As The Leaf Turns

As The Leaf Turns

The continuing adventures of the Shinobi of Konoha. Their lives their loves the children they bear. If it sounds like a soap opera now, you ain’t seen nothin yet!
This is a second story of sorts and should be read after "Ino Blink of the Eye". The stories, "My Little Choji-kun" and "Not You, Too!" are follow ups, I guess. Except that I wrote them first.

Disclaimer opened: I do not lay any claim to the characters, situations or locations in the Anime or Manga – Naruto. I only write these because I have a sick mind that needs an outlet and no one is going to pay me anything for them. Spoiler Warnings!! Disclaimer closed.


One: Tenten turns over a new leaf


As she sat at her desk in the classroom that had once belonged to her Sensei Iruka-san, Tenten watched the children march out the door.
They were a lively bunch and there was never a dull moment. She didn’t have any child prodigies, no Hyuuga’s or Aburame’s. There were no Uchiha’s of course and the line of Inuzuka’s didn’t extend to her class’ age group.
She also had no major troublemakers. So, Tenten was content.
But, once the class went home and she was free from her duties, Tenten was bored.
Her class had moved on and was now becoming ANBU or other high ranking Jounin level positions.
Neji and Shikamaru had as much as moved in together and she hardly saw Lee, as he was busy annoying Sakura until she would consent to go out with him, again.
Now, she realized with the onset of winter just how alone she had become.
She had recently moved out on her own and as she rose from her desk and prepared to go to her lonely apartment, she felt very cold.
It was not going to be a warm winter and she was suddenly filled with foreboding about her future in the village.

Anko rapped gently on the door, steeling her nerves and rubbing at the faint trace of a bulge to her tummy. Raido assured her on numerous occasions that her pregnancy was not noticeable but she felt like she was supporting a monster sized summer fruit and the world was staring.
Oh, if only she could relax but she had put off this visit for long enough and now was about to loose her nerve again.
The door creaked open.
“Namiashi-san. What a pleasant surprise. Come in, please. Excuse the mess, but Hebichani wasn’t feeling well, and I have been tired so didn’t bother cleaning today. Kakashi was going to do it when he got home. How are you? Would you like some tea?”
“Iruka-sensei, I am sorry that I haven’t come by sooner. I was really meaning to, but . . .” she began as the man motioned for her to sit.
“First off, I am no longer a teacher and second, I understand. It must be difficult to think of your former Sensei being brought back like this. I knew you would come some time.”
“I was a little afraid, but when I found out about my own child, I was just sure that I had to see them both for myself. Do you mind?”
“No. I expect he will be waking up from his nap any time now. Why don’t you have some tea and we could talk while we wait.”
“I am far too nervous to sit. I know I’ll help you with the chores. I love cleaning, especially when it isn’t my house. Would that be okay, Iruka-san?”
“Erm, I suppose. I could use someone to dry the dishes after I wash them. Usually Kakashi does that, and he is running late today. Come on, let’s bond over dish water.” And she followed him into the kitchen.
Iruka was his own worst critic and his house was nowhere near as messy, as he had warned. Anko almost felt ashamed at her own piled up laundry and paperwork strewn across her desk.
A half of an hour later a voice in the house signaled the waking of Hebichani.
“Toosah!”
“That would be my son. Let’s go see what he has been up to now.” And she followed him to see a tiny replica of a seven-month-old Orochimaru seated in his crib, a stuffed snake in his hand and his thumb planted firmly in his mouth. When he caught sight of Iruka he seemed to blossom.
“Toosah.” He called after popping his thumb out and waving the bright green and yellow snake in the air.
“Yes, Hebichani. Are you feeling better after your nap? Come on and meet Namiashi-san. She came today just to see you. Say hello,” Iruka coaxed.
“Wewwo,” was answered around the now re-inserted thumb. Hebi’s eyes were wide and open and the baby had not a care in the world now that his father had lifted him into his strong arms. This child looked on the world with curiosity and frankness, and Anko immediately relaxed in his presence.
There was only a surface resemblance to the man that he was patterned after and already the deterrents in his upbringing were showing positive results. Having such a caring man as his father and the sturdy and stalwart visage of Kakashi to guide him would solve the problems that had served to create the evil of the original and this baby would one day grow to be a strong ninja that loved his family and his town.
By the time she left, Kakashi had returned home and she had seen a sight she never though she would see. The copy ninja was crawling across the floor and teaching the baby to follow him. It was so funny to see that she and Iruka laughed till their sides hurt.
She almost didn’t want to leave but Raido would worry, so she excused herself and headed for home.
Kakashi picked up the tiny child and watched as the woman left, turning to Iruka and winking out of is exposed eye.
“Think she will begin to sleep better now, Iruka-kun?”
“Yes fool, she will. Now, let Hebi practice by himself while you help me clean up this mess. I can’t stand the clutter around here.”

Ebisu hated being injured, that was his whole reason for becoming a private tutor. He had never been very good at healing and when he went on missions, he invariably ended up damaged in some way that would see him either in the hospital or in bed for longer than most.
He was in the process of arranging to tutor Asuma-san’s new baby when he had been given a mission and now here he was again, in a hospital bed, nursing a broken leg and two ribs and whining miserably.
Most of the hospital staff had grown used to him by now and for the most part just ignored him, but there were three new nurses and one who though she had lived through several of his extended stays, had yet to adopt these habits.
The man moaned and Kaori-chan would come to see what his latest complaint was, with a smile and a gentle face of concern.
It was driving the rest of the staff insane but at least they didn’t have to deal with him.
The doctor in charge of his care had told him that upon his release, some time at the local onsen would be a good idea, and they had all breathed a sigh of relief that he would be away from the village for a while.

Hiashi knew perfectly well where his nephew was actually living. He had been to the apartment and could sense a lack of warmth to the room that couldn’t be explained by the boy’s normal behavior.
He had watched the growing friendship with the Shadow Jounin and decided to wait and see if this could be just a passing thing. The Hyuuga family needed to continue, and therefore the branch family would need to bring forth heirs, as well as the head family. It was their way, and he was not prepared to overlook any of his underlings going against it. When the time came, he would step in and then the boy would be forced to conform. It was just part of life, but Hiashi was willing to overlook, for now, what kept his nephew out of more serious trouble.

:::Yes this is the follow up I promised to the Ino Blink of the Eye story. It continues just after Ino's wedding and will follow the path of other couples along the same timeline as the Not you, too! fic.
I hope to hear your comments and concerns, and unlike the other this is not a currently written story so I could take suggestions that don't contradict my other story.
Thank you in advance.