A few days later — Main World, Konoha, "Yakinuku Q"
Naruto scratched his head in puzzlement.
"Come to think of it, things over there have been strangely lively lately."
Beside him Sakura rolled her eyes. Only this block-head would fail to notice the earthquake now rocking the Alliance.
All five Kage were being investigated; scandal after scandal was erupting in the Second World's five great villages; more than forty organisations, Stone Temple included, had just been dissolved.
That wasn't unrest, it was a storm — a storm that was sweeping through the whole Alliance.
Would anyone resist such ruthless measures?
Don't be silly ― this is the world of the Hokage. Whoever tries to fight the strong gets steam-rolled. If you rebel you'll wish you were dead; if you die they'll drag out your corpse to work it like a puppet.
With research on Hashirama cells and Proto-cells pushing forward, cloned bodies could already be used as Edo-Tensei vessels. Fueled by natural energy, a newborn clone came with Kage-class reserves; as sacrifice material they were better than White Zetsu.
Given time and Proto-cell reactors, the Alliance might even revive the dead without borrowing Link's power.
Back on topic, once the Enforcement Squad moved in no one could resist. The arrests were over in a flash; the trials, which involved political considerations, would take longer.
Fortunately, there are very few shinobi altogether ― a dozen ten-thousand at most ― so public opinion barely matters. That's the upside of not bringing ordinary civilians into the game from day one.
Across the table Kakashi and Sasuke exchanged a glance. Both had taken part and knew the inside story, but this wasn't the place to talk.
"N-Naruto…"
Hinata walked over, fingers tangled together. After only a couple of words her face turned crimson.
Tonight was a class reunion for the rookies who'd graduated together; Shikamaru had organised it so all nine of them were back in Konoha. The excuse let the various jōnin sensei return home and lie low while the storm passed.
Everyone knew that in one timeline Hinata married Naruto and had two children. While they were eating, the others had egged her on to invite him for an after-dinner stroll; in a rush of blood she'd agreed, but now the words stuck in her throat.
"H-h-hh—" Steam all but rose off her head; Hinata's eyes rolled back and she toppled.
A second before she hit the floor, Sasuke, who had foreseen it, nudged the oblivious Naruto.
Gwa-!
Naruto nearly fell with her but caught Hinata one-handed in mid-air. "Huh?"
"Yo, Naruto-o-o—"
"He-he-eey—"
The surrounding crowd started whooping – chiefly Kiba, Asuma and Anko.
(Why was Anko here? Because she'd come with the pregnant Kurenai.)
Asuma had got his girlfriend pregnant months ahead of schedule; one purpose of coming home was to prepare the wedding. Even if his parents had divorced he was determined to marry and raise his child properly, not let Kurenai raise their son alone like in that other future.
At his level a wedding wasn't a private matter: both families, half the village and the Alliance big-shots had to be free. He intended to wait until Link came back from "training" before holding it – everyone else could be missing, but not the man who'd changed his fate.
Flustered, Naruto laid Hinata on a bench. His ears glowed red – not because he'd held the girl, but because everyone was teasing him. Inside, Kurama's laughter rumbled. Naruto rubbed his face and sidled toward Sasuke.
"So, uh, Sasuke… when's Link coming back?"
"That…" Sasuke glanced around at all the prying eyes and gave a deliberately vague answer. "Pretty soon, I think."
Actually, according to Tsunade's calculations it would be within the next few days. After tonight's reunion he planned to head back and keep watch.
People really did care about Link. The Hokage Chronicle and the future timeline had shown clearly how the world turned out better for almost everyone: Asuma lived; Kurenai wasn't widowed; Anko was freed from the Curse Seal early; Neji and Shikaku survived; Naruto's parents were resurrected… Each owed a happier future to that boy.
Anko, disappointed by Sasuke's answer, suddenly noticed her best friend stealthily lifting Asuma's sake cup. She slapped Kurenai's hand. "You're pregnant! No alcohol!"
Kurenai, half-embarrassed, put the cup back. She'd been a heavy drinker; once she'd found she was pregnant her father had forced her to quit. She only wanted a whiff, honestly.
"Asuma!"
With a guilty grin the bearded jōnin knocked the sake back himself. Living with a beautiful wife whose moods you dared not cross, what else could he do?
By reflex he rubbed his fingers together – his mother had made him quit smoking too. An inveterate smoker enduring withdrawal, he'd planned to drown his sorrows at the reunion.
Yep – for those two, booze and smokes were inseparable.