I'm so sorry it's been almost a month since I last updated. D: I've been explosively ill over the past week and a half, and writer's block is being a bit annoying as of late. I have ideas for other Naruto stories in mind, and they're getting in the way of me finishing this one! I don't want to say I'm close to the end of Timelines and Heartstrings yet, but in my mind, the conclusion of the story is in view.

The climax is not too far off at all, and I hope I'm able to pull it off right, because it's a pretty big shift. I realized a while ago that it was a pretty sudden shift, so I've been trying to ease toward it and allude to it occasionally in chapters. When it does come around, I can only hope it still doesn't come across as too sudden.

"What did she say to you?"

Naruto closes his eyes and sighs as he walks along toward his home in much the same way they were walking toward the onsen, him standing on one side, Sakura on the other, and Kisaki between them. For the moment, the snow had let up, as if it was weary of the windy roller coaster it was helplessly set upon, and just shut down entirely.

"She told me what she told us all." Naruto says, looking over at Sakura. "She's not going to accept sharing me with you. She told me to… take the path toward who I love and not go for the easy way out. And she scolded me. For what I said about it not mattering if you disappeared. I'm sorry, Kisaki."

The girl walks with her hands in her pockets, nodding at her father before looking straight ahead again. "It's alright. What are you thinking about now?"

Naruto shakes his head. "Everything. I'm still confused about what happened in the onsen between you and-"

"Don't worry about it."

"Please don't mention it."

Sakura and Kisaki both speak quickly at the same time, neither of them comfortable with how everything happened. Naruto rolls his eyes. "Jeez… Well, Hinata left, and… it's really starting to seem like we all need a break from each other, already."

"Break? I don't need a break," Sakura says, rolling her shoulders. "I planned on spending the day with you. The day's not over yet, and I'm still here."

Naruto looks over at her again for a long moment, and as they meet eyes, Sakura notes that the heartbreak in his stare has been replaced with weary frustration. "I think… I need the break, Sakura. I know you and Kisaki wanted us to spend the day together but the way everything's gone, I really think that what I need is time alone. Actual time alone."

Sakura frowns and looks down for a moment, but blinks in surprise as Naruto takes her by the shoulders and pulls her into him for a long hug.

"I'll see you around," he murmurs before vanishing in a yellow flash.

Sakura stands for a moment to blink slowly, turning her head to Kisaki as the other girl groans.

"We're breaking him… I didn't mean for things to happen like this!" Kisaki runs her fingers frustratedly through her hair. "Some things might have changed… but it would've been fine! Those two showing up have started a battle I didn't think we'd have to fight, and it's killing all of us. I wish that they'd just… leave."

Kisaki clenches her fists and glowers briefly in the direction that Himawari and Bolt went off with their mother. She sighs a wintry breath and turns back to Sakura. "If this spiral continues, no one is going to be happy no matter what happens. Least of all Father. He's trapped in the middle of this whirlpool and we're all just going down in circles."

The stress and frustration and weariness is as clear on Kisaki's face as it was on Naruto's. Sakura reaches to set a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You're still here, Kisaki. There's still hope. I don't know how it's gonna work, but… we'll figure something out. Come on... Let's go home."

Kisaki looks down at her hand for a moment, and grimaces as she realizes that her skin has once again taken on the slightly-faded pallor it had when she first arrived in this time. She looks at her mother again and sighs. "I'll meet you there. I'm going to go for a little bit of a run first…"

Sakura nods and watches Kisaki leap up and across the roofs before continuing herself along the main village path.

OoOoOoO

Hinata stares up at her father's stern, curious expression, and Himawari shifts nervously at her side as they and Bolt wait for Hiashi to take in and process the tale he's been told. Hinata remains calm and quiet, but her brows furrow slightly after a long moment of silence, with no response from her father other than a soft sigh as he closes his eyes. Eventually, Hinata speaks up again.

"I know this all must sound very strange, father… But it is the truth, and it is more important to me than anything that I carry on to save my children. Please understand…"

"I would have a hard time believing you if I did not see these strangers now with my own eyes," Hiashi says with a frown. "This is concerning. As the heiress-apparent again, it is far from appropriate for you to conceive before you are head of the clan, and especially before you are wed."

"I am aware, father… But I think I am ready. Ready to finally lead the clan. You've taught me much, and I have come far. With your support and guidance, everyone's support and guidance, I know I will do well…"

"You think? I do not think deceit and circumvention of authority are ideal traits for a leader of the clan, Hinata."

Her throat tightens, and she blinks. For a moment, Hinata considers asking her father what he means, but she already knows exactly what he means. She sighs. "Hanabi told you?"

"No. I am simply not a fool," Hiashi responds firmly. "That morning, I was at your door for several moments before I decided to test it. I heard."

Hinata looks away, then sighs. "I-I'm sorry, father. I…"

Hiashi shakes his head. "Leading the clan in my place is all but out of the question right now. The issue of these children and your mission is one I will have to give critical thought. When I-"

"Uh, gramps?" Bolt interrupts, raising and waving his hand. "Since one is kinda more urgent than the other anyway, d'ya think we can get an answer about the mission byyyy tomorrow, maybe?"

Bolt grins innocently, but Hiashi frowns deeply and squints. Before Hinata can gulp and speak, Hima pinches the bridge of her nose, reaching across Hinata to grab Bolt by the ear.

"We're sorry, grandfather," she sighs simply before Hima warps away in a yellow flash with her whining brother in tow, leaving Hinata alone with her father.

"That will be all, Hinata," Hiashi says pinching the bridge of his own nose much like Himawari a moment ago. "We will talk more about your issues once I've had time think. In the meanwhile, occupy yourself with monitoring your children and their behavior. Keep them here. Train with them, if you feel able. But due to their reckless natures and the danger they appear to pose to this apparent other woman from the future, I cannot permit them to leave this building any longer. Let them know this. If you wish for me to support this life, Hinata… keep your children in line."

Hinata nods her head and smiles, standing and bowing to Hiashi. "Thank you, father… I promise I will. I won't fail."

Quietly, she repeats this to herself under her breath as she turns to exit the quiet chamber.

OoOoOoO

A weary sigh leaves Naruto's lips as the image of Sakura's face is replaced instantaneously with the sight of the special kunai he hangs on the wall of his room. The bitter cold of the outside is replaced quickly with warmth, comfort, and familiarity. Naruto remains still for a long few moments, longing for the time when this was the norm, when he could rest easy knowing that the world was on the right path, thanks to the efforts of himself and the entirety of the ninja world.

The energy he thought was restored from the springs hemorrhages from his body, and he collapses backwards on his bed as he's forced to contend once again with the fact that nothing will ever be normal or simple in his life. He runs a hand across his face and stares up at the ceiling. He closes his eyes, hoping he can find some calm and solace in his dreams, but despite his best efforts, he cannot sleep. At best, he drifts into unconsciousness before being eventually awakened by an ominous ringing sound, somewhere in the back of his mind.

Naruto shivers. Even with the amount he has to deal with already, he still can't help but feel that something important is still missing, hiding… waiting.

OoOoOoO

Himawari sits with a cross face and crossed legs on Hinata's bed, while Bolt stands against the wall with his hands balled into fists and a scowl on his face, yelling at each other. Both turn their heads as Hinata swings open her door with a look of annoyance on her face.

"I'm really sorry for what Boruto said in there, mama," Hima says. "He's the same way at home. No respect for elders and always messing things up!"

"Hey, shut up! It was an important question!" Bolt responds with a glare at his younger sister. "And since when were you in charge of me? In case you forgot, I was born first!"

"This is my mission! You're the tagalong! I told you not to get in my way and you had to come and try to hog the spotlight again, as always!"

"Himawari… Bolt…" Hinata tries to interject quietly, but her voice is lost amidst the escalating voices of her children.

"And if you're such a grown man, then stop acting like a punk kid!"

"At least I've hit my growth spurt! At this rate, you're gonna look like a punk kid the rest of your life!"

"I may be smaller, but I can kick your ass!"

Hinata can literally feel the temperature rising in the room. Himawari seems to be pouring heat from her body somehow, and the arguing has devolved past any particular subject. The two are simply trading verbal blows. Biting her lip, she starts to step between them.

"B-Both of you stop! This is not what you shou-"

Even as Hinata tries to raise her voice, the two continue to quarrel, edging Hinata aside to get in each other's faces.

"Are you serious? You can't even make a Rasengan, and you think you're stronger than me?"

"You can barely use the Byakugan, Boruto, and you're supposed to be a Hyuga?" Himawari growls, finishing with a sound slap across Bolt's face.

Bolt grits his teeth and responds instantly with a quick punch to the cheek that sends Himawari backwards. Pushed to the edge, Hinata switches from words to actions, and before the two of her children can rush at each other and brawl, she disables the both of them with several quick, well-placed Gentle Fist strikes that cause the two of them to seize up and fall over in pain.

The message is clear enough. Hinata doesn't even have to say anything, and just crosses her arms and glares as the two of them hiss in pain and shamefully collect themselves as best as they can, crawling away from each other before rising to their feet and clutching their aching cores.

"This is unreal," Hinata says once they're quiet and giving her their full attention. "What has gotten into you two? Are you regularly violent with each other like this?"

Hinata gestures to the handmark on Bolt's face and the light bruise on Hima's cheek. Himawari shakes her head and sighs.

"No… I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated. This wasn't the plan… Nothing seems to be going right; Boruto barging into everything messed up my arrival plans first, since I had to keep him from dying before I could find you. It messed up my plans to finds Papa, and it messed up the day at the springs. And none of this would be happening if not for Kisaki starting it. Ugh… I'm sorry and I love you, Boruto, but sometimes, I wish you would just… leave. You and Kisaki both."

"Hey, everything I've done has been to try to help you. You may think you can do this on your own, trying to sneak off to save the world, but you can't," Bolt says, frowning.

Hinata lifts her hands and shakes her head, and the two of them seem to flinch reflexively. "No more arguing… My father told me to tell you that you two aren't allowed to leave the compound yet, and suggested I train with you two to keep you busy while you're here, and I think that's just what we all need to do to ease this tension and get rid of some of this energy of yours. Let's go outside. Training in the snow should be good for cooling tempers and building character."

Hinata ushers her grumbling children out of her room, closing her eyes and rubbing her temples before following and hoping to herself that real motherhood doesn't end up like this in eighteen years.

OoOoOoO

Springing about the rooftops of the village always helped, somehow, to calm Kisaki's nerves, and she was glad that it still worked, even with as much stress as she's carrying on her shoulders. Even in the wind and cold, Kisaki enjoyed the freedom of thought that moving around in this way gave her, allowing her to perch up high and watch people and their indistinct features scurry about below, and the grey sky loom above, looking as if it was about to begin raining fluffy flakes on the earth again at any moment. With no idea of what to do or where to go, now that Naruto was starting to shut himself away, Kisaki was lost, and for a time, she just wandered the roofs.

The first time she stopped for longer than a minute was when she could feel surges of chakra from the Hyuga Compound, and left to nosily investigate, stumbling upon a spar happening in the courtyard. From the roof of the nearest building, Kisaki squints, and it doesn't take long for her to recognize that it was Hima and Bolt sparring, with Hinata sitting close by and overseeing.

It was difficult for Kisaki to keep up initially. Along with the standard quick, elegant motions and subtle attacks of the Gentle Fist style, at least on Hima's offensive, the two of them would very often trade incredibly fast dodging maneuvers using their Flying Raijins. The two of them chasing each other around the courtyard in rapid succession using lightning-fast teleports was like watching a frantic light show, almost, with mere twinkles in the air wherever they went, and no way to keep proper track of them until they tired out and returned to visibility.

Kisaki notes that Himawari has her Byakugan active, while Bolt doesn't, and she snorts to herself, wondering if the loudmouth was really that overconfident in his abilities. Her brows rise, though, as it seems that Bolt is looking frustrated rather than smug, and after trading a few more blows with a sloppier version of his sister's more refined Gentle Fist style, he eventually falls backwards, on the verge of defeat.

Kisaki's thoughts slowly begin to change, from contempt to curiosity, as she watches Bolt slam his fist into the ground and climb right back up to his feet to charge headlong at Himawari. Bolt is deflected by a quick Rotation, but is not deterred, and rises once again to feebly charge. Kisaki squints in confusion, until she watches Bolt skid to a halt, right as Himawari begins her Rotation. He aims his hand close to the impenetrable spinning barrier, and to Kisaki's surprise, begins to control the violent chakra, forcing it to slow down, and even causing some to begin whirling in the opposite direction. The unstableness quickly causes Himawari's Rotation to shatter, and she's repelled backwards, slamming her back into the fence with a yelp. Bolt, as exhausted as he is, falls backwards and sighs as well.

Kisaki doesn't risk getting close enough to hear what Hinata says to them as she approaches to help them up, and after another brief few moments of thought, she turns and continues her run across the roofs of the Village. At first, her thoughts drift off to Bolt and his determination, and somewhere inside her, she takes that to heart, hardening herself up to not let these setbacks tear her down and defeat her.

Some time later, she stops again, and her thoughts begin to take in and analyze the training at large that she saw. Her eyes start to brighten and a smile begins to form as an idea comes to mind, and she looks back in the direction she started from, leaping off toward home.

Sorry again for the extremely long delay between last chapter and this one. I'm going to try and do better and fight the writer's block! I'm not sure of an exact arrival date for the next chapter, but I'll try to have it up some time next month! I hope you've all had a merry Christmas and have a happy New Year!

~M.H.C~

May all your

Hearts beat with

Calamity!

Till next time!