan

, ' Kakashi said lackadaisically, as he too leaned toward the redhead with his head tilted to the side, 'You 're going to tell me how you do that. '

Kakashi did not ask but rather demanded. Despite Kakashi's intensity, Haru shrugged.

He stood up and mirrored Kakashi 's normal hands-in-pockets stance. 'Sure, ' he agreed, 'but you 're not going to like it. '

Kakashi 's eye narrowed in on him again before his face relaxed.

'Maa, maa, ' he laughed and raised his arms out in a what-can-you-do pose, 'you can tell me as we walk to Hokage-sama for your

interrogation

. '

Haru grinned at the annoyed man, not scared for the simple fact Kakashi wouldn 't try to scare to him if he was in actual trouble. Kakashi preferred to lull people into a false sense of security.

He turned to Iruka and put his hand on his shoulder. 'It was nice to meet you, Iruka-chan, ' he said, 'if I pass muster, I 'll come find you, and I can help you with the exercises so you can teach them. '

Iruka smiled up at the strange, contradictory man, though his gaze flitted toward Kakashi, who was silently observing this exchange. He looked back to Haru and offered a smile. He hoped that Haru would become a part of Konoha. It was not just because he had found a new friend but because Iruka thought that this man could actually help his young charge in more than one way.

'Of course, ' he said, 'I 'll hold you to it, Haru-chan. '

Haru grinned broader before he gave a shallow bow to the three clan heads. 'Good luck to the chibi 's on their graduation exam next month, and tell your son sorry for almost killing him, alright Shikaku

-sama

, ' Haru laughed as he edged out from behind the table and stood next to Kakashi, who was still threw off metaphorical bolts of lightning in irritation at being caught again. Shikaku offered Haru a lazy wave.

'My kid was fine, ' he sighed, 'Hope to see you in the ranks, Kuniharu-san. It 'd be troublesome to lose a talented shinobi. '

Inoichi and Chouza both offered similar remarks and were amazed when Haru 's face flushed. He touched the back of his neck nervously. 'I hope so, ' he admitted before he turned to Kakashi, who unconsciously had resorted to towering over him. It wasn 't hard at Haru 's height. Kakashi was no longer slouching as he normally did but standing at his full height. It amused Haru because he knew that Kakashi only ever did that when his pride had been insulted.

It was hilarious.

'Come on, Copy-cat-san, ' Haru said. He reached to grab the wrist of a hand that was thrust into Kakashi 's pocket. He tugged him forward while internally guffawing at the shocked looks people gave him for daring to manhandle Kakashi. The copycat nin lazily allowed himself to be pulled until they were out of the cafeteria. Once outside, he reversed their hands, so it was him that held onto Haru 's wrist. His fingers bit into Haru 's flesh as he glared down at him, but Haru just kept smiling.

'If it makes you feel better, ' Haru teased as he loosened Kakashi 's grip with his other hand. He gently pried Kakashi 's fingers off and then patted his hand consolingly. 'You almost had it. '

Haru turned laughing as he moved and began to speed walk toward the Hokage 's office. He had to bite his lip to keep from yelping when Kakashi 's hand slammed down on his shoulder, and he was pulled roughly into the man 's side.

'How exactly is that, Haru-chan, ' Kakashi demanded in a falsely sweet voice. He marched the two of them across the lobby and did not care if it looked strange that Kakashi was actively engaging with someone, much less that was keeping them from running away by holding them against himself.

Haru grinned and pat Kakashi 's hand on his shoulder condescendingly. However, he decided not to push the man 's buttons any further when those fingers convulsed painfully into his shoulder. He had already elicited more of a reaction than he normally did after years of teasing the man, and that, itself, was surprising. So, instead of pushing it further, he opened his mouth and finally explained something he hadn 't even told his former sensei in his other life.

Instead, he had let the man suffer until Sasuke betrayed him by giving up the secret. If only Haru hadn 't confided in the reformed avenger in the first place in a moment of comradeship. But how was he to know the Uchiha would take him dyeing his clothes orange the wrong way? Didn't almost fighting to the death mean anything anymore? Of course, Haru had then retaliated by accidentally-on-purpose sabotaging Sasuke's paperwork for three months straight, so the Uchiha had been required to refile tedious reports that he hated to the point of frustrated tears. (In Haru's imagination) The fact Sasuke had come at him with Chidori again when he found out--well, it was almost a tradition by that point.

Haru had fun hiding the truth from Kakashi in his first life, but here, it was twice as funny to be upfront with him. It made Kakashi look constipated as he struggled to decide whether he was telling the truth while also struggling to think of ways around it. Kuniharu, of course, found every moment more hilarious.