"SAKURAAAAAA!"

The door to the exam room was violently kicked open. Naruto burst into the room, out of breath, clearly having run all the way to the hospital. Several shadow clones were wrestling with the nurses who tried to stop his blatant policy violation.

Sakura turned to him with a frown. She uncapped her pen with a threatening aura. "Naruto, this had better be good. I'm with a patient."

"Why would I care that another woman has stepped into the room?" Sai asked with a smile.

Naruto pouted and gave him the side eye but otherwise ignored the comment. "This actually kinda involves him, too."

"Okay, out with it then!" Sakura caught herself mid-yell, reigning it back at the memory of all the staff within earshot.

"We," Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Are going to be at Kakashi sensei's wedding!"

The silence left in the wake of his revelation laid over them like a wet woolen blanket.

"Maybe it's a good thing you're here Naruto." Sakura took out a pen light and shined it into his eyes. "You've clearly suffered some kind of head trauma."

"No!" He swatted her away. "You aren't understanding. We are going to be at Kakashi's wedding."

Sai looked at Sakura. "Am I missing something significant here?"

"If you are then so am I," Sakura knit her brows. "You're going to have to do better, Naruto. Use big boy words."

Naruto buried his face in his hands. "Kakashi is going to have to kiss Yuki at the ceremony. In front of everyone."

Sakura dropped her clipboard and clapped her hands over her mouth. "THE MASK!"

"YES!" Naruto threw his hands up in triumph. "YOU GET IT!"

"Oh," Sai blinked. "You guys care about that?"

"You don't?!" Sakura stared at him slack jawed.

Sai shrugged. "It's just his face. What he looks like doesn't change who he is as a person or make him less of a shinobi."

Naruto grabbed him by the shoulders. "If you could see it and sketch his portrait, you'd make a mint, Sai."

Sai's brows raised. "Oh. I see. It's a commodity."

"This could be our last chance to finally answer the greatest mystery of our lifetime." Sakura carefully retrieved her clipboard. "I mean, he's the Hokage. Trying to rip off his mask could be considered assault at best, treason at worst."

Naruto shrugged. "What's a little treason now and then?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "You borrowed the scroll from the Hokage's office, Naruto."

Naruto folded his arms. "Still an offense punishable by death."

"Only an idiot like you would advertise the fact that you were spared the death penalty," Sai smiled.

Sakura and Naruto completely ignored him. She'd flipped over the papers and was scribbling notes.

"Do you think that will work?" Naruto asked.

"Well, I mean, we're friends," Sakura shrugged. "If I ask Beki she'll tell me."

"She's closer with Hinata. If I apply pressure through her, she's more likely to crack." Naruto folded his arms. "I mean, this is some classified stuff. You coming out of the blue with a pack of cupcakes is going to seem suspicious."

Sakura frowned. "I was going to try a pie but good point."

Sai cleared his throat. "If you guys intend to exclude me, the least you could do was finish my physical."

Sakura demurred. "Oh, right. Sorry, Sai. Meet me outside, Naruto."

There was an audible poof in the hall and Naruto winced, rubbing his cheek. "That might be a problem. One of your nurses just clobbered my clone with a chair."

"It was your choice to come in here," Sakura shrugged. "Its your job to get back out."

Naruto rolled his shoulders and eyed the door cautiously. "Alright. Uzumaki gauntlet run GO!"

He pulled open the door and rushed out headlong with his arms behind him in a full speed dash. Sai and Sakura heard him squawk, a crash, and a metal tray rolling down the hall. Sakura closed the door and cleared her throat. "Alright. So how many drinks a week do you have?"

…

Sakura approached the building apprehensively. She knew Naruto was probably right about the best way to proceed. Typically, she was perfectly comfortable sitting on the sidelines and letting him do all the legwork. This was too important. Sakura couldn't just sit by on this one; they needed to work every angle to ensure the success of their mission.

She knocked on the door and was greeted by Beki carrying a squirming Satoru. The toddler had been stuffed into a tiny suit and was clearly not happy about the cumberbund. Beki blinked in surprise.

"Oh, hi Sakura."

"Hi Beki," Sakura gave her best nonchalant smile. "I was thinking I should check in on you and your mom. You know, with all the wedding stress. Gotta make sure your babies are all doing okay."

"Yeah, sure," Beki furrowed her brows as she led her inside. "To be honest, though, it's been surprisingly chill."

Beki and Neji's place was tiny but immaculately clean. The kitchen was immediately to the left of the entrance and Sakura could see Yuki lounging at the kitchen table. A teapot sat on a homemade potholder in the middle of the table. Yuki cocked an eyebrow at the sight of the doctor.

"What's up Sakura?"

"Oh, you know, I just got off my shift and I was thinking I should pay you two a house call." Sakura kept the smile plastered on in what she hoped was a reassuring expression. "Just to make sure the stress isn't affecting your pregnancies."

Yuki waved her over to the table. "Tea?"

"Sure, thanks," Sakura sat down beside her and set her doctor's bag on the floor. She noticed there were several notes on the table. A few looked like food orders, then there were various to do lists that listed the days and times things needed to be picked up. Yuki had a notebook in front of her with more detailed notes in writing beautiful enough to be calligraphy.

"Wow. Your handwriting is lovely." Sakura leaned over to get a better look. "You wrote your own invitations, didn't you?"

Yuki smirked. "I spent a lot of time practicing brushwork as a girl."

"So are you getting excited?" Sakura pulled out a blood pressure cuff.

"Yes and no," Yuki put her arm in position, palm up, so Sakura could take her measurement. "A lot of this has been out of my hands. The village elders wanted us to follow ceremonial traditions to meet the standards they expect for the wedding of a Hokage."

"At least you talked them out of the buns," Beki plopped down beside Sakura as she peeled Satoru out of his suit.

"I get the Empress was popular but my God, Kakashi's already robbing the cradle." Yuki laughed. "That would make me look like a schoolgirl."

Yuki fell silent as Sakura took her reading. Her eyes skimmed the table subtly until they fell on what looked like a seating chart. "Good news, you're blood pressure's fine."

Satoru scrambled up into his grandmother's lap to watch Sakura take his mother's blood pressure.

"You're in the green, too, Beki." Sakura said as she packed her cuff away. "So what are you guys going to have to wear for this ultra traditional ceremony?"

"A several layered bridal kimono for me," Yuki gestured at the other two women. "You guys are expected to be in tomoesode."

"Does Kakashi have to wear anything special?" Sakura asked.

"Traditional formal wedding attire." Yuki flipped through her notes. "I have to make sure his best, blackest mask is ready."

"He's wearing it for the wedding?" Sakura gave her a surprised look. "I would think that would be, you know, a little untraditional?"

Yuki gave her an innocent look. "But he always wears his mask."

A horrifying thought occurred to Sakura. Ever since Naruto reminded Sakura about the mask mystery, all she could think of was how satisfying it would be after all these years to see his face. But what if Yuki, the woman marrying him and bearing his child, was no wiser?

"Yuki, this is going to be a very personal question," Sakura took a breath. "Do you even know what Kakashi looks like?"

"Oh here we go," Beki rolled her eyes.

Yuki smiled slyly. "Sorry Sakura, I don't kiss and tell."

"Oh, of course not," Sakura laughed nervously. "That was a little far."

"No, Sakura, you don't get it." Beki set her jaw. "She insists that its 'weird' to look at someone when you kiss. To this day she claims to have no idea what he looks like."

Sakura blanched. "Is…is that true?"

"Obviously not," Beki folded her arms. "Because that would be weird."

Yuki shrugged. "I don't need to know what he looks like to be in love with one of the five most powerful shinobi in the known world."

"And you should go before the inappropriate comments start," Beki gave Sakura a nudge.

"It also doesn't affect how good he is in bed-" Yuki began but Sakura jumped to her feet.

"That's all for the checkup," Sakura scrambled to collect her bag. "I'll see you ladies later! Try to keep your stress down!"

Sakura let herself out, leaving Beki and Yuki alone at the table. Satoru was looked back and forth between the women as he gummed on a cheerio.

"It's getting old, Mom," Beki stared her down.

"People believe me, though," Yuki laughed. "It's hilarious! As if anyone would marry, let alone get knocked up without knowing what the guy looked like. I mean, how would I know my baby was going to be cute?"

"You realize if the baby isn't your carbon copy, you will have to slap it in a mask, too." Beki folded her arms.

Yuki winced. "Please don't tell Kakashi."

…

"So Hinata," Naruto gave her a gentle nudge. "What was that thing you were asking me about earlier?"

"Oh, thaaaaaat," Hinata said with an unnatural pitch.

Beki, however, was too distracted by trying to help Satoru take off his shoes to notice. Neji, however, did based on the subtle wrinkle that formed on his forehead.

"Beki, I was wondering, where will we be sitting during the ceremony?" Hinata asked. "You know, because traditionally it's the bride and groom's families in the front row, and Yuki and Kakashi are, well…"

"Orphans?" Beki popped off Satoru's light up monster sneaker. The red light flickered as she set it by the door. "Well, I was planning on having Kakashi's first row to be you, Boruto, Naruto, Sarada, and Sakura. My mom's side will be me, Neji, Ino, Sai, and Inojin. Obviously the kids won't get their own seats because they're lap babies, but-"

"What about Sasuke?" Naruto blurted.

Beki popped off the other shoe and Satoru bolted over to Neji, who scooped him up and carried him over to the living room where Boruto was crawling around in a pack-and-play.

"I see the wedding isn't sacred at all." Beki's tone was oddly strained.

Everyone else gave her a confused look.

"What did I say?" Naruto frowned, squinting his eyes in concentration as he replayed his last sentence over and over in his head.

"The whole 'Sasuke' thing," Beki sighed and clapped dust off her hands. "It's a great gimmick but this is my mom's wedding. Have some class."

"Beki, what do you mean?" Neji asked.

Beki put her hands on her hips and took a deep breath, clearly trying to control herself. "I know I've been here for a while but deep down I'll always be the 'new girl'. 'Sasuke' is clearly an imaginary person you've all invented to haze me for the last ten years."

"What?!" Neji and Naruto said in unison.

"Sasuke is my teammate! My best friend and rival!" Naruto gestured to his silver replacement arm. "I lost an arm for him! I chased him halfway around the world and fought a god to save him!"

"And yet somehow, I have never seen any physical proof he's ever actually existed." Beki held her head up high. "I've kept my mouth shut about it and let you all play your little game but I'm not stupid. I know it must be really funny to think you've had a running gag going on me this long."

Naruto looked at Hinata for confirmation. "Tell her, honey!"

"Oh, who?" Hinata blinked. "Oh, yeah. Sasuke." Hinata nodded. "Totally real."

"Daddy," Satoru pulled on Neji's sleeve and pointed at his pants.

Beki looked at her son and her expression softened. "I got him."

She grabbed the diaper bag, picked up her son, and took him into the bathroom.

"What the heck was that, Hinata?" Naruto threw up his hands. "I have to go check on the grill. I'll be back."

He stormed outside, leaving the Hyugas alone.

"Lady Hinata," Neji's face was twisted in concern. "Are you the one who has made Beki think Sasuke's existence is a joke?"

Hinata was silent for a moment. "Do you have any idea what it's like?"

Neji blinked. "Excuse me?"

Hinata slammed the fridge door. "What it's like for me?!"

She covered her mouth at her outburst, to which Neji had politely turned away. Hinata lowered her voice and continued:

"Naruto is my everything. But the second he even hears his name, all I hear about is Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke…" She clenched her fists. "Sasuke is the slutty secretary I have to worry about. Naruto's run off for him before and he would do it again in a heartbeat!"

Beki stepped out of the bathroom and Satoru ran back over to the living room. Beki held the diaper out in front of her and headed for the door. "I gotta take this one outside, sorry."

After she'd walked out, taking the offending odor with her, Hinata gave Neji one last piercing gaze. "If I had my way, Sasuke would be imaginary."

…

"Okay Beki," Ino spread the pictures out on the counter in front of her. "Neji told me you think we all just made Sasuke up to tease you."

Beki ignored the pictures and stared at Ino with a bored expression. "Are the flowers going to be ready on time?"

"Yes, Beki, but seriously, look." Ino pointed to the childhood photos from their time at the academy. "See? There he is."

Sai wandered over from the back. "My God, look at your hair Ino."

"Shut up Sai, that was the style at the time," Ino folded her arms. "But there's your proof, Beki."

"Nice try, Ino." Beki set the delivery location slip on the counter. "But first of all, none of these shots clearly show his face."

"He was antisocial like that." Ino threw up her hands. "The kid did just have his entire family murdered like a month before these were taken."

"Ahuh." Beki's eyes wandered over to Sai. "So you're trying to convince me that you didn't have your genius artist of a husband doctor these photos to try to continue the hazing you've put me through for the last decade?"

"No, I wouldn't-" Ino began.

"That is 100% something I would do." Sai smiled. "That's absolutely hilarious!"

"Yeah." Beki turned for the door. "Thanks, Ino. I'll see you at the wedding."

Ino backhanded Sai's stomach. "What the hell?!"

"What?" Sai blinked. "That's totally something I would do."

…

"You're lucky I said something." Naruto pouted. "Beki didn't even have a seat reserved for Sasuke."

Sakura had a flabbergasted expression. "I can't believe she thinks he isn't real. I mean, she's seen my daughter. Does she think Sarada is just some stray I picked up?"

"Maybe she thinks you're a slut who just had a one-night stand with a stranger?" Sai suggested.

As this realization set in, Sakura slowly turned from pink to beet red. "That bitch."

"So you didn't have any luck talking them out of the mask?" Naruto had learned long ago not to point out or attempt to soothe the beast.

"No," Sakura fumed. "Yuki thinks its perfectly normal for him to wear the mask at the wedding."

"Well, we'll all have front row seats regardless," Naruto folded his arms. "So he's gonna have to kiss Yuki within five feet of where we're sitting. At least one of us should be able to see. Then we can tell the others what he looks like."

…

The wedding ceremony was, as promised, deeply rooted in Konoha tradition. Kakashi even wore his Hokage robe over his clothes. Security was tight. Armed guards surrounded the building in full dress to keep reporters and gate crashers at bay. Kakashi's hounds offered additional protection from inside the ceremonial hall. For this most sacred occasion, they each donned a tiny suit (something Yuki had thrown down with the elders on). While the guests were seated and waiting for the bride to arrive, Sasuke slipped in and took his seat in the front row.

Naruto's sudden explosion of joy at the sight of him was stopped dead by a quick elbow to the ribs from Sakura.

"Kachaaa," She hissed.

Neji kept subtly trying to draw Beki's attention to Sasuke but he was sitting on the far end of the opposite row and was obscured by the others.

When Yuki came down the aisle, she was resplendent. By the way his eyes shined with tears, Kakashi was clearly beaming at his bride beneath the mask. When it was time for the ring exchange, Pakkun escorted Satoru down the aisle. It did not go unnoticed that Yuki's choice in suit was the same for the hounds as her grandson. Satoru held onto the ringbox with comical determination, his little face twisted in intense concentration. Pakkun wore a harness over his suit, which the boy held onto to steady his toddling steps. Once he'd reached his destination and handed the rings off to Gai, Pakkun led the boy into his mother's outstretched arms.

The couple said the magic words and the members of Team Seven all slid forward in their seats. There was a grim expectancy in their eyes as Kakashi removed her veil. Sakura was gripping Sasuke's thigh so tightly it was losing circulation but he couldn't let pain distract him. Naruto had handed Boruto off to Hinata so he could perch himself on the absolute end of his seat for a better view.

Yuki wrapped her arms around Kakashi's neck. He reached towards his face. Yuki threw herself into him and-

There was a horrible flailing motion beside the Hokage that instantly drew the eye. Might Gai had fallen from his wheelchair and was pulling himself back up. Team Seven's heads all swiveled in unison back to where the couple stood. Yuki stood at the altar alone cradling a substitution log. Their heads whipped over to Might Gai, who gave them a knowing smile and a thumbs up. "Sorry, kids."

The doors of the ceremony hall were thrown open and the three stood in time to see the Hokage running away, leaving a trail of maniacal laughter in his wake.

"Suckers," Yuki spat as she tossed the log into their laps before parading away in her wedding cake of a kimono.

…

After the straight-laced ceremony, the barbecue reception in Kakashi's back yard was a startling change of pace. It proved to be a much better reflection of who the couple were as a unit. Everyone went home to change into comfortable, casual clothes. The kids got to romp around freely in the grass with the hounds. Yuki had her favorite diner cater and they had gone all out for her. Kakashi had his favorite beer on tap. The cake they'd commissioned from Neji was sitting safely inside the fridge in the house until it was time to serve.

Neji and Naruto made eye contact from across the party. They exchanged a nod and gently led their parties over.

"So Beki, this is Uchiha Sasuke," Neji offered.

"Yeah, this is the old roommate I told you about," Naruto explained. "Her name's Haruka but everyone calls her Beki."

The two sized each other up.

"Nice try." Beki sighed. "This is clearly some crippled hobo you cleaned up and paid for in hair gel."

Sasuke exhaled through his nose. "If you guys were going to try to guilt me for being in the Sound with a story about some hot foreign girl that shacked up with you and Hinata for three ways, you could have at least found someone who didn't look like a retired linebacker."

"Excuse me?" Beki stepped closer. "That's rich coming from the obvious starving actor."

Sasuke turned to Naruto. "So what did you have to pay this low hanging fruit for this?"

Beki blinked. "Did you just call me a hooker?"

"Well what else would you be?" Sasuke gestured at her. "You're not good looking enough to even be a Monday morning stripper so that only leaves one possible option."

"Watch it Uchiha," Neji leered. "That's my wife."

Their dispute had caught the attention of the other guests. Everyone watched quietly in varying states of shock and disbelief. Sai had taken out his sketchbook and was busily scribbling.

Sasuke shook his head. "There's all the proof I need. Everyone knows you're gay, Neji."

"Says the person who kissed their best friend," Neji scoffed.

Beki and Hinata shuffled uncomfortably. Naruto and Sasuke looked away. Yuki laughed nervously while Sakura and Ino made a point of being fixated on their drinks.

"That was an accident," Naruto reminded everyone for what felt like the billionth time.

Before the fight could escalate any further Kakashi materialized beside them.

"I am beyond disgusted right now."

"Kakashi sensei?" Naruto took a step back.

"All I asked for was one day. Not even a full day, just a measly five or six hours where you all didn't completely derail everything and make it all about you." Kakashi was suspiciously still. "I never get to see all three of you together anymore. I have been looking forward to this day, to making these memories, for months. Considering how many times I've put my life on the line for you time and time again and you couldn't do that for me. You couldn't behave. For. My. Wedding."

"So is this a hooker or what?" Sasuke jerked his thumb at Beki.

"Kakashi, this greasy skeezball is your student?" Beki asked.

They didn't see him move. One moment, all three of them were standing there, and the next, Beki and Sasuke were buried in the ground side by side while Kakashi hovered menacingly over them. His gaze turned on Sakura and Naruto who froze instantly. "You two are on notice."

He stormed away. Neji looked down at his wife and Sasuke.

"Are you two happy now?"

Beki's face had gone red hot with shame and Sasuke merely stared blankly ahead, as if he were in line at the bank and not buried up to his chin.

"Any other ways you can think of to embarrass us in front of our boss and everyone we know?" Neji folded his arms.

"No," Beki said quietly.

"Good!" Neji put his hands on his hips. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go deal with the cake."

"I'm gonna go check on Hinata," Naruto walked backwards before scurrying away.

Sakura bit her lip. "Do you want me to feed you, Sasuke?"

"Sakura, can you just leave me alone?" Sasuke still wouldn't look at her. "Please don't embarrass me anymore."

"I mean, it wouldn't be weird. I'm your wife," Sakura crouched down. "It's not strange if I feed you-"

Sasuke glared. "Sakura. I'm buried up to my neck after getting screamed at by the Hokage in front of everyone."

"Oh," Sakura stood and dusted off her skirt. "I guess you have a point. I'll give you some space."

After a few minutes the bustle of the party resumed and the outburst was forgotten. Under this cover of pointed, communal blindness, Temari wandered over. She stood next to Beki wordlessly, surveying the crowd. After a moment, when she was sure no one was watching, Temari dumped her full drink, ice and all, over Beki's head.

Beki whimpered but kept it at that knowing at some level she had brought this on herself. Temari dropped the empty cup on Beki's head, yawned, and walked away.

Yuki had initially wanted to get married in winter. Beki was immensely grateful that they had opted for spring, so her biggest concern was being sticky and not dying of hypothermia.

"What did you do to piss her off?"

Sasuke's voice was a surprise after the long period of silence.

"She doesn't even know the half of it, if I'm being honest." Beki sighed. "But it's a long story."

The silence returned. Satoru was the oldest of the kids, so he was the only one who could really play fetch with the dogs. They watched for a moment as he hawked the ball as far as his little arms could, only a few feet. The hounds would nose bop it up in the air and chase it, with a giggling Satoru racing along after them as fast as his tiny legs would carry him.

"I don't have anything better to do." Sasuke tilted his head in her direction. "Shoot."

"So I might have dumped her brother for Neji. We dated for years and it just wasn't working out so I ended it," Beki explained. "I'd liked Neji for a while and might have like, immediately started dating him. Within a week 'immediately'. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't accepted Neji's marriage proposal after a month when I'd turned down her brother umpteen times over four years."

Sasuke's eyes grew wide. "Which brother?"

Beki grimaced. "The Kazekage?"

"You've got balls, I'll give you that." Sasuke snorted. "That kid was a psychopath."

"He wasn't so bad. The Shukaku only tried to kill me once and he was really sorry about it," Beki wiggled her fingers and toes to keep the circulation going.

"When you're a shinobi that sort of thing just comes with the territory." Sasuke offered. "We all have our own demons people have to deal with."

"Like your Ameterasu?" Beki asked. "Is it true it's so hot that it can burn fire?"

Sasuke nodded.

"You do realize how ridiculous and made up that sounds?" Beki smirked. "Especially when the person describing it to me was Naruto."

"He told me that not only can you spontaneously combust, but you can walk through fire unscathed and burn everything you touch." Sasuke gave her the side eye.

Beki gave a soft laugh. "I guess it does sound ridiculous."

They watched the party for a minute, the quiet that descended more comfortable this time.

"Any chance you think Neji is going to bring us cake?" Beki asked.

"No chance in hell." Sasuke shook his head.

…

"What the hell is this?!" Naruto threw up his hands in distress.

Beki blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Naruto gestured to the pair. "You two! Together!"

Beki shrugged. "Neji and Konohamaru are both on missions and they're usually my hands when I go grocery shopping. I just happened to bump into Sasuke and he's headed there too. We're both crippled, but he has full range of movement with his remaining arm. It's a perfect tag team. I push the cart, he grabs things off the shelves."

Naruto jutted out his lower lip. "You should have invited me. I could help."

"Don't you have anything more important to do right now?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto's frown deepened. "No! Well, yes. I have to go pick up Boruto from a playdate. But next time you should include me!"

Beki laughed. "Sure, Naruto. Next time he's in town and we both spontaneously run into each other on the way to the store, we'll be sure to call you."

…

"I mean, what do they even have in common?" Naruto whined. "Arson?!"

Hinata stroked his head. He'd buried his face into her lap.

"He's supposed to be my friend! I never get to see him. He should be spending time with me!"

Hinata nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. I'm sorry he hurt you."

Naruto sighed. "At least I have you, Hinata. You never let me down."

"No," Hinata smiled. "I'm all you'll ever need."

Neji stood outside with his hand hovering in front of the door. Satoru had fallen asleep the last time they visited and he was there to return the blanket they'd borrowed. As he listened to the exchange Neji understood it all with horrifying clarity. His mind swam as the events of the last few days recast themselves in a dark threatening light.

"Why don't you go upstairs and take a shower?" Hinata kissed the top of Naruto's head. "I'll fix us a snack and we can cuddle up and watch a movie."

"Okay. I'd like that." Naruto embraced her tightly before heading upstairs.

Once his footfalls had died, Hinata called out:

"You can come in, Neji."

Left with no other choice, Neji entered the house.

"Oh, you brought back the blanket." Hinata took it from his outstretched hands. "Thank you."

"You planned all of it," Neji said vacantly. "But…how? How did you…when?"

Hinata sighed. "Well of course I did. I've been hinting to Beki that Sasuke hasn't existed since she arrived in Konoha."

Neji's eyes widened. "That long?"

"You seem surprised even though you were a part of it the entire time." Hinata said.

"What do you mean?" Neji asked.

Hinata gave him a bored look. "Neji, if you think you and Beki ending up together was purely chance, you're wrong. You weren't the only one sabotaging her relationship with Gaara. I had to work constantly to make sure the two of you were always ending up in interesting situations."

"What…what do you mean?" Neji's mind raced backwards, small encounters and surprise moments coming into question.

Hinata thought for a moment. "I broke the shower in your room so you had to shower here, for one. I always invited you along for errands and would work things out so you were alone together."

"So you're telling me you orchestrated our entire romance." Neji stared at her in disbelief. "But why?"

"I told you before, I wanted to make sure Beki stayed here," Hinata folded the blanket over her arm. "Because who would be better to drive a railroad stake between Naruto and Sasuke than her?"

Neji felt like his legs were going to give out from underneath him. Hinata interpreted the silence while he steadied himself as an invitation to continue.

"Beki has a similar personality to Naruto. That's why we get along so well. In the event she ever met Sasuke, it was safe to assume she'd strike up the same kind of obnoxious rivalry with him as Naruto." Hinata explained. "But a lot of Naruto's more grating qualities are rounded out in a girl. For example, Beki is loud but not as loud as he is. She's mischievous but lacks the gross factor Naruto sometimes includes in his pranks."

She tilted her head with an innocent expression. "So Sasuke would end up preferring her company. Naruto isn't the jealous type, except for when it comes to Sasuke. Seeing him replaced by his rival for my affection would send Naruto sprawling back into my arms."

The blood had drained from Neji's face. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to go home and question every decision I've ever thought I made of my own free will."

"Free will is an illusion, Neji," Hinata pat him on the shoulder. "I'll see you at dinner tomorrow."

Okay everyone! This is the end of the Yuki/Kakashi Gaiden. I'm currently developing the next arc of the story. It'll be set in the same time frame as Boruto but it'll be completely off canon. I watched the Boruto movie and I'm familiar with the kids of the Konoha shinobi. They'll be in the story but the primary focus will still be on the characters from ToTM and their children.

If you have any questions that you never had answered in the story and want me to address (something about Maiden lore for example) let me know. Also, if there is something you would really like to see explored or a suggestion for a scenario go ahead and send me a PM.

The overall plot is taking shape right now so I'd like to make sure you all get a chance to give your input. I love hearing from you all and it makes the time I put into writing and developing these chapters worth it. Your input makes me a better writer and helps ToTM be a nice, meaty story.

I hope you've enjoyed the story so far and I can't wait to hear your thoughts. XO, Ponchoninjax3