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chapter twelve

"Awesome!" Sakura smiled. The four of them formed a circle in the giant tent, and Sakura gave all of them some flashlights.

"Kushina said she was going to come out with more refreshments later." Kakashi reported, picking up his flashlight and arranging his own sleeping bag. "If she doesn't hate us... I'll go out and start the bonfire."

Kakashi did so. Using the flaming hand technique Sasuke taught him. They all went outside and passed around the bags of popcorn the boys had stolen while Sakura got the tent ready.

True to her word, Kushina did come out with more food later. She didn't seem too mad anymore, and she told them they could've just asked for the popcorn. To which Naruto replied with, "but this way was more fun." That earned him another headache from Kushina's punch. They made basic campfire food, like s'mores, and when they were certain Kushina went to bed, they actually got down to business.

Sitting around the fire, they waited a few minutes until they were sure Kushina and Minato were asleep, then Sakura stood up. She closed her eyes and channeled her chakra. She had never done this before in this new body, purely because she had never needed to.

Doing the hand signs, she murmured, "Summoning jutsu." A poof of air, and there she was- Tsukinoyo's queen, Tōketsu. Sakura put her pointer finger to her lips, gesturing to the house. Tōketsu nodded in understanding, then her blue eyes scanned her surroundings. "Uchiha, Sasuke, I believe," she said quietly. Sasuke dipped his head in greeting. "Kakashi Hatake." She then looked at the blonde boy, whose eyes were widened excitedly, and her voice took on a playful tone. "Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto, right? I've heard plenty about you." Naruto grinned. "And of course, our darling Sakura. What is it I can do for you, kit?"

"We have some freetime right now, and we were wondering if you could help us with some things," Sakura replied. Tōketsu nodded, then sat down on the floor, crossing her front paws over each other and laying her great head down upon them.

"You mentioned earlier having a... greater knowledge of the happenings of the world." Kakashi said for the first time. He had been muting the chakra of the great cat, which was becoming strenuous because of her superior strength. He didn't want to call any unwanted attention to them. The goddamned Hokage of Konoha was sleeping in the house behind them, for Kami's sake.

Tōketsu noticed this, and hummed playfully. "Would you like me to conceal my chakra so you don't have to?"

"I can manage just fine, thanks." Kakashi said. Besides, even if some of the chakra leaked out, Sakura, Naruto or Sasuke could immediately reach out and hide it.

"Yes. I'm sure you can manage just fine. You just don't have to." Tōketsu said with laughing eyes. An amused purr rumbled in her chest. Then Kakashi felt the burden disappear, and he could suddenly breath easier. "Now, dear ones, what would you like to ask me?"

"How did you know we were from the future?" Sasuke spoke up. Naruto looked at Sasuke incredulously, then turned his head to Tōketsu. "Wait, what!?"

Tōketsu frowned, ignoring Naruto. "It was a basic deduction. You, Sasuke, Sakura, gave it away. You were -what, five?- when you came to see me. I've seen five year old kits before. I've even seen five year old human kits. All of them acted much, much differently than you did. You pronounced your words perfectly, you understood emotions and the process of time. You know your history dating back all the way to the Otsutsuki. You came with a Jinchuriki, for Kami's sake. You didn't even look fazed when I tackled her. You had a grave understanding of life, something that is rare among human children." Tōketsu's accent was entertaining as she spoke, Naruto noticed. "You, Kakashi," she nodded her head at him, "took care of them like they were your own children. But they aren't even related to you. In fact, all four of you are so tight knit, you could break off from your families and live together. How does one become so close to someone else if they haven't been through things -horrible, terrible things- together?"